Sunday afternoon brought smiles and thank-yous from Tracy Mays and her daughter as their new home was dedicated. Mays is the latest recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home in Elkin.

The Upper Yadkin Valley Habitat for Humanity organizers, the Mays family and countless volunteers began the house in January of this year. The home is expected to be completed by early November.

The Mays' home is the 23rd house that has been built through the local habitat.

The home was built in cooperation with Surry Community College's construction program.

"The year-long partnership with SCC has given the students a real-life lab in which to learn their skills and is providing the Mays family with a new, solidly constructed home," Claire Sellars of Habitat for Humanity's Elkin office said. "There have been many local businesses that have contributed materials and discounts on materials, labor and funds for the Mays' home to be built."

Funds raised through a golf tournament sponsored by the Yadkin Valley and Yadkinville Rotary clubs were donated to help build the house. The appliances were donated by Whirlpool, Hardi board siding was donated by Weyerhauser, the paint was donated by Valspar and 67 Hardware, and locks and hardware were donated by Yale. Other donations were made by Vulcan Quarry of Surry, Lowes Home Improvement of Elkin, Custom Heating and Cooling of Jonesville, Greenhiill Environmental of Elkin, and other local businesses in the area. Calvary Weslyan Church allowed the workers to park their construction vehicles throughout the building of the home. Girl Scout Troop 237 helped during the project also. Carolyn Holcomb is the President for Upper Yadkin Valley Habitat and donates countless hours to helping provide safe affordable homes for local residents through the habitat program.

Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to the elimination of homelessness and poverty housing from the world. Founded on the belief that all people deserve a decent and affordable place to live in dignity and safety, Habitat pursues its vision to make decent, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical housing ministry that works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate homes, which are then sold to Habitat's partner families at no profit and with no interest charged. Partner families invest 300 hours of their own sweat equity into construction of their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving “Fund for Humanity” which is used to fund the construction of more houses in the Upper Yadkin Valley.

One of the area habitat's major sources of funding is the Habitat Home Shoppe, which is a Habitat ReStore, at 102 East Market Street in Elkin. As a resale store, the Shoppe offers used furniture, household goods, appliances, new construction supplies, and more.

Information on the Upper Yadkin Valley Habitat can be found at www.uyvhabitat.org.