Family receives new home through Habitat for Humanity in Gibson County
DYER, Tenn.– One organization fulfills their mission statement by providing a home for a local family.
After 16 months of making an 80 year old house a home for one resident, Habitat of Humanity of Gibson county had a dedication ceremony for the Hawks family.
“It just rolled right into place. Just automatically and the next thing you know they were like ‘We’re picking you’ and I was like ‘What?!’ It just kind of rolled. I was like “‘I cant believe this is happening so fast,'” Laura Hawks, new home recipient, shares.
Laura Hawks, the new home owner, thanks her friend for encouraging her to fill out a Habitat for Humanity application.
Gary Paschall with Habitat for Humanity in Gibson County shares how this became possible for the Hawks.
“She qualified through the “Rural Development plan” and after that, she had to put in so many hours of what we call “sweat equity,” Paschall shares.
The “Sweat Program” asks that future home owners to provide volunteer hours either by themselves, through family and friends, and even good grades to help complete the process.
“I did have help first of all, but I painted almost everyday. After work I would come up here and painted for two months,” she adds.
Hawks painted all of the ceilings of her home, completed 300 sweat hours, and even wrote scriptures on the frame work of the home.
“‘The lord will fight for you. You need only be still.’ That one is a classic for another time of my life that I went through that I just couldn’t fight, I couldn’t fight but he did,” Hawks shares.
Hawks’ daughter, Lily Hawks, shares what she thinks of the new home and her favorite part of it all.
“It’s good, I like it, the pantry, “Lily shares.
“Really? Would’ve never thought that,” Laura says.
The home, originally was 80 years old, so everything is brand new for the Hawks.
“With the help of some volunteers we completely gutted it. We took out wiring, walls, plumbing, windows, roofing, floor covering, and everything that’s inside is brand new,” Paschall adds.
He shares that this is his favorite part of what he does.
“I just made a statement in there a minute ago, I said ‘This doesn’t look like a house anymore, this looks like a home.'”
