Jonesville home dedicated in Sunday ceremony

A new home was presented to the O'Donnell family in Jonesville Sunday by the Yadkin Valley Habitat for Humanity.

The family of long-time Yadkin residents took on the leap from renting to homeownership because of the zero interest loan opportunity that Habitat for Humanity is able to offer low income families.

The house was built by Surry Community College's construction students, part of the long standing and successful relationship between the college and Habitat. "Each school year the construction class led by teacher John Young, has built a home for us, giving them real life experience and us a home to offer families in need," Habitat board member and past president Crystal Morphis said.

Young teaches the Construction Management and Technology classes at SCC. He said that he has yet to find a student who didn't enjoy the live projects. "I could teach all day in the classroom and would never be the same as what they learn hands-on," Young said.

Students and teachers from the electrical and HVAC courses also take part in the project.

The family was chosen from a small pool of qualifying applicants interested in financing a home. "We particularly wanted to help this family get settled somewhere because they have two children with special needs," Morphis said.

After prayers and hymns were sung in the new dinning room and kitchen area Sunday, O'Donnell said, tearful, "I've been praying for this day since I felt my first child's heartbeat." The family thanked friends, Habitat, and neighbors for coming out to the dedication and working on the new house.

A house Bible and keys were given to the O'Donnells, the youngest Angelina, calling out "I've got the keys to our new house, daddy!"

Further additions to the home's normal layout include Habitat's approaching the Lowe's Home Improvement of Elkin to help build a fence for the family. Bucky Keener, store manager, has agreed to assist through Lowe's Heroes program, which provides a yearly budget for stores to assist the communities they reside in. A special thanks was mentioned at the service Sunday.

Pastor Jerry Fugate of Arlington First Baptist has pledged to help do landscaping for the house exterior. The church's congregation also worked on the Habitat House two doors up from the O'Donnell's home. Fugate said after the dedication, "We can't possibly appreciate this house as much as the O'Donnell family does, but just to hear them share their thanks today was wonderful."

A house recently completed by Habitat on Gwyn Avenue will have a home dedication on May 4. The house took longer than usual to complete because of a change in staff and volunteer groups and difficulty finding applicants for the home.

"It's one of our biggest challenges," said Executive Director Claire Sellars. "There are so many people scared off by the home foreclosures and mortgage struggles, that a zero interest loan sounds hard to believe. People think it's too good to be true and don't try for the homes." Applicants do have to fall within parameters of having low enough income that banks will not finance them through traditional means but be able to make the low house payments for homeownership.

Their newest project, building a Habitat Home in East Bend, is taking them further into Yadkin than ever before. "We are excited about the opportunity to tap the resources and generosity of new churches and volunteers in that area," Morphis said of the reach. John Young will be the construction supervisor for that project despite its summer time frame.

The project, still at it's initial stages is looking to recruit potential families and also land for building on.

Local agency plans new projects

The Upper Yadkin Valley Habitat for Humanity based in Elkin is celebrating its 20th anniversary with special projects focusing on the "20" theme.

Their aid has extended through Surry County from Elkin to Dobson, Wilkes County in and around Elkin, and all of Yadkin County.

Four events are planned for the anniversary year. A new program for the organization involves home repairs on homes in need of renovations.

The organization is rolling out a plan to service 20 home repair projects over 20 years and to be completed by 20 churches. Materials are being donated by Smith Philips Building Supply and W. E. Sale and Sons. Labor is being spearheaded by the Elkin First Baptist Church under pastor Bill Johnson's recruitment, starting in late May.

"Finding churches to take part in this project has been the easy part," Morphis said. "Now we just need to get the word out there that people should apply for the service."

Suitable projects include same day Saturday turnaround fixes like dry wall repairs, handrail additions and wheelchair accessibility needs.

No payment will be required of home owners but guidelines must be met for low income status. Recipients of the service will be asked to donate volunteer time to future Habitat projects in return.

This is the first time the Yadkin Valley affiliate has attempted this sort of freestanding home repair program. "Other chapters do these projects on a large scale," Morphis said. "We think it will be very successful for our communities."

After the Home Repair Project and new East Bend home project kick-off for the anniversary, two fund-raising events will follow.

The annual golf tournament organized by the Yadkin Valley and Yadkinville Rotary Clubs will take place in the fall of 2008. The tournament has raised more than $15,000 in the past for YVHH. This year Executive Director Claire Sellars said they are hoping to raise $50,000 for their anniversary goal.

"It's a substantial goal but we are hoping that because of increased awareness and activities it will be achievable," Sellars said. Former Wake Forest Player and NBA star Chris Paul is participating in the tournament this year. Paul helped to build a Habitat home in Forsyth County and is committed to helping YVHH reach their goal.

The venue for this year's tournament has not yet been chosen, though Sellars mentioned finding a possible mountain location for the fall backdrop.

A gala fundraising event will wrap up the anniversary year in January to celebrate their twenty years of service to the Yadkin Valley communities. "We plan to reflect on all the accomplishments we hope to have this summer and celebrate," Morphis said.