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Habitat volunteers fulfill a dream One nail at a time By ANDIE LEATHERMAN, LTN Staff Writer Dec. 31, 2001 - Giving up a Saturday with their own families, volunteers from area churches and Duke Power retirees recently descended on a wooded Pumpkin Center lot to help build Diana Nixon — and her family — a home. The home is Habitat for Humanity’s 11th project in Lincoln County. Nixon praised the volunteers’ generous gift of time. “They’re such wonderful people. It’s a blessing to have them here, ” she said. The new home will allow Nixon and her daughters Diana Sentrell and Quindara to move out of the Lincolnton public housing project where the now live. “It’s going to be peaceful here,” Nixon said, beaming. “Instead of paying rent, I’ll be buying.” Clad in boots, jeans and a work jacket with a nail apron tied around her waist, Nixon was learning construction herself and putting in “sweat equity.” The term refers to the labor a recipient must put toward his or her own home. Habitat families make mortgage payments but do not pay interest. Nixon works for Bartlette Nuclear which does service, utility and decontamination work at McGuire Nuclear Station. Prospective homeowners are also required to volunteer at the Habitat Home Store and work on other homes. Latesha McLean, who will be Habitat’s 12th recipient, was doing just that during the workday, helping build Nixon’s home. Nixon is excited by the construction process. “You get to see everything from top to finish,” she said. Eager to show off the home, she walks visitors though, pointing to the rear bedroom which will be hers. The house has two other bedrooms and a bath and a half. Nixon has chosen neutral colors for the living room but has not yet decided on shades for the kitchen. The home will be Nixon’s first ever. She spent her childhood in foster care and in eighth-grade moved to Maiden to live with her aunt. The home fulfills Nixon’s dreams and prayers. “He always makes a way,” she said. More workdays are planned. To volunteer, call the Habitat Home Store at 704-736-9490. Since its inception in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built over 100,000 homes in 80 countries. Some 30,000 have been built in the U.S. The organization was started by Millard and Linda Fuller and is headquartered in Americus, Ga. For more information, call www.habitat.org.
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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