Outhouse no more! Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity finishes bathroom for Fayetteville senior Walter Prayor
Media Contact
Name: Trisha Pintavorn
Title: Marketing and Communications Manager at
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity
E-mail: Trisha.Pintavorn@schabitat.org
Office: 770-477-2367
Mobile: 404-694-0507
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FAYETTE COUNTY, GA [October 27, 2017] —On Friday, October 27, 2017, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH) celebrated the completion of a bathroom installation and home repair for senior Fayette County citizen Walter Prayor. Mr. Prayor, 82, had been using an outhouse and bucket showers his entire life. Mayor Ed Johnson from the City of Fayetteville said a few words of welcome, and Pastor Stephen Palmer from the Church of the Harvest Fayetteville blessed the home at a small ceremony. Volunteers, SCHFH staff, SCHFH board members, and donors from the project were also in attendance.
Mr. Prayor was referred to Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity by his Meals on Wheels Coordinator, Marie Doyle, at Fayette Senior Services. In December of 2016, Ms. Doyle asked Mr. Prayor’s daughter, Francine Prayor, what her dad wanted for Christmas. She told her that he wanted a bathroom. Ms. Doyle then put Francine and Walter in touch with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity.
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity was able to raise enough funds to complete the $25,000 repair. The project was funded by the following organizations: a GoFundMe campaign, a grant from a Coweta-Fayette EMC, a grant from the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, a grant from the North Georgia Housing & Homeless Council, hundreds of volunteer hours, proceeds from the Pinewood Studios Winter Gala, and a donated septic tank system and labor from Terry Long’s Backhoe & Grading. SCHFH completed the bathroom installation with an ADA walk-in shower, as well as other home modifications including a small kitchen renovation and new exterior paint, in September 2017.
At the ceremony, Francine Prayor read a letter out loud that Walter had written to the organization: ” Everyone went above and beyond for me. They were truly incredible. I shed a tear each and every day.”
“We’re so happy to have met Mr. Prayor, and along with many, many volunteers and donors, to have been able to affect change within his life. I know everyone was surprised when we heard that someone has an outhouse in 2017 [and thought] we’ve got to do something about this. And with your help, and with the skillset of people within our organization, we were able to give Mr. Prayor a bathroom. Mr. Prayor, we count it a privilege to have been able to do this for you,” said Ms. Cynthia E. Jenkins, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity CEO.
“I want to commend Habitat for Humanity for recognizing the community responsibility to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” added Mayor Johnson, City of Fayetteville. “Habitat for Humanity is fulfilling that by seeing a man like you, who is just humble beyond measure but has continued to contribute to our community, and building that restroom for you. I am delighted to say on behalf of the City of Fayetteville congratulations! We celebrate with you.”
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity will launch a fundraising campaign this November for senior homeowners living in Fayette, Clayton, and Henry Counties who are in need of home repairs, just like Mr. Prayor. If you would like to learn more or donate, please visit schabitat.org. If you know of a family in need of home repairs, please ask them to email SCHFH’s Family Services Coordinator Megan Hepker at megan.hepker@schabitat.org.
View more photos from the project here.
ABOUT SOUTHERN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing ministry that helps low-income families find opportunity, achieve stability, and improve their quality of life. SCHFH builds stronger families and neighborhoods by partnering with donors and volunteers to construct attractive and affordable homes, to repair existing homes, and to address community needs through neighborhood revitalization. Since its founding in 1986, SCHFH has built 200 homes and repaired 150 homes in Clayton, Henry, & Fayette Counties.
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