LaGRANGE, GeorgiaDespite the 3 inches of rain that fell on LaGrange on Friday and Saturday, the first day of the Jimmy Carter Work Project was only slightly behind schedule and the more than 800 volunteers were unfazed by the weather.
"The Lord gave us a challenge and the people stepped up," said Walter Hendrix, executive director of the Troup-Chambers County Habitat for Humanity. "This is the perseverance of the people who have given so wonderfully. Everyone was in here getting drenched. Even during the heaviest downpours there were only a few people under the tent."
Hendrix estimated the rain put the project only about two hours behind and the work would be caught up by the end of the day.
Most volunteers and a few homeowners said there was no time to think about the rain.
"We knew it was raining, but we’ve been waiting on this since December," homeowner Stanley Shepherd said.
Shepherd said having a group of volunteers show up to build his house was "something amazing."
"I’m overwhelmed and appreciative," said Shepherd, who has put about 300 volunteer hours in on his house. "I couldn’t have done it without them."
Shepherd already was thinking about moving in.
"Once it’s done, we’re going to get the furniture in and get the kids’ rooms together and sit down and enjoy a good hot meal," he said. "It’s like a kid at Christmas with a new toy."
Officials said that the nine months of planning that went into the Jimmy Carter Work Project this week was paying off, and, other than the rain, the operation was going smoothly.
The city of LaGrange has four inspectors on-site to approve the houses as they are built.
"All these houses meet federal, state and local codes," said Lee Newman, chief building inspector. "These volunteers have a world of experience."
Seattle volunteer Melinda Kmitta has been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for 11 years.
"I fell in love with the organization and its mission," she said. "The organization is committed to building quality homes and bringing hope and justice."
Kmitta is hoping to meet former President Jimmy Carter, who is scheduled to be in LaGrange to work on the project Tuesday. Carter has long been associated with Habitat for Humanity.
"If I met him I would just say thank you," she said. "What else could you say to a man like that?"
Twenty-three volunteers from "Yo! Cleveland," a community service group from Cleveland, Ohio, quickly were becoming Habitat for Humanity fans.
"I could do this as a career," said I’Kia Martin. "You see how a house is built and everyone’s long hours. You see someone’s face when their house is put together. This is a good program."
Three volunteers required medical attention Saturday. A LaGrange man, Frank Strohm, was treated and released from West Georgia Medical Center after falling from the roof of one of the houses he was working on. Another man, Tom Bowers from Milford, Ohio, also fell late in the day and was treated and released from the hospital. A Kentucky woman who was volunteering was admitted to the hospital early Saturday with chest pains.
Sunday wasn’t an official workday for Habitat crews, but subcontractors and what Hendrix called "die-hard" volunteers worked.
