With shovels in their hands, Jeremy and Mandy Davis stood next to their family and turned dirt on West Johnson Street — the site of their future house. In the upcoming months, they’ll be busy making a dream come true.

The Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity (FAHFA) broke ground for the family’s new home with a special ceremony Friday morning. The purpose of the nonprofit Christian housing ministry is to provide affordable housing to improve neighborhoods.

It’s something Jeremy wanted to have before turning 40. At 33, that goal came seven years earlier than expected.

“I’m just happy to be a part of this,” he said. “For a long time I always wanted to own my own house. I thank God for what he blessed us with. You can’t ask for nothing else.”

The new home for the Davis family will be the first built in Sampson County, thanks to a program and grant funding from State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation. Their children are Cameron, 13; Jaevion, 9; Treshon, 6; and Raeqwon, 3, will enjoy the extra space too.

“I’m very excited,” Mandy said about the Habitat house. “I’m happy to blessed with the first home built in Sampson County and I’m ready to have some new neighbors.”

That’s something her husband is also looking forward to.

“I’m going to go to work every day and come home to happy house with my family,” said Jeremy, a tire technician. “It’s just a great opportunity.”

“I thank you all for the bottom of my heart,” he said to supporters.

Participants for the Habitat are selected based on the income of applicants who are able to make monthly payments. The Davis will also have to put in 300 hours of “Sweat Equity” to build their home.

“You don’t know what happen until you try it,” Jeremy said. “We got lucky and I’m thankful.”

The Davis family was joined by Tammy Laurence, FAHFA CEO, and other supporters. Laurence said there’s often a misconception that the organization just gives homes away.

“That can’t be further from the truth,” Laurence said. “We give nothing away, we are a hand up and not a hand out. We build houses with foundations and people who want to help sponsor houses. However, the homeowners purchase these homes. We give nothing to them and they work right along side of us.”

Laurence said it’s a mission of the organization to bring people together to build communities and to build hope.

Van Gunter, chair of the FAHFA Board, said the event was a great start towards the family owning their own home.

“We’re looking forward to the Davises and having them as our homeowners,” Gunter said. “We take a lot of pride in our homeowners and you have a lot of support.”

Grant funding from the SECU Foundation allows the organization to expand their footprint out to Sampson and Bladen counties. Construction for a home in Bladen began in August 2016. Habitat home plans are typically more than 1,000 square feet and the Davis’ home will include four bedrooms.

SECU and Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina created a joint initiative to expand affordable housing across the state — an initiative labeled the “SECU Habitat Mountains to the Sea Challenge.” During a three year period, the challenge will provide an investment of $10 million to build or renovate at least one home in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties.

Laurence said counties with a Habitat program have a duty to helping border counties. Sampson was one of the counties selected by FAHFA. The property purchased by FAHFA has space for four more homes. Officials will work with Sampson County leaders and officials during the process.

“We’re going to step up our efforts to continue to expand into Sampson County,” she said. “So that mean working with churches and volunteers who want to be involved with us. We will be recruiting heavily to do that as we use volunteers on all the houses that we build.”

Laurence believes having different people involved makes the community stronger.

“We want a strong community,” Laurence said. “We just don’t go in and build a house here and a house there. We build communities now, so we’re really looking at where we can have a beautiful community that shows the beauty of having a strong, supportive community behind the family.”

Families are also encouraged to get involved in the community. FAHFA offer empowerment classes and many opportunities to build projects in their neighborhoods. Darue Bryant, councilman for Clinton’s District 5, spoke about how FAHFA is a benefit for the area.

“They have a very beautiful family and we’re glad to welcome them here to the community,” Bryant said. “That’s one thing about Habitat for Humanity that I’m excited about.”

Bryant continued and said by adding homes through the program, it also edifies the community.

“It’s creates a different atmosphere with people become homeowners,” he said. “There’s a certain pride that not only they have as individuals, but for their city and for their county.”

The city leader noted that the family physically broke ground by digging, but it also happened figuratively with a new transition.

“I’m really looking forward to the partnership,” he said. “If I could put a hard hat on pick up a hammer, I’m going to be a part of this.”

J.W. Simmons, a board member for the SECU Foundation, expressed how it should happen a lot more. He also showed appreciation for everyone involved and faith.

“The shovels are planted. This dirt is moved for a reason,” Simmons said. “Each one of you are here for a reason. It just didn’t happen. There is greater and better plan in mind and I’m just excited to be a part of that plan.”

Jeremy and Mandy Davis, center, participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for their future home, with the assistance of their children, City Councilman Darue Bryant, and officials from the Fayetteviile area Habitat for Humanity.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_House_1-1.jpgJeremy and Mandy Davis, center, participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for their future home, with the assistance of their children, City Councilman Darue Bryant, and officials from the Fayetteviile area Habitat for Humanity.

Jeremy, left, and Mandy Davis, right, recently broke ground for their new home. They are pictured with their children, Cameron, Jaevion, Treshon, and Raeqwon.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_House_2-1.jpgJeremy, left, and Mandy Davis, right, recently broke ground for their new home. They are pictured with their children, Cameron, Jaevion, Treshon, and Raeqwon.

Tammy Laurence, chair of the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity, introduce the Davis family to their housing program during a groundbreaking ceremony.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_House_3-1.jpgTammy Laurence, chair of the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity, introduce the Davis family to their housing program during a groundbreaking ceremony.

The Davis family breaks ground for a new home through the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_House_4-1.jpgThe Davis family breaks ground for a new home through the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity.

During a groundbreaking ceremony for a new home, the Davis family try on new hats.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_House_5-1.jpgDuring a groundbreaking ceremony for a new home, the Davis family try on new hats.
Habitat for Humanity comes to Sampson County

By Chase Jordan

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