SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The non-profit Christian organization Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is gearing up to dedicate another home to a deserving member of the community.
Since its inception in 1997, HFH has placed 12 families in new homes in the Sylacauga and Childersburg area. The worldwide organization has built nearly 250,000 homes in the last 30 years providing over one million people with a home. The latest Habitat for Humanity home will be given to Keisha Hill and her two sons, six year-old Dontarious and eight year old Jaylan.
For the Hill family, having a new home is a dream come true. The family struggled to stay warm during the winter and has suffered through many hot summers. Hill told SylacaugaNews.com just a few weeks ago, the poorly insulated home in which she currently lives, got so cold that her sons’ fish bowl actually froze. The family was forced to leave the home and found refuge with family and friends.
Hill called Sylacauga Habitat for Humanity President Jim Adams about that cold night and he was able to speed the process up to help avoid having another cold night for the family.
Thankfully, the Hills will not have that problem anymore.
On Sunday Keisha and her boys will finally get the keys to the home.
“It’s going to feel awesome to get the keys,” said Keisha Hill. “It’s a blessing and I’m so grateful and thankful for this.”
Dontarious and Jaylan are also excited about the home. For the first time the two brothers will have their own bedrooms.
Like most Habitat homes, there are countless hours of hard work that go into the process from many volunteers and even the eventual owners. Habitat for Humanity requires all eventual owners to put in what it calls “sweat equity.” Families receiving a home must spend at least 200 hours of work on the home or volunteering in the community. Adams and Hall both agree the personal time spent working on the home make the owners appreciate it that much more.
“It is just so special to know I was a part of this and know that I helped make this dream happen,” said Hill. “From the long hot summers to the cold winters, it was all worth it and if I could go through it all again I would.”
Sylacauga HFH has made such a difference in Hill’s life that she is planning to join the committee in the near future. Keisha wants to volunteer and give back to the community like so many in the community gave back to her.
“It’s special for me to know that I would have a hand in building a nice and safe home for another family,” said Hill. ‘I just want to be a part of another family’s journey.”
Sylacauga HFH needs more volunteers like Hill. To build a home, the organization needs at least 40 volunteers for the process to be completed in the proper amount of time. According to Adams, houses normally take around 8-10 weeks to be completed if the home has enough volunteers dedicating time to the project.
Adams said while volunteers do not get any physical reward from the hard work, they do get the satisfaction of knowing they helped a family that was in need.
Those who wish to donate their time to HFH are encouraged to contact Volunteer Coordinator Celeste Landers at (256)401-3121. In the future, Sylacauga HFH plans to construct one home every year. After money is raised for a home, applications will be accepted from potential occupants. Applications can be found at Comer Library, Sylacauga City Hall, among other places. Applications will go through a selection committee which will find the perfect candidate for the home. Adams admitted he cannot help everyone who is in need but said HFH is doing the best it can.
The area’s 12th HFH home at 640 Alexander Cir. is set to be dedicated to the Hill family on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22 at 3:30.
Jeremy Law for SylacaugaNews.com | © 2017, SylacaugaNews.com/Marble City Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
