10 Years of Women Build at Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity!

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Women Build 2024 attendees pose before getting hard to work

Girls play house, Women build them!

2024 marked 10 years of Women Build, one of our largest fundraisers, at Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity. Women from all over came together with a common goal: to build safe and affordable homes. Over the course of four incredible days, we experienced fun, fellowship, and the rewarding act of building homes.

Even when inclement weather threatened to disrupt our plans, we did what women do best: we pivoted. We brought the fun and productivity into our warehouse, where the ladies built walls to be transported to the build sites. It was a powerful reminder of the resilience and determination that women bring to the table.

Our Women Build Ambassadors this year included some truly inspiring women: Natosha Reid Rice, the first Global DEI Officer for Habitat for Humanity; Kim Mays, owner of Kim Mays State Farm Insurance Agency; Kim Freshwater, Realtor and Associate Broker at Century21 Crowe Realty; Katherine Jordan, Principal Interior Designer and owner of The Savvy ID; and Michelle Amarra, President of SCB Video TV Marketing. These incredible leaders not only brought their teams out to build but also spearheaded fundraising efforts, helping us raise over $20,000.

Ambassador Natosha Reid Rice, left, poses with her daughter.
Ambassador Kim Mays holds her phone up to take an usie with her team.
Ambassador Michelle Amarra relaxes after a long day of building.
Ambassador Katherine Jordan pauses work to give the camera a smile.
Ambassador Kim Freshwater gets checked in to begin work!

The Steel Magnolia

We took the opportunity to pay tribute to Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who passed away last year. Our t-shirts this year featured the letter “C” and a magnolia flower, a nod to her nickname “Steel Magnolia.” that she was called due to her southern genteel manner. Both First Lady Carter and President Carter were instrumental in making Habitat for Humanity the success it is today, and it was only fitting to honor her legacy.

None of our work would be possible without the support of our amazing sponsors. A heartfelt thank you to Jacobs, Kim Mays State Farm Insurance Agency, Century21 Crowe Realty, Atlanta Gas Light, SCB Video TV Marketing, and The Savvy ID for their unwavering support.

As we reflect on this year’s accomplishments, we look forward to building even more homes with all of you next year. Together, we are unstoppable!

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity celebrates 37th Anniversary with the dedication of their 216th home!

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The Miller Family prepares to cut the ribbon of their new home standing with Southern Crescent CEO Cynthia Jenkins and Board Members, Jule Segner and Dave Hesterlee.

On Tuesday October 3, 2023, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity celebrated 37 years of building homes and hope in our service communities. What better way to celebrate than by hosting the dedication our 216th home! We welcomed the Miller Family to their new home with a dedication and blessing ceremony. The day was filled with fun, food, and fellowship as members of our team, past volunteers, and our partner family all shared stories about working together to get to this momentous day.

A new beginning

Nyesha is a hardworking single mother of three who never thought homeownership would be possible. Although she is a Texas Native, she has called the South Metro Atlanta area home for many years. With an entrepreneurial spirit, she currently runs a balloon business while working her regular 9-5 to make sure she can provide for her family.

Due to rising rent and unforeseen circumstances, her oldest daughter and father have now moved in with her and her youngest son. The idea of multigenerational living is becoming the new normal with the inflated cost of living. Nyesha says that she is “looking forward to building from this investment (home) and leaving something to her children.”

This home dedication would not have been possible without the sponsorship of Publix Supermarket Charities and Clayton County Government. We are beyond grateful for your continued support of our affiliate and help to make the dream of homeownership possible for all.

Lowe’s Builds Community Gardens In College Park and Mural by Forward Warrior

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Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity recieves $50,000 Lowe’s Grant to Revitalize Normandy and Faith Park Neighborhoods

Lowe’s Heroes Will Complete Critical Home Repairs and Build Resident Gardens

Jonesboro, GA  (October 19, 2015) — Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity  was awarded a $50,000 grant from Lowe’s to revitalize the Normandy and Faith Park  neighborhoods in College Park, Ga.,  as part of Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization, a nationwide program dedicated to serving more families through community development partnerships. Lowe’s awarded $1.2 million in grants to 14 Habitat affiliates across the country to support more than 300 community improvement projects ranging from critical repairs to new home construction.

On Saturday, October 17, 2015, Southern Crescent Habitat held their “Grow the Block” community improvement event.   Lowe’s Heroes built 20 garden beds for families in the neighborhood encouraging sustainable growth and a healthy lifestyle.  Simultaneously, a group of artists from Forward Warrior painted a 50ft mural at the front of the neighborhood (5110 Norman Blvd, College Park GA 30349) to highlight homes, communities and hope available for public viewing.  Future plans in the Normandy and Faith Park subdivision include several critical home repairs and one home rehabilitation project of a vacant property in the neighborhood.

“We are grateful to Lowe’s for their generous support, thank you for helping us to continue to grow the block” said Kem Kimbrough, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Crescent Habitat. “Because of partners like Lowe’s, we are able to help families obtain affordable housing and improve conditions in neighborhoods.” “This is awesome for us just like it is for you all, thank you for having us out here”, said Stockbridge Store Manager Richie Carter.

Through Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization efforts, Habitat affiliates offer an expanded array of housing services and partner with local residents, housing leaders, community groups and businesses to transform neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life in communities.

“Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization program has made a lasting impact in communities across the country,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “Lowe’s is proud to support Southern Crescent Habitat to make a difference in the College Park community.”

A national partner since 2003, Lowe’s has committed more than $63 million to Habitat for Humanity and helped more than 4,000 families improve their living conditions. Each year, Lowe’s provides grants and volunteer assistance to affiliates, supports National Women Build Week and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills.

Heritage Community Foundation Presents Grant to SC Habitat for Humanity

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Jonesboro, Ga. (August 4, 2015) – The Heritage Community Foundation presented a grant to Kem Kimbrough ,CEO, and Lindsey Sanders, Deputy Director of Development, of Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH) on July 30, 2015.  The $4,000 grant will be used by SCHFH to purchase and stock an additional tool trailer that will be used on site for volunteer days. Currently, the organization has 2 box trucks, one for tools and the other for transporting materials.  As SCHFH is expanding and increasing the number of families that it serves through home repair, rehabilitation and building new homes, they had a definite need for a third tool trailer.  Right now, they have to plan separate work days for home repair, rehab and new home construction because they don’t have sufficient equipment or supplies. With this new stocked tool trailer, they can increase their efficiency, engage more volunteers in the community by scheduling additional work days and ultimately serve more families.

SCHFH’s mission is to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope. The families that they serve are hardworking individuals who need a hand up, not a hand out. They complete sweat equity working on their home alongside the volunteers and attend education classes to prepare themselves for successful home ownership. SCHFH works with over 3,000 volunteers a year and serves approximately 50 families a year. It takes 250 volunteers to build one home. The outcomes and impact are visible in the homes that you see, in the neighborhoods that are revitalized, and in the families whose lives are changed forever. SCHFH believes in bringing people together for the common goal of putting an end to the poverty cycle and making sure that every person has a decent, safe place to live.

For more information on how to apply for a grant with Heritage Community Foundation, make a donation or volunteer, please visit www.heritagecommunityfoundation.org.  You may also contact Rocky Davis, Executive Director, at 770-478-8881.

Heritage Community Foundation (HCF) is a 501c3 organization which provides funding to local nonprofit organizations in Clayton, Henry and Fayette counties. HCF is designed to support Heritage Bank’s first mission, “Committed to those we serve.” The bank absorbs all of the operating costs of the foundation, so 100% of the funds raised go directly to meet community needs.

Heritage Bank, a state chartered commercial bank, has been serving metro Atlanta’s Southern Crescent since 1955. The independent community bank has six full-service offices, features a well-rounded offering of commercial and consumer products, and is an active, involved member of the community it serves. The company’s stock is traded under the symbol “CCFH.OB”.

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Contact:

Carol Dauro, Public Relations Contact, Heritage Bank, 770-478-8881.

 

 

Lowe’s Grant To Revitalize Normandy & Faith Park Neighborhoods

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 SOUTHERN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO USE $70,000 LOWE’S GRANT TO REVITALIZE NORMANDY & FAITH PARK NEIGHBORHOODS

Lowe’s Heroes and volunteers to beautify lawns and perform critical home repairs

 College Park, GA (August 20, 2014) — Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity has been awarded a $70,000 grant from Lowe’s to revitalize the Normandy and Faith Park neighborhoods in College Park, GA as part of Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization, a nationwide program dedicated to serving more families through community development partnerships. Lowe’s awarded nearly $1 million in grants to 11 Habitat affiliates across the country to support more than 100 community improvement projects ranging from critical repairs to new home construction.

Southern Crescent Habitat will use the funds to carry out various neighborhood revitalization activities in the neighborhood including lawn beautification, foreclosure intervention, critical home repair, resident leadership development and the establishment of a neighborhood park.

 “We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Lowe’s for this generous gift,” said Minka Parish, Interim CEO of Southern Crescent Habitat. “The work that Habitat does in communities is possible because of the support we receive from dedicated volunteers and partners like Lowe’s.”

Through Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization efforts, Habitat affiliates offer an expanded array of housing services and partner with local residents, housing leaders, community groups and businesses to transform neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life in communities.

”Lowe’s is excited to partner with Habitat to bring lasting change to communities in need,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “Through these Neighborhood Revitalization efforts, we’re serving more families and meeting additional critical needs in the places our customers call home.”

A national partner since 2003, Lowe’s recently renewed its commitment to Habitat for Humanity with a five-year, $23.5 million donation that will bring Lowe’s total contributions to more than $63 million.  In celebration of the renewed partnership and to help Habitat reach its goal of serving one million people annually by 2018, Lowe’s and Habitat teamed up to launch “Hammers for Habitat,” a nationwide volunteer drive to get more hands on hammers to support Habitat’s work. Individuals interested in volunteering can find more information at Habitat.org/Lowes.

 About Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity helps low income families improve their futures and to find opportunity and stability.  They help build stronger families and neighborhoods through homeowner education which includes financial literacy and by partnering with donors and volunteers to construct attractive, affordable homes and to repair existing homes.  To learn more, donate or volunteer visit schabitat.org.

 About Lowe’s in the Community

Lowe’s, a FORTUNE® 100 home improvement company, has a 50-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects.  Since 2007, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed nearly $200 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility and LowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and supports a variety of funding models that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. To learn more, donate or volunteer visit habitat.org.

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Heroes & Housing

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On Saturday, April 26, 2014, SCHFH  partnered with local veterans and supporters to begin home repair work for our very first veteran, Billy Pegram in McDonough, GA. Through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity International’s Repair Corps program, an initiative funded by The Home Depot Foundation to help repair, renovate or construct the homes of U.S. veterans, SCHFH will be able to serve 10 veterans this year.  Billy served in the Air force during the Korean War from 1951-1954.  He is a survivor of stage four cancer and multiple heart attacks and in the words of his daughter Bonnie, “is a true survivor.”

We were grateful to have volunteers from the Home Depot SDC in McDonough led by their General Manager, Ernest Washington.  In addition, we were presented with $5,000 in gift cards, jacuzzi tubs and donations to our McDonough ReStore from the new Home Depot Direct Fulfillment Center in Locust Grove.  Thank you so much to Home Depot for your support!

SCHFH Leadership Supports Visioning Fayette County

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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 builds Habitat for Humanity Home

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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.

 

SCHFH teams up with GMC and DIY bloggers

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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.