Local & State Headlines

'Blitz build' homes finished

• Three new homes were dedicated Saturday by the Flint River Habitat for Humanity.

J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — The 100 block of Willow Oak Court in the Woodland Oaks subdivision is quite literally the block that Habitat built.

The officials with the Flint River Habitat for Humanity have adopted that neighborhood, building five homes over the last several months in that area and providing low-cost but high-sweat housing to those who might not have other wise had it, according to Director Stacey Odum-Driggers.

Saturday, the group dedicated three new homes and gave the keys to three very grateful families and literally opening the door to their new lives.

“This has really just been a blitz of a build,” Driggers said. “We’ve had the collegiate build and the women’s build and several others. There has truly been a diverse group of volunteers working on these homes.”

Overcoming unforeseen building obstacles and crime — some of the workers were robbed in a nearby neighborhood while taking a walk just this week — the group has nearly completed the homes and is hoping to finish up soon.

At Saturday’s dedication, the new homeowners expressed their gratitude to the people and organization that helped them get a new start.

“I want to thank God first,” Thelma McClary said. “I’m just so happy. Everybody that helped or donated or whatever, I’m just so grateful. Words can’t express it. Thank ya’ll so much.”

First started last October, the homeowners and volunteers have invested months of what organizers call sweat equity to get the houses up and habitable.

An organization founded on Christian principles, Saturday’s dedication also included a traditional house blessing that ended with the home owners receiving Bibles.

Habitat builder Daphyne Edwards, who minutes before the dedication was elbow deep laying sod in front of one of the houses, also thanked everyone who had a hand in the builds.

“Thanks go to everyone who helped out,” she said. “Whether it was swinging a hammer or donating money or sending up a prayer we thank God for your help and support.”

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