After building seven homes in seven years on Smith Street, Habitat is leaving the area because the organization was unable to acquire any more land. We approached all the owners of vacant lots and deteriorating houses about giving the unused land to us or selling it to us at below market prices, but no deals were ever finalized.

Habitat will build its next home on Zoa Street, which is just off Government Fleet Road just a short distance south of the John R. Junkin intersection. Turn right (west) onto Oscar Street and it turns into Zoa. The City of Natchez donated the lot to Habitat. The next family has been selected, the house plans finalized and the foundation has been poured. Ms. Patricia Beverly and her son are the newest family to be selected.

Meanwhile, Habitat is nearing completion of house No. 14 for Mrs. Stephanie Ross and her two children. The home is located at 726 Smith St., and the dedication ceremony is set for 2 p.m. Sunday.

More than 80 different volunteers worked on the home starting back in February when the lot was cleared. Some of the larger groups that participated are Jefferson Street United Methodist Church youth group, Youth Build, Central College in Pella, Iowa, St. Mary Basilica and First Presbyterian Church. Total work hours are 3,300.

Habitat is grateful to all the volunteers who pitched in to help, especially those who worked in the very hot months of July and August. We are also very appreciative of those professional contractors who provided their services free of charge; this group includes Scooter Cauthen, foundation and landscaping; Lee Scott Construction for electrical and mechanical work; Jeff Holmes and Sons for sheetrock finishing; Mr. Ken Tilledge for cabinets, and Mr. Robert Longmire for sod for the front yard.

We invite the general public to come to the dedication ceremony Sunday at 726 Smith St. Smith Street can be found by turning west off the 1000 block of Martin Luther King Drive. All the volunteers and financial donors are encouraged to attend and witness the impact of your generosity on the Ross family.

If you wish to donate your time, money, or building supplies to Habitat, please contact us at Natchez-Adams County Habitat for Humanity at P.O. Box 100, Natchez, MS. or call me at 601-445-8639 or 601-807-4956. You can also visit our website at NatchezHabitat.org.

Duncan McFarlane is the secretary/treasurer of Habitat for Humanity.