Although some ground preparation has been done, Jennifer Dorriety will begin to see her dream come to life Friday morning as the Escambia County Habitat for Humanity organization begins building her home.

Dorriety and her daughter Kaylee will be the newest family to become owners of a home built by Habitat volunteers — the first Habitat house to be built in Atmore since the organization expanded to include the entire county. Groundbreaking begins at 8 a.m.

Alecia Glaize, executive director for Escambia County Habitat for Humanity, said that while many of the volunteers on the project will come from Atmore, Glaize said she hopes their counterparts in Brewton will also take part.

“I hope and expect our Brewton people to make the road trip to Atmore,” Glaize said. “In Atmore, they’ve got the interest and enthusiasm; our Brewton people have the experience.”

Glaize said she wants Atmore and Brewton to continue to work together on all Habitat builds and projects.

“We can do so much more good that way,” she said.

Glaize said she has been “amazed” by the response from Atmore volunteers and sponsors.

“Atmore has really stepped up to the plate,” Glaize said. “We have had a tremendous response to our first project. We have 20 sponsors that will be attending our groundbreaking ceremonies Friday morning. Those are the sponsors who have made a cash contribution or in-kind contributions in addition to committing to 100 volunteer hours.”

Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheryl Vickery said the chamber will be hosting the event, providing breakfast for the morning.

“We are excited about this project and this build,” Vickery said. “We are happy to host the ribbon-cutting for the first building project of Habitat in Atmore.”

Vickery said coffee, donuts and juice will be provided to help volunteers get off to a good start on the first day of the project.

James Hosman, chief operating officer of Martin Construction, said his business has planned to be a part of the build throughout the project.

“We have committed to being a part of the ground breaking and when needed throughout the building process,” Hosman said. “I really felt like we could help out in several ways. We will be able to help out where we can doing what we can throughout the process.”

Hosman said volunteers have been at the building site this week in preparation for the ground breaking.

“We have some volunteers working this week to prepare for the construction to begin,” Hosman said. ‘We’ll be able to help out more through the week by sending someone out to work between the times volunteers will be at the construction site.”

Volunteers do not have to pre-register, but Glaize encouraged those interested to do that so that they can receive a T-shirt and lunch.

Volunteers can register online at the Habitat Web site at www.escambiahfh.org or can call the Habitat office at 251-867-0095.

Volunteers do not have to have previous building skills or experience.

Work on the 17th Habitat house will begin at 8 a.m. Friday, lasting until 4 p.m. that day. Volunteers will work another 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule Saturday and Sunday.

Additional scheduled days include Friday, May 28, and Saturday, May 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.