Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is excited to announce our new Heroes and Housing Initiative. All over our community there are men and women that have served our country and now it’s our time to serve them. We are actively looking for veterans that have housing needs.
Leadership from Southern Crescent Habitat were honored to participate in the recent Fayette County Visioning session. On October 18th, more than 130 community members representing a diverse cross section of Fayette County gathered at Dolce Atlanta Peachtree to give input regarding a unified visioning process focused on the future of Fayette County. The meeting consisted of presentations from potential consulting groups who could lead the process, discussions about the importance of the initiative, and dialogue about the role that all community members will play. The result was overwhelming community support to proceed with the visioning process and the commitment of the participants to promote the process, recruit supporters from across the county and raise the funds necessary to carry it out.
“The success of this visioning process depends upon the input and participation of stakeholders across Fayette County,” said Trey Ragsdale, co-chair of the visioning steering committee. “We were extremely pleased to launch this initiative with the interest and representation from almost every sector of the county— small business to large industry, corporations to non-profits, the faith community to schools and education, elected officials to students.”
Following the meeting Fayette Chamber President/CEO, Virginia Gibbs commented “We are thrilled to have Habitat for Humanity, with their passion for making a positive community impact, involved in the visioning process at its inception.”
This visioning initiative will roll out over the next several months with identification of stakeholders, focus groups, town hall meetings, electronic data collection, and public input. A website for the process will soon be available and community members can sign up to receive Fayette Vision communications by emailing fcvision@FayetteChamber.org.
Delta Air Lines employees are rolling up their sleeves to build a home with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity for the next three weeks as part of a multi-build volunteer effort. More than 2,200 Delta employees will help build Delta-sponsored homes in six cities through November.
“Delta has been a catalyst for so much ‘good’ in our community,” said Bob Johnson, director of Development at Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity. “We will complete our Avery neighborhood this year, and Delta has provided volunteers and funding to support this project for the past five years. We are very grateful for Delta’s support and commitment.”
The build will take place in the Avery Subdivision off of Iron Gate Blvd in Jonesboro. The entire community is made up of Habitat homes, many of which have been built by Delta Air Lines. With the help of about 350 Delta employees, a new home will be constructed in just 12 days with the Mack family. This home will be a new beginning for the homeowner and her grandson.
Delta and Habitat for Humanity’s relationship has grown steadily since 2000. Habitat is one of Delta’s core community partnerships in its Force for Global Good which encourages employees to unite under a shared mission to make a difference in the communities where they live, work and serve. Delta employees have helped 115 families build safe, decent and affordable homes in eight countries around the world. More than 9,800 Delta people have contributed over 92,000 volunteer hours raising walls, digging foundations, laying brick, installing roofs, painting and other construction-related activities.
“Delta people are unified in our resolve to serve the people of the communities where we live, work and serve each day,” said Tad Hutcheson, Delta’s vice president – Community Affairs. “Through our relationship with Habitat for Humanity, we’ve helped more than 115 families with safe, affordable homes around the globe though our employee’s selfless dedication and eagerness to live the values of our brand.”
Delta employees are also building homes in Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and New York City, major Delta hubs, as well as Los Angeles and Seattle.
What do you get when you combine like-minded organizations, talented DIY bloggers with boundless energy and enthusiasm and a family in need? Habitat for Humanity and a lot of happy tears!
Like most great stories, it’s all in the journey – not just the destination. It started with GMC and Habitat for Humanity’s Southern Crescent chapter coming together on behalf of the Simmons family of Jonesboro, Georgia. The Simmons knew they were getting a house, but had no idea that six talented DIY bloggers/interior designers were going to furnish and decorate it as well.
GMC supplied large, capable (and stylish) vehicles, along with a small allowance to assist each blogger in purchasing necessities for various rooms in the house along Route 127, also known as the World’s Longest Yard Sale. With visions of each family member’s style preferences in mind, an epic “GMC Hidden Treasure Adventure” began in Hudson, Michigan. The bloggers often consulted their networks and each other for inspired ideas, solutions and encouragement. As they stopped at different “sales” along the nearly 700-mile route, group texting helped nail the perfect “find.” Tweets, comments and posts made along the way can be found on Twitter and Instagram at #GMChta – as well as on each blogger’s site (links provided with their names below).
All in all, it took five sweltering days, combing through the front yards and farmlands of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. Along the way, random acts of spontaneous humanity revealed themselves: fellow yard-salers donating money, building a shelf for the girls’ room on the spot, giving a couch away for free, etc., and an overwhelming feeling that “there are still good people left” followed the bloggers everywhere they went.
Each day, after countless miles were driven and materials were purchased, the real work started. The DIYers gathered in dark hotel parking lots under streetlamps to sand, refurbish and paint, only to start all over again the next day.
By the time the Big Reveal day came, there was still a need to “DIY” some of the used furniture. Thanks to the generosity of companies likeRust-Oleum and toolmaker Ryobi donating much-needed items, the just-in-time deadline was met and appreciated by a most deserving family. A family who previous didn’t have enough beds or a kitchen table to share a family meal. The expressions on their faces and one comment in particular from the youngest member (“I think I’m in heaven!”) was the stuff of television.
DIY bloggers Jocie Hagan put the “family” in family room; Liz Marie Galvan created the sports-themed boys’ room; Christine Cook provided the soulful Music Room for mom Leetoya, along with the powder room; Carissa Rogers envisioned a “girlie girl” room for sisters Arlene and Arielle; Kirsten Grove gave mom Leetoya a serene master bedroom; and Courtney Allison put her keen designer’s eye on the kitchen.
The result: A song of thanks, directly from the heart of Leetoya for everyone gathered; six very exhausted bloggers; a contented GMC team and a thrilled Habitat for humanity organization filled to the brim with everlasting memories of turning a house into a home.
City leaders learned McDonough will be home to Habitat for Humanity’s latest venture — a ReStore.
Melissa Chapman, CEO of Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity, told the city council Monday evening, if all goes according to plans, the home store will be open by October.
Chapman said she came to the council meeting to “share exciting news for McDonough and our entire community.”
Plans call for a 19,000-square feet facility in an existing building adjacent to Avalon Church on Ga. 20.
She said typically a Habitat ReStore employs at least five workers and could have as many 10 new jobs available.
Chapman said the ReStore will accept donations for hard goods, home furnishings and maintenance materials, then sell the items at a reduced price, putting the money back into the services that Habitat provides.
“Home ownership really makes a difference in a community and supports a community’s health and stability,” she said. “We help families have a safe, decent and affordable house to live in.”
Habitat does not build and give away free homes, but rather builds a partnership with new homeowners, requiring them to participate with a “sweat equity”-type investment while teaching principles such as home maintenance and financial literacy.
In exchange, families receive affordable housing they might not otherwise have the opportunity to purchase.
Following the announcement, McDonough Mayor Billy Copleland said, “We are so excited to have this here,” adding that Habitat serves “important needs in the community.”
Habitat for Humanity describes its ReStores as “nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price.”
Habitat for Humanity is accepting donations for the ReStore that include:
• Appliances (no older than eight years), Dishwashers (no older than five years), Range Tops, Ovens, Microwaves (no older than five years), Washing Machines, Dryers, Refrigerators, Range Hoods, Small Appliances (toasters, blenders, etc.), Water Heaters, Furnaces, Air Conditioners
Furniture items being accepted as donations that will be available at the ReStore when it opens include:
Sofas, Chairs (living room, office, recliner, etc.) Tables (dining room, side), Dressers, Bed, Frames, Coffee/End Tables, Entertainment Centers, Filing Cabinets, Bookshelves
*Note: Upholstered furniture cannot have any stains, tears or pet damage in order to be accepted for resale.
Home decor items being accepted include:
Books (no encyclopedias or textbooks), Dishes, Glassware, Baskets, Knick-knacks
Lighting that is in working condition will be accepted including:
Hanging Chandeliers, Floor and Table lamps, Lamp shades in good condition, Track Lighting, Ceiling Fans
Other donated items needed for the ReStore include:
Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Cabinets, Countertops (only with cabinets, unless they are granite countertops), Double Hung Windows, Picture Windows, Bay Windows (complete with all sashes)
*Note: All windows must be aluminum clad or vinyl replacement only.
Doors (In Frame), Plywood, Insulation, Unused Lumber, Trim, Brick/Block, Fencing, FlooringTile (no broken pieces), Linoleum (new only), Carpet (new or gently used, minimum room size, no small pieces unless carpet tiles), Wood, Area Rugs (new or gently used), Hardware, Hinges, Cabinet, Knobs, Door Knobs/Deadbolts, Electrical, Hardware, Plumbing, Hardware, Plumbing Supplies, Toilets, Sinks and Faucets, Tubs, and Pipe
Individuals, businesses or organizations wanting to make donations are encouraged to call ahead of time to make arrangements. Call 770-477-2367 or email Cameron Ross at cameron.ross@schabitat.org. Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity offices are located at 9870 Tara Blvd. in Jonesboro.
SCHH serves Henry, Clayton and Fayette counties.
