WS Chronicle

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY 

THE CHRONICLE

The Boston-Thurmond area was a thriving community in the 1950s, but fell into a period of decline.  The area is now being revived with new homeowners by the Habitat for Humanity.

In the past seven years, the Boston-Thurmond community of Winston-Salem has undergone a major face lift. Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County has built or remodeled 112 homes in the community during that span. They have also repaired 56 more homes in that same time frame.

Alice Everett is next on the list.  She will be the recipient of a home that stems from the “Unity Build.”  The Unity Build is an interracial multi-faith collaboration to build a home for a local family.  The build was brought together due to the racial unrest in the country and  to signify unity.

“We are doing a Unity Build here today where we brought a number of religions, churches, and congregations together to help provide the sanctity in what Habitat does as a Christian organization,” said Mike Campbell, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of

Forsyth County.

BB&T has also partnered with Habitat for Humanity to announce the BB&T challenge.  The challenge is a three year commitment of seed money to build 30 homes in the Boston-Thurmond community.  BB&T will allocate $25,000 for 10 homes per year for a total of $750,000.  A typical Habitat for Humanity home costs $65,000 so they are looking toward other businesses and those in the community for the additional funds.  This is the largest gift in the history of Habitat for Humanity.

According to BB&T Triad regional president Cuntey Alexander, part of BB&T’s mission is to give back to the community and make it a better place to live and work. He said that Winston-Salem is the home of BB&T as well, and they want to do all they can to assist those in their efforts for home ownership.

Everett was thrilled that she was able to secure a Habitat for Humanity home as it was her goal to become home owner and not be a renter her entire life.

“This home will be a sense of stability for me,” said Everett. “You pay rent for months and years and it will never be yours. This home will be mine. It gives me a feeling of knowing that my family will be able to live in this house for a long time.”

Reverend Alvin Carlisle of Exodus United Baptist Church is her pastor and he stated home ownership advances the lives of people. He said that he is happy with the work that Habitat for Humanity has done in the community and glad Everett is able to enjoy her piece of the American dream.

There were over 30 volunteers on hand from all walks of life. The Psi Phi graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was among those there to lend a hand.

“We came out today because the organization itself is about service and it’s a good opportunity to just give back to the community,” said Cassius J. Smith, Basileus of the Psi Phi chapter. “This is our second time doing it and we wanted to come out and lend a helping hand again.”

Everett recommends for those who are thinking about applying for a Habitat for Humanity home to step out on faith and not worry about being denied. She stated that this is a great opportunity for people to not only own a home, but to help others as well.