By Lee Erwin, Clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In more ways than one, it was a beautiful day on Saturday, June 5, 2021. The weather was sunny and warm, and Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County hosted a Home Dedication Ceremony on Richardson Street for new homeowner Sherry Elliott and her granddaughter, Makayla Schaefer.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian housing ministry that partners with qualified families, like Elliott, and helps them build and buy their own homes. Habitat says they work with members of the community to offer a hand up, not a hand out.
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts was on hand for the ceremony and praised Habitat for their work. He said the organization is filling a need in the community, making sure that those who need a home most have that stability.
Elliott’s new home is in District 5, served by Montgomery County Commissioner Rashidah Leverett, who said she appreciated the mission of Habitat and added that if Elliott needed anything, she lives just around the corner.
Clarksville Fire Rescue was the primary volunteer force behind the construction of Elliott’s new home. Chief Freddie Montgomery thanked the men and women of Clarksville Fire Rescue for their time and hard work.
The majority of the funding for the home came from the Clarksville Association of Realtors S.O.S. Foundation, whose members also contributed a great deal of volunteer time on the home.
“It’s my forever home and thank you everybody for every part you did in building this beautiful home for MaKayla and I, and I can’t express enough how much it means to me for all of the love and support each of you gave through this process,” Elliott said.
After the keys to the home were presented to Elliott, everyone was invited to the back of the house to see a very special surprise for Elliott that firefighters from Clarksville Fire Rescue had added to the back yard. It was a fountain in the shape of a bright red fire hydrant, and a fire pit along with a nearby bench.
