TUTWILER — Against the backdrop of a pandemic, West Tallahatchie Habitat for Humanity has shown a firm commitment to fulfilling their mission of providing decent, affordable housing for low-income families in need by finalizing their 46th construction project.
Dambreal Wiley, who was the local affiliate's 2020 Home Ownership Program recipient, became a beneficiary of that resolve and now is Habitat's newest local homeowner.
Abiding by strict COVID-19 safety protocols, a work crew consisting of a build site coordinator, Wiley, her family members and local volunteers were able to complete construction of the new house at 138 Morrow Cove by the end of December.
On Feb. 1, the home was dedicated during a special ceremony sponsored by West Tallahatchie Habitat.
Habitat board member Ora Johnson presented Wiley with a Bible, to serve as a reminder of God's continuing presence in the home; a hammer, to signify the many people of faith who made this home possible; and keys, representative of opening not only the door of the home, but the door to a brighter future for Wiley and her family.
Asked to comment, Wiley said, "I have enjoyed every minute working side by side with other volunteers building on a house that will soon be mine. The partnership I have formed with West Tallahatchie Habitat for Humanity staff has allowed me to acquire skills that will last me a lifetime. I will be forever grateful."
Wiley thanked the West Tallahatchie Habitat board for selecting her for their Home Ownership Program, as well as the volunteers both near and far who donated and devoted their time and service over the past three years to building her new home.
Cited for appreciation were Wiley's family; La Canada Presbyterian Church of La Canada, California; St. Thomas the Apostolic Church of Naperville, Illinois; Sheil Catholic Center of Evanston, Illinois; the University of Chicago School of Pharmacy in Chicago; Holy Names University of Oakland, California; Oaklawn Baptist Church of Newman, Georgia; Urbana High School of Urbana, Illinois; First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove, Illinois; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and, more specifically, the Omega Psi Zeta chapter of Ruleville; the Mississippi State University Athletic Department; and the University of Mississippi.
"The West Tallahatchie Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a Christian nonprofit organization created based on the idea of partnership housing, where those in need of adequate shelter work side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent and affordable homes," said local affiliate coordinator Sherri Hilliard. "A Habitat for Humanity home is not a handout, but a hand up."
According to the Habitat website at www.habitat.org, "Habitat’s homeowner families buy the houses that Habitat builds and renovates. Habitat homeowners also invest hundreds of hours of their own labor working alongside volunteers. As a result, Habitat for Humanity houses are affordable to low-income families around the world."
About the work of the West Tallahatchie Habitat affiliate and all who support it, Hilliard said, "We are making a difference in our little corner of the Mississippi Delta."
