The Natchez-Adams County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, a United Way agency, is proud to announce that the Rachal family — Philip, Jordan and their four children — will be moving into their new home soon.

There will be a formal dedication ceremony at the house, 1016 Martin Luther King St., at 2 p.m. Sunday, where the keys to their home will be officially presented to the Rachal family.

All financial donors, volunteer workers, other Habitat homeowners, city officials and the general public are invited to come to the dedication ceremony. Please come and see the emotional impact a new home can have on the new family. It is a joy to behold.

Construction of this house started back in November 2013 and was built primarily with volunteer labor. Nearly 135 different volunteers spent the equivalent of more than 400 workdays to finish the house in about 10 months. Included in this total are the 500 hours worked by the Rachal family and friends as a certain number of “sweat equity” (actual work time) hours is a requirement strictly imposed by Habitat.

A special thank you to those who provided their expertise free of charge or at a substantial discount; these include Lee Scott Construction (electrical), Johnny Waycaster (foundation plans), Tommy Smith (crane for lifting trusses), Premo Stallone Plumbing (plumbing), Ken Tillage (cabinets), Scooter Cauthern (dug foundation and driveway), Jeff and Jarthur Holmes (sheetrock finish), Johnny Fitzgerald and crew (brick work), Chuck Goldman and crew (flooring installation), J&J Carpet (flooring), Delta Rentals (concrete saw and tiller), Dianne’s Frame Shop and Quality Glass (mirrors and frames) and Bob Longmire’s Buffalo Sod Farm (pallets of St. Augustine sod).

And we cannot forget all the volunteer groups that helped throughout the process: Alcorn University (Kappa Alpha Psi, Nursing School, ABEC and Women’s basketball team); various churches (St. Mary Basilica including adults and youth groups), Grace United Methodist and Jefferson Street United Methodist youth group; civic clubs (Vidalia Key Club, Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club), Leadership Natchez, Delta Sigma Theta, and finally, 11 students from University of Wisconsin.

After a brief rest period during these hot months, Habitat will start construction on another house in October or November.

Habitat for Humanity International, based in Americus, Ga., is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing.

Habitat has built more than 800,000 houses and more than 4 million people are living in Habitat homes they helped build and are now buying through no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. In 2015, the organization expects to build its 1,000,000th home. Here in Natchez, the local affiliate is completing its eighteenth house since its organization in 1991.

If you wish to make a financial contribution, donate construction materials, receive an application for a Habitat home, or volunteer to work on the next house, you may contact Habitat for Humanity by calling 601-445-8639, 601-807-4956 or by writing to P.O. Box 100, Natchez, MS, 39121, or by visiting our website hfh-ms-adams.huterra.com.

 

Duncan McFarlane is the secretary and treasurer of the Natchez-Adams County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.