Alpharetta Volunteers Help Build Habitat Homes

Alpharetta Rotarians, church members and high school students helped build two of the three Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia homes at the Villages of Park Creek neighborhood. This past weekend the three families got help from those same volunteers in a dedication ceremony for their homes.

The Habitat organization held a Dedication Ceremonyat the Villages of Park Creek neighborhood on the border of Cherokee County and Fulton County. It was a beautiful morning and more than 50 family members, sponsors, community members, and Habitat staff and board members attended the heart-warming ceremony, according to Habitat's Kristyn Johnson.

The three families were overjoyed with the prospect of becoming homeowners and expressed extreme gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received over the last four months, she said.  They each had a chance to thank everyone who helped make their dream of homeownership come true. Many of the onlookers wiped away tears as each family talked about their emotional journey. 

The Yousuf Home

The first home was built in partnership with Amir and Sameya Yousuf, who have six children between the ages of 2 and 11.  Amir and Sameya moved from Ethiopia almost 30 years ago to start a new life and build a family.  Amir worked hard to earn a Liberal Arts degree and is employed as a taxi driver.  Their home was part of the annual ecumenical build and was sponsored by Mount Pisgah UMC, Saint Brigid Catholic Church and the Sawnee Electric Member Foundation. 

The Walker Home

The second home was built in partnership with Takeesha Walker, mother of two children, Thomas (13) and Dylan (1).  Takeesha is a determined woman who works full time and attends college.  She has been employed by a medical insurance company for eight years.

Her home was the second of the ecumenical builds which included the participation of 11 local churches including; Alpharetta First UMC, Hillside UMC & the North Georgia United Methodist Housing & Homeless Council, Mount Zion UMC, Northminster Presbyterian Church, Roswell Presbyterian Church, Roswell UMC, Saint Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Saint David’s Episcopal Church, Saint James UMC, Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, and the Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

The Doremon Home

Habitat partnered with Jean and Paulone Dorcemon on the third home, who have one young son, Syesken.  Jean and Paulone are originally from Haiti. Jean came to the United States in 2004 and Paulone joined him when granted permanent residency after the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Jean has been working at Wal-Mart for the last 7 years.  The new parents are thrilled and very appreciative of the opportunity to have their own home.

This home was sponsored by the Youth United Program which partners local high school and Rotary clubs to raise funds to build a home. The following groups sponsored the Dorcemon home; Schoen Insulation Services, Atlanta International School, Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, Creekview High School, Etowah High School, Joe E. Johnston Foundation, Lambert High School, Milton High School, Mount Pisgah Christian School, Northview High School, Roswell High School, the Rotary Club of Canton, the Rotary Club of Roswell and the Rotary Club of Windward.