SC Habitat Homeowner Pays Off Mortgage in 19 Years!

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JONESBORO, GA (August 20, 2015) – Marcy Cly, a single mother with a one year old daughter applied for Habitat’s homeownership program in 1996.  She had a low paying job at a Child Development Center, a car, but no place to live.  Marcy is a veteran, but did not have a college degree that could help her obtain a higher paying job.

Marcy heard about Habitat while staying at a homeless shelter.  She realized that she could benefit from the program herself while telling a co-worker about it.  The Habitat application workshop that she attended had about 50 people in attendance.  When Marcy was one of the families selected, she knew that things would be different.  “From that point on, my life had changed.  I felt like it empowered me and enabled me to live a normal life,” said Marcy.

Marcy remembers it being difficult because she was working full time and relying on her sister to help watch her daughter.  She had to work her job as well as complete required Habitat education classes and 250 hours building her home.  Marcy said “it’s not given to you”, but the end result is worth it.  Thanks to the generous sponsorship from Target in 1996, Marcy went from being homeless and living with her sister to having a home to call her own where she could raise her daughter.

On August 18, 2015, 19 years later, Southern Crescent Habitat proudly honored Marcy’s accomplishment with a mortgage payoff celebration.  CEO of Southern Crescent Habitat, Kem Kimbrough said, “You are an example and an inspiration for other Habitat families and for all of us”.  Festivities included the handing over of the Satisfaction of Mortgage, a cake cutting with a picture of her home from 1996, and a fun beating of a mortgage piñata.

Marcy now works for the U.S. Census Bureau.  She got married five years ago and has a 2 year old son with her husband.  “I’m just very thankful, now I get to raise another child in the same house with my husband.  It’s just been a really good experience.”

We are very excited and so proud of Marcy’s accomplishment. Through faith and perseverance, she went from being homeless to paying off her mortgage in just 19 years.  Marcy inspires our belief that Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity gives families a hand up, not a hand out.  

 

Austin Meadows Block Party To Kick Off The Summer

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Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity kicked off the summer with a dedication of the 7th home in our Austin Meadows community on June 20, 2015.  To celebrate the end of our fiscal year, we gathered with all of the habitat families, friends and supporters for a block party!  Special thanks to Mr. Yummy’s ice cream, Sam’s Club, Costco, the city of Lovejoy, DJ Gregory Collins and Interactive Attractions.  We are looking forward to a very productive summer with plans to complete a dozen home repair projects!  For more information, please contact 770-477-2367.

Southern Crescent Habitat Celebrates Their Supporters at the Golden Hammer Awards!

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JONESBORO, GA (March 26, 2015) – On Sunday, April 26, 2015, Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity will be honoring those who have provided exceptional support to their mission of helping low income working families who “need a hand up, not a hand out” towards home ownership and home repair services.  The Golden Hammer Awards will take place at Eagle’s Landing Country Club from 5pm-9pm.  Mark Winne from WSB-TV will be hosting, Daphne Maxwell Reid, actress who played “Aunt Viv” on sitcom, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” will be presenting and showcasing her photography, the “Doors” collection. Also, Lucille O’neal, author and philanthropist and mother of Shaquille O’neal will be presenting and signing copies of her book, “Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go”.

“We are looking forward to celebrating those who have rolled up their sleeves and believe every person deserves a decent place to live”, said Southern Crescent Habitat’s Development Director Lynne Washington.  All of the funds raised from ticket sales and silent auction items will go towards building new homes in the Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity community, Austin Meadows in Lovejoy.

Tickets are available for purchase at www.schabitat.org. Follow Southern Crescent Habitat on Facebook to preview the auction items to include the “Doors” photography collection by Daphne Maxwell Reid.  The first ever Golden Hammer Awards will include dinner, awards ceremony, and silent auction.

About Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes and provides home repairs to low income families, who need a “hand up, not a hand out” through homeowner education, and financial literacy, provided by partnerships with communities of volunteers and donors.  Since 1986, we have built, renovated and repaired more than 250 homes.  For more information, please visit us at www.schabitat.org.

Global Habitat Day

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For IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity Celebrates Their Global Mission with Art Unveiling

 

Wednesday (October 22, 2014)-The Southern Crescent Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity will unveil the “Hands Across the World” mural designed by Henry Arts Collective artist: Moira Fisher, on Wednesday, October 22nd at 5:00pm, followed by a reception immediately afterwards.  The event is being sponsored by Himalayan Spice Restaurant & Bar who will be providing Nepalese food samples to enjoy.   In conjunction with World Habitat Day, several members of the Southern Crescent staff will be wished safe travels as they prepare for an international Habitat Build to Kathmandu, Nepal, scheduled for November 13-22.  Habitat is committed to “God’s love into action” through global and local service and we invite you to come and learn about our mission.

 

About Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity

Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity builds affordable homes and provides home repairs to low income families, who need a “hand up, not a hand out” through homeowner education, and financial literacy, provided by partnerships with communities of volunteers and donors.  Since 1986, we have built, renovated and repaired more than 250 homes.  For more information, please visit us at www.schabitat.org.

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Shopping for a Cause

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Now every time you grocery shop at Kroger or purchase items online at Amazon Smile, a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity!

Simply register your Kroger Plus Card at krogercommunityrewards.com and select Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity as the recipient or enter NPO number 36507.  Then every time you swipe your Kroger Plus Card at the checkout, you will be supporting low income families in the community.

When you shop at amazonsmile.com,  0.5% of the total proceeds will be donated to Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity once you select our affiliate among the organizations listed.  These proceeds will make many families smile as they become homeowners for the first time.

Happy Shopping!!!

Southern Crescent Habitat partners with “Nothing But The Truth”

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Long time volunteer of Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity, Dianne Jones, asked if we would be interested in providing some space for a very special ministry group called “Nothing But the Truth”.  During the upcoming school year, she and two other ladies, Diane Soroko and Gail Smith, will be assembling sacks of food to distribute to elementary school children to take home over the weekend.  Those children have been identified as being at risk of not having sufficient food over the weekends.  The schools this ministry will be serving are Suter Elementary, Arnold Elementary and Lee Street Elementary.

 The food, which is all non-perishable and something a child can handle preparing for themselves, is typically donated from the Atlanta Food Bank as well as private donors.  There will be a group of 3-5 folks that will come to Southern Crescent Habitat on Friday mornings at 10am during the school year to assemble the food bags.  Habitat volunteers and homeowners earning sweat equity will also be able to help.

 These same three ladies are doing additional ministry work at Keystone Apartments in Jonesboro over the summer.  Every Tuesday afternoon between 4pm & 6pm they take snacks and share Bible stories with the children, do activities with them and hold a Bible study for any parents that are available.   This is a sweet group of ladies and Southern Crescent Habitat is very honored that they have reached out to allow us to be a part of their ministry.

Heroes and Housing

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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.

Click Here to Find Out More Information

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.