WILLIAMSBURG — After logging 400 hours of “sweat equity”, Jammie Fairfax and her family were finally able to move into their new home this week.
The occasion called for a blue ribbon-cutting ceremony tossed by Habitat For Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. The ceremony was to commemorate the new homeownership as well as the hard work and dedication Fairfax has made when going through the Home Buyer Program.
Part of her volunteer hours included volunteering at the Repair Blitz. The Repair Blitz is part of Habitat for Humanity’s Home Repair Program; a partnership program set up with many municipalities around the Peninsula to assist homeowners with making external repairs to their homes.
Fairfax’s new three-bedroom home is located in the Forest Heights neighborhood. Joining her in the new home is her son Kobe, her daughter Olivia, and one of her nieces.
“Every single home that we have built — and this will be the ninth home in this Forest Heights neighborhood — is sold to a partner family like Jammie’s, who has good credit, steady employment (preschool teacher), and have worked very hard partnering with Habitat. She put in hundreds of hours of sweat equity, working on her home, her neighbors’ home, and at the Habitat ReStores,” said Janet V. Green, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. “Jammie will start to repay the monthly mortgage back to Habitat, keeping all the money in our community, so we can build more homes for deserving families.”
Habitat for Humanity has also partnered with Thrivent Financial to build the home. Local Thrivent Community Engagement leader Christin Thrope worked with local churches to help make the project a reality.
“Thrivent is one of the sponsors,” Thorpe stressed. “We put up half of the funds for this home. But they have a whole home, and that’s due to our big partners who went out and gave their time, their talent, and their treasures to support developing this home.”
Other supporters of the project included:
- Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
- Williamsburg Presbyterian Church,
- King of Glory Lutheran Church,
- First Baptist Church East End,
- Mount Vernon United Methodist Church,
- Trinity Lutheran Church,
- Wellspring United Methodist Church
- Williamsburg United Methodist Church
The celebration comes three days before Thanksgiving. Fairfax says that the holidays are special, but this year will be extra special.
Locals interested in donating to or volunteering with the organization can visit Habitat For Humanity’s website.
