Mrs. Green’s new home for the holidays
The family of Mrs. Elouise Greene and Darlington ReStore manager visits her future home Photos by Jana E. Pye
By Jana E. Pye, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
Mrs. Elouise Green has a reason to rejoice this holiday season; thanks to the efforts of her family and volunteers with the Darlington County Habitat for Humanity she and two of her grandsons, Michael and Tracy, prepare to move into their beautiful new home on Gandy Drive in Darlington.
Mrs. Green, who recently celebrated her 91st birthday on November 10, is very happy to move into her new home. She recently stopped by the house after one of the last inspections before Thanksgiving to meet with the News and Press with the two grandsons that will be moving into the home with her. She was joined by several of her children and extended family- all of whom helped with the 300 hours of “sweat equity” required for new homeowners of the Habitat homes.
Lavinia McAllister and her sister in law, Lenora Green, completed the initial application for the home to begin the process.
Once an application is approved, a waiting family begins the process of working on the “sweat equity” hours.
With such a large family, this was no problem, as they all chipped in. Another daughter, Melvetta Gilbert, said, “We jumped on the hours pretty quickly.”
Michael and Tracy, the lucky grandsons that will be moving in, are first cousins. They both assisted with the hours by working in the Habitat ReStore in Hartsville.
“I unloaded the trucks,” said Michael. “And I helped people there in the store.” Tracy helped in the store, too.
Both young men have already chosen which room they will occupy, and have promised their family that they will keep not only their rooms clean, but the bathroom that they will share.
This will be Mrs. Green’s very first brand new home and she is eager to begin living across the street from her son Wheeler, and his wife Lenora.
“It was very exciting watching the building construction from the ground up, and watching the foundation being laid and all,” said Wheeler. “We worked with all kinds of people from different states. We had crews from Alabama, from all over. They were so nice and friendly – we didn’t have a trouble in the world.”
Wheeler also had a special thanks for the director of the Darlington County Habitat, Mark Haenchen: “I really enjoyed working with Mark from start to finish,” said Greene. “He is a hard worker and I tell you, we are blessed to have him. He loves his work, and when we had all the different groups of young people working we all got along. Everything went smooth. We didn’t have a slow time. I thank God for him, and the other guys that helped; they were all really nice. Mark is a real nice person.”
In addition to help from Habitat and the family, Mrs. Green also received tremendous support from her church family at Bethel A.M.E. of Darlington.
Mrs. Green will have her own master bathroom, which will be wheelchair and handicap accessible.
The family in the new kitchen.
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Jerry Dickey, one of her son in laws, said, “It is a blessing for her to be here. She’s been through a lot.”
Mrs. Green recently had some health difficulties including a stroke, and amputation of both her legs.
The driveway is uniquely sloped so for ease in moving her wheelchair directly from the front door out, without a separate ramp.
According to Ben Schmeltz, Manager of the Darlington ReStore, these are specially designed for homes with someone in a wheelchair or walker. Traditional homes have steps to the doors.
The floor plans are very similar for all of the local Habitat homes.
Hot water heaters are provided by A.O. Smith, appliances – refrigerator, washer and dryer – are all Whirlpool; cabinets and countertops are purchased from Lowes, and all the paint is from Valspar.
The homeowners are responsible for a down payment, and for payments on the affordable home loan.
For more information on how to apply for a Habitat home, contact the Darlington County Habitat for Humanity at: 843-383-8500 www.darcohabitat.org.
