Page 42 - Discover Summer 2023
P. 42
C l u bs a nd Org a niza t i o ns
Clubs and Organizations
Groundbreaking!
By Rachel Martin
Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County, pay an affordable mortgage. With help, those
VA. held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, homeowners achieve the independence they need
March 17, at 10 a.m. on Pleasant Hill Rd. in to build a better life for themselves and their
Rocky Mount. The event celebrated the local families. A decent place to live and an affordable
affiliate’s start on their 23rd new home build since mortgage create a situation where homeowners
it was founded in 1994 and its second build in the can save more, invest in education, pursue
last year. opportunity, and have more financial stability.
“This is a big step up for us”, said Executive The soon-to-be homeowner, Lyrie, has called
Director, Sheila Overstreet. “For the first time in Franklin County home all her life. She and her
our affiliate’s history, we’re working on our second 5-year-old daughter have been living with family
home within the same fiscal year. This is the fruit while she works and attends college full-time. “I
of a lot of hard work and community investment. am super excited about building this house”, she
Eventually, we’d like to build three homes every said, “I’ve always wanted to build my own home.
year in Franklin County and become the leading My daughter is going to have so much more
occupant-owned affordable housing developer in freedom and independence.”
the county.”
Habitat relies on volunteer labor and
People in our community and all over the donations of money and materials to subsidize
world partner with Habitat to build or improve their affordable home program. To find out how
a place they can call home. Homeowners build you can volunteer or donate, visit the Habitat’s
their own homes alongside volunteers and website at www.HabitatFCVA.org.
40 Discover Smith Mountain Lake SUMMER 2023
