Faith in action
Published 9:05 am Wednesday, September 5, 2007
By By Lisa Tindell – news reporter
Two families are finding a place of their own following dedication ceremonies at the latest homes built by volunteers with the Greater Brewton Habitat for Humanity organization.
The two homes were completed during a 29-day building blitz recently. The group plans a seven-day blitz to build a home in East Brewton in November.
Aronette Thompson, along with her daughter, Tempestt, is taking up residence in their new home at 729 ? Sowell Road. The second house, located at 705 Lovelace Avenue will be the new home of Kelvin and Barbara Ewing and their grandchildren, Tynisha, Lakrisha, Shania, Blake and Rainelle.
The Rev. Alecia Glaize, executive director of Greater Brewton Habitat for Humanity, began the dedication ceremony for both homes.
Hammers used in the construction of the homes were presented to each owner during the ceremony by Charles Everage and Robert Hardy, chairmen of the GBHFH building committee.
Hardy recalled how many homes in Florida were demolished by Hurricane Dennis in the recent past with the only surviving homes being ones built by Habitat volunteers.
Barbara Ewing, owner of the house on Lovelace Avenue, said she now believes her family has a home.
Aronette Thompson was left nearly speechless at the close of the ceremony because of emotions surrounding the realization of her new home.
Glaize said the dedication was a celebration of accomplishment and hard work.
Denise Alverson, vice president of GBHFH presented each family with a Bible for their homes. A certificate of occupancy was presented to both families by Glaize who stood in for Terrence Breckenridge and Rusty Miller, managers of the building blitz.
As the final steps were taken to allow each of the two families to be able to call the home their own, Bobi Rush, president of GBHFH, signed a symbolic mortgage agreement and presented keys to the home to each new owner.
Rush explained that the two homes were built during a blitz held recently that saw the completion of the homes in record time.
Hardy said plans for more houses are being made with a home planned in East Brewton.
GBHFH has presented keys to homes to 13 families in the Brewton area and continues to make plans for future homes.