Howard Thurman (1900-1981), theologian and civil rights leader states it so well:

It is definitely the season for giving and for that we are grateful. I often say that if our donations were at the December level throughout the year, imagine how many more families we could serve.

Last month, we met an amazing woman volunteering with our A Brush with Kindness exterior repair program.  Her name is Amber May, and she and her husband are students of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.  She revealed that Habitat for Humanity has a very special place in her heart.

I made my way out to our White Oak Villas site in Apex on Saturday morning to help greet our 100+ construction volunteers.  Instead, I was greeted by the Town of Apex’s entire planning department, who had arrived early to do all the landscaping for our first 8 homes in the community!

We work with planning departments to get our site plans and house plans approved as well as all of the various inspections necessary in new home construction.  One of the staff members mentioned how cool it was to help build one of the communities she had actually approved!

Last night, we celebrated with Jane & Yabesh, the dedication of their new home at White Oak Villas in Apex.  What a story of triumph they had to tell.

Five years ago, they won an “immigration lottery” in their homeland of Kenya to immigrate legally to the U.S.  This had been a goal of theirs for literally years so that their four children could receive the best education possible.

In celebration of World Habitat Day this week, Habitat Wake hosted our good friend, Alberto Benitez, national director of Habitat for Humanity in Honduras.

Last week Habitat Wake had the benefit of working with Coastal Federal Credit Union on the groundbreaking ceremony of 4911 Werriebee Drive in Raleigh. What was so special about this event was that Coastal is the Exclusive sponsor on this Habitat home. As the only exclusive sponsor this year, Coastal Federal Credit Union raised $100,000 for the purchase of the land and the construction of this home - an amazing contribution and achievement.

Last Tuesday, Habitat Wake dedicated the Holloway family home on Parnell Street. Deonna Holloway chose to build in the Long Acres neighborhood of Raleigh. This effort is part of a Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative (NRI) that is committed to bettering the communities in which our homeowners live.

Habitat Wake was recognized, along with four other Triangle Home Builders, for our excellence in green home building at an award reception on August 1. Green building is especially important to Habitat homebuyer partners because lower utility costs and better indoor air quality improve our construction of safe, affordable housing.