Air Force veteran, children receive a home for the holidays

OAKWOOD - So, what's the best Christmas gift you've ever received? Chances are, it can't top the one Charmaine Smith and her three children received Saturday.<br /> <br /> Smith, a veteran of the United States Air Force, and her three children are now waking up in a new home, thanks to Habitat for Humanity of Hall County and the efforts of dozens of volunteers. Smith was at a loss for words as organizers prepared for the dedication and house blessing in their quiet Oakwood neighborhood.<br /> <br /> "You know, I don't know how to put it into words," she said when asked what it meant to have a home for her three young children. <br /> <br /> "Security, peace, joy," and then after a thoughtful pause, "truly a blessing."<br /> <br /> Smith, originally from Reidsville, Ga., served in the US Air Force for four years. After suffering an injury, she was discharged in 2004 with the rank of A1C. <br /> <br /> The way that Smith was chosen as the owner for Habitat of Hall County's 48th home was nothing short of a miracle, according to just about everyone involved.<br /> <br /> The new house sits on property where another house sat, a home that burned in January. The owners of that house were able to rebuild elsewhere, but they wanted the property to go to Habitat for Humanity, with the stipulation that the house built on the site go to a veteran. With the donation from the Hunter family, the "A Home for a Hero" project was born.<br /> <br /> During the dedication ceremony, Habitat for Humanity of Hall County Executive Director Ann Nixon pointed out that the Smith home was built quickly, once all the pieces came together. It took just 104 days from the September 6 groundbreaking to the dedication on December 20. <br /> <br /> As with other Habitat homes, the owner of the house was expected to put in 300 hours of "sweat equity," and Smith said she did just that.<br /> <br /> "Seventy-five of those hours were donated...and that was truly a blessing because I didn't think I was going to get that part completed," Smith said, laughing.<br /> <br /> "I did a lot of work that the office needed, I actually helped build on this home and I've been helping building on other homes."<br /> <br /> Every Habitat homeowner pays for their home, financed at 0% interest for 20 years by Habitat, according to Nixon. <br /> <br /> Along with Smith's family members, dozens of volunteers gathered in the drizzle Saturday morning to see the fruits of their labor and to celebrate with Charmaine Smith and her children.<br /> <br /> Among them, Habitat High students from Lanier Charter Career Academy. Rodney Presley is the instructor for Habitat High, and he said the Smith home was the fifteenth project for his students.<br /> <br /> "It's just a joy to be a part of it. We can do a hundred houses and that hundredth house will never get old," said Presley.<br /> <br /> While the Smith home is the first in the "A Home for a Hero" campaign, organizers said it won't be the last. In fact, they said donations still can be made toward the Smith home.<br /> <br /> <i>(The following entities collaborated on the "A Home for a Hero" project: The Hunter family, 12 Stone Church, The Wynne Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation and Carriage Automotive Group provided volunteers and financial support for the project. The project was developed and marketed by WDUN/AccessNorthGeorgia.com and 11 Alive News.)</i>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/12/283244