Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Thanks to the Piedmont Habitat for Humanity (PHFH) Drakes Branch residents Martha, Stella and Dorothy Stearnes will soon be homeowners.

PHFH broke ground in Drakes Branch for their first new home construction in Charlotte County on Sept. 21.
“We are very excited for the work Habitat has been able to do over the last few years in Charlotte County, including six home repairs and two home renovations,” said Sam Rabon, Piedmont Habitat for Humanity Director of Resource Development and Marketing.

According to Rabon, PHFH first visited the Stearnes home when they received a request for the Brush with Kindness program in Charlotte, which is for homeowners in need of minor, exterior repairs to preserve health and safety of their home.
“It was determined the house needed repairs beyond  that program,” explained Rabon. “However, Stella was able to qualify for our homeownership program.”

Over the next few weeks, the foundation for the home will be laid, and construction will begin according to Rabon.

Volunteer opportunities include both construction (no experience necessary) and providing lunches for volunteers working on Saturdays. Phil Jackson chairman of the Piedmont Habitat Charlotte County Committee says this is the time for neighbors to help neighbors.

“I often hear folks comment about the good ole days when neighbors would help each other, those days are still here,” he said, “You can be a part of that by volunteering. One does not have to be a master builder to work on the house.”

PHFH first began work in Charlotte County in 2016. Since then, two families have become homeowners of formerly vacant homes where PHFH remodeled, making them like new.

To volunteer with PHFH or for more information on the organization, contact Rabon at (434) 394-3001 or Jackson at (434) 208 0558.