CHARLOTTE — Hundreds of volunteers headed to west Charlotte Monday to build homes for families in need. It’s part of a huge project taken on by Habitat for Humanity.
The Carter Work Project, named after former president Jimmy Carter, goes to cities where construction is already underway.
Eventually, Habitat for Humanity will build a 40-home complex on the site of the former Plato Price School, which served Black students until it closed in the 1960s.
This is the first Carter Work Project since the pandemic. It is the first time it has been in Charlotte since 1987.
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Typically, Carter and his wife lead the project. However, he is in hospice this year, so country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood stood in his place.
Organizers told Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura that all their hard work will pay off in a big way.
“It shaves a year off the calendar for these projects; that’s really meaningful when we talk about 27 families that get to move in a year earlier than expected. They’ve waited a long time; they’ve been very patient, and this helps accelerate that,” said Bob Glusenkamp with Habitat for Humanity.
‘I’m just so thankful”
Bri Sanford praised the countless volunteers Monday as they finished up work on her Habitat home.
“It just melts me because I’m just so thankful for everything that’s happened,” Sanford said.
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She is one of eight new homeowners who will receive keys on Friday once construction wraps up at The Meadows at Plato Price.
Sanford told Channel 9 that she is a single mother of two and is also legally blind. She said there have been so many obstacles she’s had to overcome alone, such as trying to pay her monthly rent as a substitute teacher.
“Right now, since I’m paying almost $2,000 in rent, it’s economically really, really hard trying to manage,” Sanford explained.
With the Carter Work Project, Sanford said she will be able to move into her new home just in time for her son’s birthday. She said she couldn’t dream of a better gift and thanked the volunteers for finishing the project a year ahead of schedule.
“I thank them beyond measure because they didn’t have to do it ... they didn’t have to do it. I’m forever grateful,” Sanford said.
VIDEO: Habitat for Humanity volunteers build homes in west Charlotte
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