As the saws started whirring away and the hammers started pounding, people paid attention. Interest in Habitat for Humanity here in Anniston has risen considerably, according to Habitat officials, and they’re meeting new people who want to get involved.
Jeanne Williams, who’s been helping out at the western Anniston site, gets stopped every day by residents who want to put in their sweat equity and build a Habitat house or start doing home repairs.
"I’ve had them knock on my door and stop me on the street," Williams said. "They ask how they can get a house or how they can get repairs."
Angela Pearson, who lives with her grandmother, Betty Culver, on Walnut Avenue, walked toward the Habitat House of Edna Mae Yates in western Anniston, wanting to know how to get involved.
But after Pearson, 31, saw the action, she said she would like to start building her own Habitat house.
"It’s good to know people care," Pearson said.
Culver toured the homes that received repairs, and said she’s willing to put in the kind of sweat equity a 69-year-old retiree can on refurbishing her own house.
"I’ll do anything, how ever much I can do, or whatever I can do," Culver said.
Habitat for Humanity officials aren’t sure how many phone calls they’ve received from people wanting to start their own house, they’ve been busy all week, but Bill Wright, who’s overseeing the western Anniston site, said he’s been inundated with requests for help this past week.
"We have been covered up with folks that have come over and have asked for two things," Wright said. "When are you coming to my neighborhood and will you come over after the Jimmy Carter Work Project and look at my house."
Wright said the impact of the work project has helped increase interest in Habitat houses as residents witnessed the efforts of volunteers and saw the houses get new coats of paint and new trim.
Dana van Ekris, executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Calhoun County, said the project has helped increase interest in other areas as well.
"That’s the goal," van Ekris said. "To get everyone interested and involved in some way. People who have never been involved in Habitat have gotten interested and that’s the goal now, to keep them involved."
