Volunteers put roof on first Habitat house

In recent weeks, several churches and community service organizations have worked together to raise a roof in Winfield.

It sits above Augusta/CSRA Habitat For Humanity's first project in Columbia County, which will soon become the home of Teneshia Willingham and her 7-year-old son Tydarius Elam.

On August 5, dozens of volunteers from Walnut Grove, First Mt. Carmel and Rehoboth Baptist churches, Concerned Citizens of Columbia County, the Clarks Hill Association and Army and Navy units stationed at Fort Gordon swung hammers and installed shingles on the roof of the 980-square-foot home on Old Winfield Road overlooking Cobbham Road.

Willingham, who as a recipient of a Habitat home must perform 500 hours of sweat equity, said she's excited about her new house. If all goes according to plan, Williams said she hopes to move in in November.

"It's a nice place to raise kids," the Winfield native and current resident of Lincolnton said. She said the new house will be much closer to her job at Blue Ridge Elementary School, where her son also attends school.

Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 and sells the homes to homeowners without profit. Volunteer labor and donated supplies keep costs to a minimum, according to the program's official Web site.

"It's not a giveaway program," said Dennis J. Hoyt, the executive director of the Augusta/CSRA chapter. "It's a program to improve the standards of living in our community and try to eliminate substandard housing."

The Winfield house, his chapter's 60th, has been about 19 months in the making and volunteer help has been vital, Hoyt said.

"That's the reason we can build the houses for the price we can," he said. "They are a no-interest loan."

Oscar Taylor, chairman of the Concerned Citizens of Columbia County, said that while volunteers are bettering their community, they're building camaraderie as well.

"It just brings the community together when you can do something like this," he said. "Don't talk about it, make something happen. We're making something happen and I'm proud of it."

Adding the support of Columbia County Commissioner Lee Anderson has been instrumental, Taylor said.

Hoyt said his organization has received generous support from the community, including DeFoor Realty, which made the project possible by donating the land. But more help is needed, Hoyt said.

The Augusta chapter is seeking donations of labor, money and building supplies such as dry wall, vinyl siding, carpet and paint. For more information, or to donate your help or needed supplies, contact Amy Thomas at (706) 481-8681.