If you ever swing by a Habitat Wake construction site and see the Cardinal Gibbons High School bus parked nearby, you're in for something special. Sure, there's a bit more goofy energy going around than usual (Picture: 30 high school seniors at 9am in hardhats). But there's also something special happening here: young adults are laying the foundation for a lifetime of service and community engagement.
Throughout the year, scattered legacy doors have been gathering signatures and messages in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, tributing his decades of service and dedication to Habitat that have inspired generations of affordable housing advocates.
The doors have been featured in five Triangle ReStore locations and at several events throughout Habitat Wake’s 40th year, showcasing the community’s collective dedication to building homes, communities and hope.
When Habitat for Humanity of Wake County was just beginning in the 1980s, Raleigh business leader Tommy Fonville was among the first to step in to support affordable housing in the Triangle. Forty years later, his daughter Mary Burr Edwards is carrying on that mission.
Their story is one of legacy, but more importantly, it’s about how families and businesses can make a lasting impact by investing in the community they call home.
Habitat for Humanity of Wake County announces the Pope Leo campaign
In the summer of 2024, Gretchen was caught off guard when her best friend, Mica, suddenly asked, “Hey, what’s your gross income? How long have you lived in Wake County?”
Gretchen laughed, unsure what was happening. “I was like, I have no idea what you’re doing—but here you go.”
What Gretchen didn’t realize at the time was that Mica was filling out a Habitat for Humanity of Wake County application on her behalf.
Meet Cameron! He is entering his senior year of high school with a clear vision for his future: a career in construction. This summer, he spent his time on Habitat Wake’s construction site through our Summer of Service program.
“I found the program through a teacher at my school,” Cameron says. “She knew I wanted to work in the construction field after high school, and she really wanted to make sure I got an internship.”
The first formings of a Habitat ReStore popped up six years after Habitat for Humanity of Wake County was founded in 1985.
Habitat for Humanity of Wake County is pleased to announce the fiscal year 25-26 officers and committee chairs for its Board of Directors. Please join us in congratulating Evan Stolove (Chair), Whitney von Haam (Vice Chair), Amy Hilfiker (Treasurer), Wortham Boyle (Secretary), Quincy Amekuedi (HR Committee Chair), Ken Hyer (Nominating & Governance Committee Chair), and John Morgan (At-Large Executive Committee member).
Tynisha has five months left to reach her goal for this year: get her two daughters into their Habitat Wake home by Christmas. If there’s one word that captures her spirit, it’s dedication.
“I applied to Habitat Wake two years ago and I got denied. My feelings were hurt at first, but I decided to keep trying and do what I needed to do,” she recalls. “They told me my income wasn’t high enough. But I couldn’t let this idea go. I’d always had it in my head that I would get my daughters into a home.”
“First, I tried my luck with a traditional mortgage,” Rosemeri recalled. “And this was right about the time that COVID hit, so it was a nightmare for families who were trying to buy a home. People who had more money were offering $50k to $75k over the asking price. They were buying homes without even viewing them. I stood no chance.”
But Rosemeri refused to give up. The dream of homeownership had been an unwavering goal for many years, and behind it all was a powerful motivator: her children.