Our 49th and 50th Homes

Terry Foster flanked by lay pastor Bob Nelson and his wife Maggi
Picture by Patrick Hinely

Jodie Wilhelm and son Ryan
Picture by Patrick Hinely

On Sunday, June 26, Habitat volunteers, supporters and homeowners Jodie Wilhelm and Terry Foster gathered to celebrate the dedication of Rockbridge Area Habitat's 49th and 50th homes. Alice Waddell, co-chair of the Family Partnership Committee (FPC) guided the ceremony, and lay pastor Bob Nelson blessed the two families and their new homes. Jodie and Terry, who each put 350 hours of work into building her new home, radiated pride and joy. Both stood to thank Habitat's volunteers and staff, and their friends and families for their help and support. Alice gave a bible to Terry and one to Jodie. Then she handed each the key to her new home.

Jodie’s and Terry’s homes stand side-by-side at the top of a hill just outside of the City of Lexington, VA. Fields of meadow grass surround the homes, and stunning mountains views are in every direction. These are the first of a collection of Habitat homes that will be built in the mixed-income neighborhood of Greenhouse Village.

Jodie’s home is light gray with maroon shutters. A front porch lends interest to the simple design. A wheelchair ramp, built to accommodate Jodie’s mother, hugs one side of the house. Inside, laminate flooring shines and fresh paint glows on every wall. Jodie and her son Ryan will move into their new three-bedroom, one-bath home in a few days.

Jodie's Home

Students enrolled in Kurt Bennett’s building and trades program at Rockbridge County High School constructed Terry’s home. The students gain valuable construction skills by building one Habitat home a year.

After the RCHS students have finished their work on a Habitat home, the home is moved from the school to its permanent location. Then Habitat staff and volunteers add the finishing touches. Terry’s home will be ready for her to move into in about four more weeks.

Terry’s home is tan with royal blue shutters. She has both a front porch and a small back porch. The interior layout is open and flowing, making the small home seem spacious. The plants in Terry's and Jodie's yards were purchased and planted by our volunteer master gardener, Heather Marion. Both homes have a young tree in the front yard and several attractive bushes.

Student volunteers hold a "50" sign on the porch of Terry's home

The new homes at the top of the hill are safe, decent, and affordable. We wish that Terry and Jodie, and Jodie’s son Ryan, will be happy in their new homes for many, many years to come!

Thank you for these houses built here on earth, by your children, for your children in love and hope and joy.

-From the Litany of Dedication, read during Habitat dedication ceremonies.

Come to the Lexington ReStore for beautiful furniture

and trendy college stuff!

Washington and Lee students and Virginia Military cadets have left for the summer and the Lexington ReStore is overflowing with donated desks, storage containers, floor lamps, sofas, mattresses and more! New items arrive daily.

Questions about the Lexington ReStore? Call 463-3770.

If you’re interested in the antique and unusual, check out our:

• 1940’s “Ullman Rocket” standing hairdryer and shampoo station

• 1924 Singer sewing machine with original parts and manual

• Working Lanshire electric clock with “covered wagon” motif

The Buena Vista ReStore has quality construction materials at fair prices for the professional builder or weekend warrior. While you’re picking up some items for the kitchen you’re renovating, check out the Bowflex exercise machine!

Questions for the Buena Vista Restore? Call 261-5042.

Repairing Tornado-Damaged Homes

The central United States has been hit by back-to-back disasters with a devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo., other tornadoes across the south and Midwest and flooding from the Mississippi River. Affected communities face an enormous task of cleaning up and rebuilding. Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the region will be assessing the damage to low-income housing in their communities.

Repairing Tornado-Damaged Homes in Birmingham

By Michele Duley

I have personally experienced several natural disasters in my lifetime, including a tropical storm on the verge of becoming a Category One hurricane and an earthquake major enough to do significant damage. And I’ve seen a lot of damage caused by humans and Mother Nature alike that would break the heart of any person with an ounce of compassion.

But of all my life experiences, I don’t think I’ve ever come across anything that really prepared me for the devastation and destruction left in the wake of the recent tornadoes that ripped through large sections of Alabama, along with several other regions across the country.

We set out to the North Smithfield area of Birmingham Monday morning, eager to begin our week-long journey through Build-a-Thon 2011.

The tornadoes had hit especially hard in this area, and there were many houses along the way that were touched in some way: missing roofs, torn or missing siding and shingles, holes in walls and missing doors. Some houses were completely demolished and the scraps of wood intermingled with ruined possessions were stacked neatly in a pile on the property, awaiting one of the many debris pickups to come in the weeks ahead.

A Habitat house just recently under construction was twisted badly enough to ruin the frame, and had to be deconstructed before it even became a home.

But not everything was destroyed. Whole houses and neighboring areas were left intact and unaffected, and for every house beyond repair there were several that required only minor repair work. Perhaps the hardest part to take from this disaster was the absolute randomness of it all. It was complete chance as to which houses suffered how much damage.

The miracle of the whole incident is that not one Habitat homeowner on this block was seriously injured or killed, a testament to the power and importance of homeowner education classes.

North Smithfield was not originally on our BAT itinerary for the week. The tornadoes and the damage they caused were a recent event, happening long after activities were finalized. But the disaster relief provided by the AmeriCorps today was nonetheless an integral part of the Habitat mission. In my estimation these efforts were a vitally important experience for us to take part in as we (as AmeriCorps, as Habitat for Humanity, and as global citizens) work to eliminate poverty housing, no matter what the cause.