Bobby and Janice Thompson and grandson, Keifer Nelson, stood quietly on the front porch of their new home Sunday as volunteers and supporters of Habitat for Humanity gathered for a dedication service.

The Thompson family are the latest members of the growing Habitat for Humanity of Escambia County family. Their home, on Mayo Street in East Brewton, marked the 18th home completed by the local affiliate in the Brewton/East Brewton area.

Alecia Glaize, HFH executive director, said the home was the result of work by dozens of volunteers and the support of several local businesses.

“We are excited for the Thompson family,” Glaize said. “This home could not have been possible without the help of the volunteers who came to make this home possible. For anyone who swept a floor, painted a board, hung a shingle or planted a bush, we thank you for making this home a reality for the Thompsons.”

Also attending Sunday’s ceremonies were family members of Larry “Buck” Woods, a backyard neighbor of the Thompsons, and the owners of HFH’s 17th building project.

“As we dedicate the home for the Thompson family, we wanted to take a moment and remember their neighbor Larry Woods,” Glaize said. “Larry was so excited about this house. He wanted to help a neighbor realize a dream. Larry passed away suddenly recently, but I’m sure he must be smiling down today to know his neighbors have realized their dream of owning a home.”

Glaize said members of Woods’ family volunteered their time and energy to help make the home a reality for the Thompson family.

During the ceremony, a note written by Nelson was read by Glaize to those who gathered for the dedication of the home.

“I am very proud we have a new home,” Nelson wrote. “I’m also thankful for all the people that came over to help build the house. My MawMaw has always tried to have a safe and decent place to live, but it’s always been someone else’s house. Now we have a nice, safe home, so MawMaw won’t have to worry about us so much when she’s at work. Thank you everyone, and thank you God for answering all of our prayers.”

Both Bobby and Janice Thompson uttered a soft thank you to those who attended the event after being presented with traditional gifts from organizers of the building project.

Rusty Miller, building committee and supervisor of building, presented the family with a hammer for their new home.

“This tool represents the work and love of the people who worked to build this home of the Thompsons,” Miller said. “The people who worked here put their blood, sweat and tears into this home. Without them, we wouldn’t have gotten this project done.”

Miller credited to the volunteers from New Beginnings Ministries with much of the success in completing the home project.

“The volunteers worked day after day to help get this home built,” Miller said. “We want to thank Brother Bo Bell, the New Beginnings Ministy and Norm Pearsy for all of their hard work. I can’t imagine getting this home built without them.”

Bell, minister for the New Beginnings Worship Center, offered prayer for the family, the home and volunteers followed by the presentation of a Bible for the Thompson family.

Stephanie Walker, HFH president, made the Bible presentation to the family.

“Habitat for Humanity is such a wonderful mission and stands on Christian values,” Walker said. “This Bible is presented to offer guidance for the family. We hope they will read the Bible and use it daily.”

As a part of the traditional presentation ceremony, Elsie Butler, HFH family support committee member of Atmore, presented owners’ manuals for appliances to the family as the keys to their new home.

Jim Reece, HFH committee member of Atmore, presented the symbolic mortgage to the Thompson family for their signatures.

“This home is not free,” Bill said.

“A mortgage comes with this home. We appreciate things more when we invest in them. The Thompsons have already put sweat into this home and will continue to invest in this home.”

Following the mortgage signing, the family was presented with scissors, used by Keifer Nelson, for the traditional ribbon cutting at the front door of the home.

The Thompson home marks the second home built in East Brewton by Habitat for Humanity of Escambia County. Last fall, a large group of students, along with other HFH volunteers involved in the Brush with Kindness program, spruced up several homes along Snowden Street in East Brewton by painting, repairing and cleaning up home sites there.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Escambia County and to see additional photos from the Mayo Street and other building projects, visit the organization’s Web site at www.escambiahfh.org.