Over A Hundred Homes Built....Hundreds of Lives Changed. Find Out How You Can Help!
2008 Homebuilder Blitz
This video was made by taking various shots of the workday and combining them into a video showing the progression of the home located at 70 Habitat Court, our 105th home built in Sumter! As you will see....The group from Shumaker Homes that helped us get started did an incredible job! Since Saturday, we have completely shingled the home and have begun vinyl siding. The home's electrical and plumbing rough-ins have also been completed! Be sure to check out our website in the days ahead to see updates on this home and our other home's state of progress!
The Following article appeared in the Sumter Item's "AT EASE" Section on December 10, 2007.
Helping dreams come true
Habitat for Humanity a 'constructive' part of the community
By LEAH SMITH
At-Ease Staff Writer
Lsmith@theitem.com
Martha Ludd had trimmed the tree and all was sparkling for the Dec. 2 dedication of her new home.
Ludd moved herself, her 15-year-old niece, Tjwanna, and her 5-year-old son, Jaymar, into their Habitat for Humanity home Nov.2.
"I love it," said Ludd. The first room I set up was the living room."
Ludd said she hosted Thanksgiving dinner in her new house, entertaining several relatives.
Ludd, who works at Eaton Corporation, is Sumter's 102nd recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home. Those who move into Habitat homes aren't just recipients, though; they are actively involved in the process of building their own homes, and they pay for the home, too.
"We sell the house for what it costs to build it; we make no profit. They pay us back through an interest-free, 20 year loan, and we put the money back into building more houses," said Derek Burress, who has been directing Sumter's Habitat for 15 of the 20 years the local chapter of the organization has been in existence.
"Like I told some of my co-workers, I think you learn to appreciate things even more having actual hands-on experience to build your own home. And I met some wonderful people," Ludd said. "I feel a special thanks to Mr. Bob Brown and to Jim and Ginny Brown. Bob – I call him 'my Bob' – He basically is always there for Habitat…And Jim and Ginny (they are husband and wife but aren't related to Bob Brown) were always there helping people, working with people and would call and ask if I needed anything. They called before, and they kept calling after I moved in. I call them my other set of parents."
Jaymar was excited to have a new house and, particularly, a room of his own.
"I don't think I've ever seen a child so excited," said Burress. "He's too little to help build, but he really wanted to."
"He always would ask if he could hammer the hammer and turn 'those little screwy things,'" said his mother.
Burress said, "We made up things for him to do, though. And as soon as I arrived for the dedication, he wanted to show me his room."
Funds for building materials come from various sources; church groups, local builders and the Habitat Re-Store are three such sources.
The Habitat Re-Store takes donations of new and gently used household items and re-sells them at a low cost. All of the money earned from the re-sale goes toward purchasing building materials.
"There's a youth group from Morristown, N.J., that raises an average of $30,000 each year; they come to Sumter for a week and help start the home, and we finish it," said Burress, who said that Habitat homes, on average take between 12 and 16 weeks to complete – unless there's a Blitz Build going on; then it takes only five or six days.
There will be a Nationwide Home Builders Blitz May 31-June 7. The National organization's goal is to build 1,000 homes in one week.
"Sumter is one of five cities in South Carolina participating," said Burress.
Burress said Habitat is partnering with local contractors and homebuilders to construct at least one new home in the Fuller Gardens Subdivision.
As for the local chapter, Burress said that the goal for 2008 is for nine homes.
"February will be our 21st anniversary, and we will build our 103rd and 104th homes," Burress said. "We have 130 students booked for The Collegiant Challenge between February and April."
All of the labor is a direct gift from volunteers.
"Shaw Air Force Base is one of our best resources by far as far as labor goes," he said.
By Jan. 1, Burress said those who wish to volunteer will be able to do so via the Habitat's Web site — www.habitatsumter.org.
For now, interested volunteers can call (803) 775-5767 or sign up at 30 Bridge Court. Sumter's Habitat for Humanity Web site includes Habitat news, goals, pictures and detailed information about Habitat Re-Store, including hours and what the store will and will not accept.
Coming Soon. The Press Room for Sumter Habitat for Humanity.
