The ReStore will be open for business on Tuesday July 26. We will not have the official Grand Opening until the 28th at 5:30 pm though. We invite you to come out on either or both of those dates to celebrate the Grand Opening with us. The band Fletcher Bright and the Dismembered Tennesseans will perform starting at 6pm.

We would like to say thank you to all of our volunteers and donors. A special thanks to Scott & Lisa Maclellan, The Strauss Co., Thomas Palmer, Electric Power Board, Tennessee Valley Authority, Electric Power Research Institute, and Green Spaces. We would have not been able to complete this project without your help.

If you would like to know more information about Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area and our ReStore visit our website. To RSVP to the Grand Opening or donate to ReStore contact Tina Shaw Cox. 

 Aisha’s ground breaking.

We also had a Fish Fry cooked for us by  Pat! We had a lot of great volunteers helping out as well. We had groups from New Blue Construction and Vision Hospitality Group giving up their time to help us out.

On Sunday, Father’s Day, we had our Lego Build Competition. We had a great turnout with about 76 teams competing and at least another 50 who just wanted to play. We had teams of all ages build the most creative thing they could think of.

We had some really cool ideas like space ships, boats, cars, houses and lots more. After everyone was done we had to sit down and pick the winner. Luck contestant # 45,  Jacob Slatton, won our grand prize of a giant set of Legos.

 This is Jacob’s tree house that he built with his father.

We had a lot of fun at this event, and we hope to do it again. Habitat was able to raise over $600 to put towards our general fund that helps our families.

If you want to be a part of more of our events or volunteer visit our website or contact Dawn Hjelseth

They have also installed the new lights and working on putting the bulbs in. You can see already how much it has improved from the old ReStore. Check out our other updates to see how much work as been down already. May 6,May 20, and May 27.

The new ReStore should be open in July and we are so exited. If you are interested in supporting the Restore Fund campaign contact Tina Shaw Cox at (423)756-0507 ex.20 or at tshaw@habichatt.org. Help us Restore the ReStore! And help make the Chattanooga ReStore the first LEED certified ReStore in the country!

As Director of Family Services, Connie works with the families from the very beginning all the way through until they become homeowners. During this whole process she mentors and educates the families on how to be a homeowner. Since most of the families that enter into the Habitat program are first generation or single families, they do no know the proper steps to owning and taking care of a house. Connie oversees that process to make sure our families get everything they need.

Connie is the main support system to these homeowners. They rely and trust in her. Connie even goes the extra mile to refer the families to career and educational services. The most important part of Connie’s job is to create sustainable homeowners.

Connie says, “There is no typical day for me, but that’s what makes it fun. It is always unpredictable.” Connie admits to having a lot of paperwork and phone calls, but she never knows who is going to come through her office door.

“People are our business. Families come in here with problems and we help them work through it,” said Connie. She also has to do the dirty work of making sure the families are putting in their sweat hours and show up to the job sites.

Connie said her favorite part about her job is the people. Connie loves people. She loves seeing them come into the Habitat program with the dream of being a homeowner and seeing them overcome with joy when they do. “My favorite part is the dedication days, because the families stand up and say ‘I have arrived. I am a homeowner.’ It is full of hope,” said Connie.

Connie, on right, with a family in our program. Check out their story.

“I have learned many things from our homeowners. I would love to just tell everyone about all of their gifts and talents they have to offer.”

To learn more about Connie or our other staff visit our website. If you would like to volunteer or donate please contact Dawn Hjelseth at dstoike@habichatt.org.

Titus Back (left) receives the key to his new home from Rivermont Presbyterian Church volunteer Bill Honeycutt, as Tommy Back looks on.

This week Tommy Back and his son Titus will have something very special to celebrate – the completion of their new Habitat for Humanity Home, funded and built by members of Rivermont Presbyterian church.

With a grown son, Tommy Back thought his child raising years were behind him, until a girlfriend said she was pregnant with his child.  “I was a little old to have another kid, but I said I’d do the right thing,” he said.  Tommy settled into the role of an excited expectant father, and was in the delivery room for the birth.  Tommy was in for a shock. While both he and the mother were Caucasian, the child was bi-racial.  The baby boy was clearly not his child biologically, but that didn’t matter to Tommy – he felt a connection to the baby and wanted to provide for his care, regardless of what others might think.

Caring for Titus would take Tommy on a journey worthy of a screen play.  Titus’ mother became entangled in a criminal situation, was convicted and received a long prison sentence.  Child Protective Services then stepped in and made Titus a ward of the state.  While Tommy had grown to love Titus, and had been supporting him, he had no legal rights because he was not Titus’ biological father or a blood relative.

Tommy Back (center) with volunteers from Rivermont Presbyterian Church who built his home.

Tommy decided that what his family felt for Titus had nothing to do with biology.  Knowing that Titus faced growing up in the foster care system, Tommy took action.  First, he was married to Titus’s mother, the he legally adopted Titus, and then he divorced her.  By taking these steps, the direction of Titus’ future was changed.

Raising Titus is truly a family affair - Tommy receives help from his mother, sister, son and even ex-wife, Darlene (mother of Tommy’s eldest son).  “We just love this little guy,” says Darlene on a recent visit to the Habitat.  “He is very smart,” says Tommy.  “I am very proud of Titus and his work in school. He is a very good speller; he gets perfect scores on most of his tests.”

Tommy is a hard worker with a great attitude, according to volunteers from Rivermont Presbyterian Church: “He is always busy and willing to do anything to help, from unloading the truck of tools and supplies to cleaning up and reloading the truck at the end of the day. He is really excited about having a new home for he and Titus, making it a joy to work with him on the house.”

Taking care of Titus is one of the driving motivations of Tommy’s life.  By entering the Habitat for Humanity program, Tommy is working to provide a home where they can be safe and sound.  “We are both tickled to death,” says Tommy.  “We are excited to one day have our own home, our own rooms and our own yard.”

“Rivermont Presbyterian Church has been a faithful supporter of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga over the years,” says Pete Palmer, Habitat’s executive director.  “Whether through weekly service on the construction site, or in financial support of home construction, they are an important part of Habitat’s work in our community.”

Homeowners around Tommy Back's new home benefitted from a repair and clean-up projects conducted by Lee University Students in partnership with Front Porch Alliance.

Tommy’s new neighbors have something to celebrate as well – many of their homes received a “brush with faith” as students from Lee University painted, planted flowers, and did minor exterior home repairs earlier this spring.   “We are grateful to Front Porch Alliance and their volunteers,” says Pete Palmer, Habitat’s executive director.  “Their work made a visible impact in the surrounding community.  It is a great example of the impact that can be made when organizations with similar goals work together.  We hope to partner with additional groups to include similar efforts alongside future house builds.”

Through online voting, local citizens  will decide which organization, from a pool of nominees chosen by a panel of community judges, they feel most exemplifies the spirit of the community.

Online voting will continue through February 15 .   Point your web browser to http://wtcitv.org/events/be-more/vote to cast your vote in support of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga.