By Libby McGaw

Garth Lovvorn, Limestone County Director of Habitat for Humanity knows what it is like to think that he is going to volunteer some Saturdays to help his neighbors, and end up with a whole new career. Lovvorn has been director for our Limestone County Habitat for three years, and previously worked for a landscaping firm based in Huntsville. He is a member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal church in Athens, one of many churches and charities that roll up their sleeves to help Habitat for Humanity fulfill its mission, which is as follows: "Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God’s love and can live and grow into all that God intends."

The current walk out in our town of this "partnership with God and people everywhere" is a project located between Browns Ferry and Washington Streets, and is an actual Habitat for Humanity subdivision of nine houses called Hope. It is in honor of after the late Sibb Adell, a Missionary Baptist pastor who served as the local Habitat chapter’s spiritual leader. There is a street in the subdivision named after Adell, and the paving was provided by a grant from Steelcase, Inc.

The Hope subdivision boasts a number of unique features not often found in Habitat projects. Architect and Habitat board member Debbie Miller custom designed them to be what is known as LEED certified. LEED stands for Leadership Energy Environmental Design, which is the highest standard of "green" construction. The purpose of LEED homes is to have the least possible impact on the environment. One project goal is to create what is known as a smaller "heat island," a heat island being what is either lost or absorbed through the roof. By using lighter shingle color, heat is reflected back and AC bills are lower. To further lower energy bills, the use of radiant barrier plywood is employed. This special plywood has an aluminum barrier that also reflects sunlight. There is cleaner air exchange in the heating and cooling systems. Styrofoam insulation is used, which also reduces energy needs, and as Habitat for Humanity specifically targets qualified low income families, it is imperative that the cost of living and maintenance be as low as possible.

If a family applies and is accepted by Habitat for one of the new "non-shotgun" style homes, they need to volunteer to build someone else’s home first. They must work 200 hours themselves, and can have up to 200 donated hours for the required 400 prerequisite hours needed before their personal project commences. Once that requirement is met, construction on their own house can begin, and it takes approximately six months to complete the project. The average annual income of a Habitat family is 20-35K. Garth says, "Not only does the family benefit, but so does the surrounding community. There is lower crime, there are better citizens, and all of it makes for good neighbors." To date, Habitat for Humanity has completed over 200 thousand projects worldwide.

Individual citizens as well as corporations are involved in the Hope project. Retired construction workers, engineers and carpenters work in teams on Tuesdays and Thursday s. Navistar Diesel Corporation is technically in a season of downsizing due to the economy, but is paying employees who would have otherwise been laid off to come and work at Hope. The Navistar team is headed up by Limestone County Habitat Board president Greg Miller, and they are putting in 10 hour days Monday through Thursday. Other involved organizations include CASA and the Salvation Army.

For Garth Lovvorn, a highlight of his personal Habitat experience was two years ago when he travelled with 25 other volunteers from our area and worked on a Jimmy Carter project in Mobile. His work partner actually was President Jimmy Carter, and Garth’s wife Pamela partnered with Mrs. Rosalynn Carter. It isn’t every day one gets to swing a hammer and work up a sweat alongside a former President of the United States! Garth says that he does what he does for the "sheer pleasure" of volunteering, and would like to extend the opportunity to residents of Limestone County to experience the same by getting involved with Habitat for Humanity. He can personally be reached at 256 230 6001, and more information can be had by visiting the local website at www.habitatalc.org.