The Charlotte County Partnership of the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity is ending the year on a high note, along with the possibility of building their first new home in the county.

“The Charlotte County Partnership is also very excited for another step forward with the announcement of their first new home construction in the county,” said information from the partnership.

The Stearnes family of Drakes Branch are slated to be the participants of the first new home project in the county, according to information provided by the Partnership.

“This new home, built near other family members, will give them a solid, stable foundation for building new family memories for years to come,” said the Partnership.

According to information provided by the partnership, the Charlotte County Partnership was started just a few years ago after interest was expressed to have a Habitat for Humanity program in the area.

“The decision was made from the beginning to focus on repair work. To that end, the partnership began with the Habitat program known as A Brush with Kindness (ABWK),” said the Partnership.

ABWK aids residents with minor repairs to the exterior of their homes, such as painting, installing gutters, repairing/ replacing doors and windows, and working on porches, ramps and rails, according to the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity website.

For the first Volunteer Day in Charlotte County, about 26 local residents helped to paint an entire home in Red House within three hours, said the website.

Additionally, information from the Charlotte County Partnership said four homes received repairs in 2018.

These homes were located in Drakes Branch, Keysville and Saxe.

In March, Darlene Jones of Drakes Branch received repairs under the ABWK program from Habitat for Humanity.

The repairs included rebuilding two porches.

At that time, Jones said she was thankful for the repairs and her new porches were safer for the young children living at the home.

“Just as with new home construction, the fact that much of the work is done using volunteer labor greatly reduces the overall cost, leading to an affordable repayment plan for which they may not be able to get done by other means,” said the Partnership.

The Partnership said the opportunity to do a full home rehabilitation was also presented this year for an empty house.

The home, located in Keysville, “will be a wonderful home for a local family,” said the Partnership.

In addition, local volunteers aided in the rehabilitation of the home, including children from Ash Camp Baptist Church who made flower beds.

“Many individuals, along with many churches and the ongoing generosity of the Charlotte County Lions Club, are helping to ensure a bright future for those in Charlotte County in need of safe, decent, affordable housing,” said the Partnership.

For more information about the Charlotte County Partnership of the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity, contact Phillip Jackson philjacksondb@gmail. com or by calling (434) 208-0558.