We are fortunate to have an outstanding Board of Directors at Habitat for Humanity. As the leaders of our affiliate, each plays a vital role not only at the top level, but usually deep in the weeds, as well. We welcome our newest board members and encourage you to learn more about this unique way of supporting our affiliate’s mission. Joining us this year are the following:

We are thrilled to have such talented and generous individuals leading us – thank you!

Our longtime volunteer and supporter Beth Whitman celebrated her 80th birthday surrounded by friends and relatives.

Beth came here in the late 60’s from West Virginia. She attended Marshall College. She has two grown sons: one who tracks salmon in Alaska who has a daughter; the other is a lawyer in Raleigh with a baby daughter and two teen aged sons.

Beth enjoys running, bicycling and working for Habitat. Beth and friend, Cele Bryant, were involved with sponsoring house # 6 built by this affiliate in the early 1990’s.  Cele had told her good friend Beth of her wish to build a Habitat house (back before many women were building in this affiliate). One day Beth said, “Do you still want to do that?  I’ll be your partner.” Beth and Cele raised the money and provided much of the volunteer work on The House That Friends Built which became the home of Jewel Melton and her twin granddaughters in June of 2007.  Cele remembers suggesting to Beth that they should ask friends to donate $1000 each. Beth replied, “That isn’t going to happen.”  Cele said, “No, but if we ask for $1000, they may give $500”.  About 15 people did give $1000. Cele and Beth referred to them as “Best Friends”.

The homeowner said about Beth, “She is a wonderful person, so kind.  If she can do anything for you, she wants to do so.  She is one of a kind.” Beth still sends Jewel a card every Christmas and contacts her every Thanksgiving.  One of Jewell’s 19 year old twins still lives with her grandmother and the other stays there frequently.

Beth’s Habitat dedication over the years inspires all of us to do better, to be better. She has been instrumental in both building homes for families in the Sandhills and hosted students from the UMD Collegiate Challenge in the basement of her home for two years in a row.

At her 80th birthday party Beth gave $80 to those in attendance and she has heard back from many of them about how they used the money. One participant took their teens to a restaurant for dinner and was discussing with the young people what she should do with the money.  One of the teens said, “You see those two policemen having dinner.  I think we should buy their dinner.” And they did.

Sandhills Habitat is gearing up for our next build, and are doing our best to fill all build days. Volunteers can keep labor costs low, and serve more families – we estimate each hour of volunteerism is worth $25. We will need to fill 1,000 hours of build time for the upcoming home on Rosemont Ave. in the Briarwood neighborhood. Shifts are available from 8am until 1pm on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. We are planning for 10 build days. We need them filled as soon as possible. If your workplace, church, neighborhood or family can join us on a build day, we promise a fun and fulfilling day of learning and laughing while making it possible for someone to build their home. They purchase it with a guaranteed affordable mortgage. Our homeowner, Mark, is very excited about his new home, and we are honored to share in this journey with him.

Over the past 3 years, Habitat has invested over $500,000 in funds generated from outside Richmond County to help families within the county who may not otherwise be able to have safe and affordable housing. We are also accepting applications for our 2021 Urgent Repair Program and our Home Preservation Grant through the USDA for an additional $100,000 or more in repairs in Richmond County.

We appreciate the support from Rockingham First United Methodist Church, Enviva, the Cole Foundation and Richmond County United Way as local financial supporters that we need as leverage and matches for some of these funds. With additional local financial support, we believe we can continue to increase the benefit to Richmond County families.

You may also email Christy at volunteer@sandhillshabitat.org for assistance or to book a private build day for your group of 12 people or more. To support this effort financially, you may donate at our website, mail a check to 2268 NC 5 Hwy Aberdeen, NC 28315 or contact Amie Fraley at 910-295-1934 x5 or afraley@sandhillshabitat.org.

Wendy Jones is a homeowner-in-progress, Habitat advocate, teacher and mother of three teenage boys. She is a breathe of fresh air who has a wealth of knowledge she would like to share with families who are considering partnering with Habitat.

~Wendy Jones

Join fellow military personnel and first responders to help support our day of remembrance on 9/11. Please email volunteer@sandhillshabitat.org for more information".

Saturday of every month.