Like bees on a hive, hundreds of volunteers swarmed around the site of Trinity Park's newest Habitat for Humanity house this week, determined to finish the 1,320-sq. ft. structure on schedule for its predetermined owner, Rhonda Head.

Members of six Fayette County Methodist churches collaborated on the “blitz build” in shifts starting last Saturday. Record high temperatures prompted workers to drink 60 gallons of water and 30 gallons of Powerade during the first two days of the blitz, food captain Marsha Wells reported.

Providence United Methodist in Peachtree City, Fayetteville First United Methodist, North Fayette United Methodist and Ebenezer United Methodist, all in Fayetteville, Hopewell United Methodist in Tyrone and Inman United Methodist in Brooks collaborated on all aspects of the project under the direction of Marla Brack of Providence UMC and Doug Higgins of First UMC.

Not even the heavy band of thunderstorms that blew though the Clayton County subdivision Saturday slowed their progress. Workers were on the job after Sunday services with their pastors' blessings, playing catch up.

This is Providence UMC's second year building a Habitat house, according to Brack. Last year they teamed up with Peachtree City UMC for a similar blitz build. With the Peachtree City congregation building a neighboring house of their own this year, Providence decided to form a coalition. “It's been a little different this year,” Brack explained.

“We combined the money and donations from the all the churches, and have worked for the last three months organizing and soliciting materials,” she said. Licensed tradesmen needed for installation of electric, heating and air, volunteered their time to perform the more intricate work. Donations of a deck package from Home Depot and cash donations from other sponsors provided the necessary $45,000 worth of money and materials.

Rhonda Head, who is employed as an office automation assistant for the Centers for Disease Control in Decatur, also is the mother of three boys, a set of twins age 9, and a 4-year-old. Her dream of home ownership began two years ago when she first made application with Habitat for Humanity, Southern Crescent. She was passed over the first time, but tried again and was selected for the 20-year amortized, interest-free mortgage.

By the end of this week, she had completed her 150 hours of “sweat equity,” required by Habitat of all prospective homeowners. “It's somethings else,” Head commented about her new home. The four-bedroom model, which comes complete with her choice of carpeting and flooring, will be dedicated by the churches Aug. 8.

Head was described as a “very strong woman” by a number of volunteers who have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with her the past week. She is particularly well thought of by one of her fellow CDC workers, Dean Fenley of Decatur. “Rhonda is the secretary for our group at the CDC,” Fenley said. He decided to take a week off from work to help build the house, his fourth Habitat project.

While Head is able to finance her own home through the local Habitat initiative, 25 to 30 homes also will be built in Chanyanya, Zambia, as a result of her purchase. John Bowen, executive director for Southern Crescent Habitat, explained that for every $45,000 tithed here, $650 goes to Zambia where additional homes can be built. “A donation to Habitat is an eternal gift,” Bowen added, noting how the money is continually recycled.

Habitat for Humanity is a 22-year-old, non-profit Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing. Volunteers work side by side with future homeowners building houses and community partnerships.

The program provides a way for low- to moderate-income families to own decent, affordable homes of their own.

For information on Habitat for Humanity, Southern Crescent, serving Clayton, Fayette and Henry counties, contact the office at 142 South Main St., Jonesboro; 770-477-2367. Or e-mail Bowen at ohio@mindspring.com.

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