Last year closed on a high note for Habitat for Humanity of North Augusta, and officials say they hope to carry that momentum into 2008.
The North Augusta chapter received a donation of six home sites on New Year's Eve.
North Augusta residents Thomas and Hazel Campbell donated five lots of land in Crestland subdivision off Old Edgefield Road and another lot on Philpot Lane off East Buena Vista Avenue.
Habitat now owns 11 parcels of land for future homes.
For the first time, the chapter has the money to build more than one home in a year, said Laurie Lockliear, the president of North Augusta Habitat.
Through a partnership with WFXG-TV (Channel 54), Habitat has full funding for a house the group is scheduling to begin building this spring.
"Our goal for 2009 was to do two houses," Lockliear said. "Thanks to (Fox 54), it looks like we will do two in 2008."
Now that the station has committed to building the first house, Lockliear said they can begin to raise money for a second house, which she hopes to begin building in the fall.
In fall 2007, the North Augusta chapter nearly disbanded for a lack of volunteers. Instead, the Habitat board changed leaders and there was an outpouring of community support, she said.
"What could have been a really hard road was made easy by the community and the new board," Lockliear said. "A lot of churches have gotten involved. Right now, we have close to 50 volunteer applications."
However, more than 50 volunteers are needed, she said.
"The reality is we need 200," she said.
Boy Scouts in North Augusta have pitched in to conduct tool drives.
"They will raise funds for tools and have people donate tools," she said. "When we have 20 to 30 people show up (at a work site), we need tools for everyone."
New habitat floor plans also have been added, replacing the old ones.
"The square footage is the same," Lockliear said. "The outside appearance changes and maybe placement of bedrooms switch."
This will prevent the Crestland subdivision from having too many houses that look identical, she said.
The North Augusta chapter is accepting homeowner applications. A homeowner has been chosen for the spring project, but not for the fall project, she said.
To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of North Augusta, visit www.hfhna.org or call (803) 613-0305.
Reach Crystal Garcia at crystal.garcia@northaugustatoday.com.
