(Photo/David Owens)
It’s a moment Nanette Baughman says she’ll never forget: The moment she turned over the first set of house keys to a family in her role as Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia. Nanette took over the job after long-time director Billy Boyd left last Fall. On Saturday, July 25th Nanette presided over her first house dedication ceremony. “I am very excited,” she said, moments before handing the keys to new homeowners Guadalupe and Francisco Hurtado and their four children. “This one will always have a special place in my heart.”
The house on Level Grove Road took many long hours and lots of hard work by many people to finish. “It has been a wonderful community effort,” Baughman says. She credits the numerous volunteers and local building supply retailer Lowe’s for bringing the blueprints to life. “We could not have done it without all the volunteers and all the community support.”
Several dozen college students helped with construction on the Hurtado home during spring break and Lowe’s sponsored National Women Build Week.
This is the 66th house built and dedicated by Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia since the group started in 1985. That averages out to 2.2 houses per year over the past 30 years.
It doesn’t look like that pace is going to slow anytime soon. Another house is already in the works.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled next week for House #67. It will be built at 565 West Waters Street in Clarkesville. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held Tuesday, July 28th at 9am. The public is invited to attend.
Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia serves Habersham and White Counties. For more information on Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony or to learn how you can get involved, contact Habitat at 706-754-5313 extension 201.
