STARKVILLE – Danyell Latham wiped away tears Saturday as volunteers with Habitat for Humanity handed her and her sons, Robert and Kasen Kelly, the keys to a new home they helped build.
Only about three months after breaking ground for the construction, the family stepped inside the finished house for the first time, surrounded by many of the volunteers who helped construct it.
“Today is a moment we will never forget, and standing here feels like the start of a new chapter, one filled with hope, stability and opportunity,” Robert Kelly, 17, said Saturday during a dedication ceremony for the house. “This home is more than just a building to us. It’s a blessing, a foundation and a dream that we have worked towards.”
Latham’s home is the 17th Maroon Edition Habitat home constructed in partnership with Mississippi State University and one of more than 70 homes built by the Starkville chapter. The construction was completed with the help of donations and volunteers, including members of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, where Latham works as a chef.
“It was wonderful,” Latham said of having Lambda Chi Alpha members participate in building the house. “And they’re fixing to do a lot of volunteering for Habitat. (After) doing this for me, they asked how they could help.”
Several student volunteers were on site Saturday for the dedication and to continue work on the 18th Maroon Edition Habitat home being built just next door.
Annemarie Coatney, president of MSU’s Engineers Without Borders chapter, helped lead the group in constructing the home. Seeing the direct impact of that work during the dedication ceremony was moving, she said.
“This (dedication) is my favorite thing I’ve gotten to do since I came to Habitat honestly,” Coatney told The Dispatch. “I come every Saturday to help out, so it’s one thing to know that a family’s going to be moving in. It’s another thing to actually see them walk in and get to see the whole layout for the first time.”
Kasen Kelly, 16, said seeing the house completed gave him a sense of accomplishment after the months of effort volunteers, he and his family put into the build.
“It feels like a fresh start. It feels very new,” he told The Dispatch. “It’s good to see the time and energy go into something to come out very successful.”
Along with the keys to their new home, Habitat for Humanity staff presented the family with a welcome basket full of essentials, and Dot Livingston gave Latham a quilt made from T-shirts of volunteers who helped with the home’s construction.
“We promise to take care of this home, to nurture the love within it, making it possible to honor the effort (so many) have put … into it,” Robert Kelly said. “This is not a house to us. It is a future, a safe place and a gift we will never take for granted.”
‘Anyone can contribute’
Habitat for Humanity partners undergo an extensive application process to qualify for a home, including demonstrating their need, willingness to partner and ability to pay a mortgage once the home is constructed.
That, combined with the sweat equity hours partners must contribute to the build, makes the dedication day all the more special, Starkville Habitat Board of Directors President Austin Check told The Dispatch.
“I think what a lot of people don’t understand about Habitat is the amount of work and effort that goes into (it), not only from the community, not only from our volunteers, but from our partners as well,” Check said. “They’re not given a home. They’re working for a home, and they’ll continue to work towards that home. This is their new life. It’s not just a transaction. It’s a total pivot.”
Partners receive continued assistance after the move-in, Check said, including courses ranging from financial responsibility to landscaping to winterizing pipes.
“We also encourage them (to use) resources,” Check said. “We’re in a county with a major university, and there’s a lot of outreach from that university they can utilize.”
Latham’s home is the fifth completed Habitat house built in Kelly Estates, a former 11-acre dairy farm on 16th Section Road. Check said there is space for at least 20 more homes in the neighborhood.
“We own a very large tract (of land) so this is going to be a purely Habitat neighborhood,” Check said. “The first layout is 20-something homes. With a lot of dirt, there’s the ability to do more in the back, but we’ll at least get to 20 before we start thinking about that.”
Volunteers play a large part in executing that goal, Check said, and there is always a job available for anyone who wants to help.
“We take people of all kinds. You don’t have to have skills. We provide that as well,” Check said with a laugh. “Anyone can contribute in different ways. It’s not always about swinging a hammer.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
