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Habitat gives keys to Byrd family
More than 25 times on Friday, Lori Byrd pulled Scott Clayton aside and reminded him, “Hey Scott, I own a house.”
It was like she had to keep saying it to remind herself that what was happening on Friday was real.
It had been a long time coming for Byrd, more than a year and a half, in fact, since she signed the papers to become Habitat for Humanity’s first ever homeowner in Carthage.
On Friday, Clayton, the Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity Director, and dozens of volunteers, stood and applauded as Travis Brock, with the Carthage Lowe’s Home Improvement store, handed Byrd the keys to her two-story home.
With that, she no longer had to pinch and remind herself .
“I am more thankful than you will ever know,” Byrd told the more than 100 people gathered on the corner of Maple and Vine streets.
“A few years ago I didn’t know where my life would go,” Byrd said. “On Thursday I signed the papers and now I own a house.”
The program printed up for Friday’s ceremonial key presentation and ribbon cutting listed 54 groups or businesses along with the four organizers and Garrison Construction.
Friday’s ceremony also included a ribbon cutting by the Carthage Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and presentation of a bible by the Rev. Matthew Roberts, with the First Presbyterian Church.
“I’ve worked on a lot of Habitat houses over the years across the country,” Roberts said. “But I’ve never gotten to see one done.”
Work began more than 18 months ago on Byrd’s home.
The project was delayed by leadership changes in the Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity and an economy that went sour and limited how much giving volunteers, contractors and suppliers could do on the project.
In August, local volunteers, including Lora Phelps, Tami Adams, Corrine Waggoner and Debbie Ralston with the Carthage Soroptomists started a new push to raise money to finish the project.
They even held a pajama party earlier this month to raise money for the project.
Clayton contacted Garrison Construction and the Carthage builders volunteered to take over supervision of the construction of the house.
A final push by a host of volunteers, groups, businesses and churches in Carthage through September finally completed the project.
The house features four bedrooms on the main floor and a full, unfinished basement. The basement has a safe-room that the family can use in case of severe weather.
Habitat gives keys to Byrd family
More than 25 times on Friday, Lori Byrd pulled Scott Clayton aside and reminded him, “Hey Scott, I own a house.”
It was like she had to keep saying it to remind herself that what was happening on Friday was real.
It had been a long time coming for Byrd, more than a year and a half, in fact, since she signed the papers to become Habitat for Humanity’s first ever homeowner in Carthage.
On Friday, Clayton, the Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity Director, and dozens of volunteers, stood and applauded as Travis Brock, with the Carthage Lowe’s Home Improvement store, handed Byrd the keys to her two-story home.
With that, she no longer had to pinch and remind herself .
“I am more thankful than you will ever know,” Byrd told the more than 100 people gathered on the corner of Maple and Vine streets.
“A few years ago I didn’t know where my life would go,” Byrd said. “On Thursday I signed the papers and now I own a house.”
The program printed up for Friday’s ceremonial key presentation and ribbon cutting listed 54 groups or businesses along with the four organizers and Garrison Construction.
Friday’s ceremony also included a ribbon cutting by the Carthage Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and presentation of a bible by the Rev. Matthew Roberts, with the First Presbyterian Church.
“I’ve worked on a lot of Habitat houses over the years across the country,” Roberts said. “But I’ve never gotten to see one done.”
Work began more than 18 months ago on Byrd’s home.
The project was delayed by leadership changes in the Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity and an economy that went sour and limited how much giving volunteers, contractors and suppliers could do on the project.
In August, local volunteers, including Lora Phelps, Tami Adams, Corrine Waggoner and Debbie Ralston with the Carthage Soroptomists started a new push to raise money to finish the project.
They even held a pajama party earlier this month to raise money for the project.
Clayton contacted Garrison Construction and the Carthage builders volunteered to take over supervision of the construction of the house.
A final push by a host of volunteers, groups, businesses and churches in Carthage through September finally completed the project.
The house features four bedrooms on the main floor and a full, unfinished basement. The basement has a safe-room that the family can use in case of severe weather.
