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By: Erin Smith
The Bladen County Habitat for Humanity, the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and State Employees Credit Union held a ground breaking for the construction of a new home on West King Street in Elizabethtown.
The family that has been selected to receive the house once it is complete is Regina and Jerry McIntyre and their twin sons, Sherod and Jerry Jr.
Regina McIntyre said “We’ve been in Elizabethtown all of our lives. We have two boys who will be Seniors at East Bladen.”
She is a Minister and attends the Pentecostal Church of Christ in Whiteville. The church’s Pastor is Aretha Floyd.
Jerry McIntyre, her husband, is disabled.
As the program got underway under mostly sunny skies, folks gathered around to meet the McIntyre family and to learn more about the home that will be constructed.
“This an exciting day,” said Tammy Lawrence of Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity.
Lawrence said the State Employees Credit Union had a vision to build affordable houses in every county in North Carolina. She said that the SECU approached Habitat for Humanity about creating a partnership.
Lawrence said that the partnership is worth $10 million to North Carolina. She said that even the counties in the mountains will be taking part in the effort.
Lawrence said the idea is to build 100 homes in a set time frame.
She said, “We are partnering with Bladen to do this.”
Lawrence described the McIntyre family as a Christian family.
David Simmons, a members of the SECU board, said, “This is a very special occasion.”
He said that SECU has made a strong commitment and $10 million will be used for the cause
Bladen County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Dawn Madden spoke and said, “We are excited and it has been a long time since we have had a home built.”
She said it was a “heavy process” for the applicant to go through and she was so excited when the McIntyre family was selected. Madden added she could not wait to tell them the news.
Lawrence explained that with Habitat for Humanity the homes are not free. The families earn their home through what is called “sweat equity” and they also pay a mortgage.
She said the money paid towards the mortgage goes towards the town’s tax base.
“We are a hand up and not a hand out,” said Lawrence.
Queen Wheeler, board member of the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity, said, “This is an awesome opportunity to connect and partner. Every person deserves decent housing.”
Regina McIntyre then addressed the crowd and thanked God and her family.
“I give all of the honor to God. I grateful to my family and to God who opened the door. I give God the praise.”
She and her husband, Jerry, have been married for 21 years. She said their twin sons, Sherod and Jerry Jr. were born three months premature and the doctors gave them a bleak prognosis. McIntyre said that the doctors told them the boys had a growth deficiency and again didn’t give the family much hope. “But look what God did,” said Regina McIntyre.
She said when the family began to shop for a home, she did a lot of research. She said each time she would look at a program, things wouldn’t work out.
Then she found Habitat for Humanity. McIntyre said she did a lot of research on Habitat and finally filled out an application and submitted it.
“I got on the phone and talked with Dawn and it went from there,” said Regina McIntyre.
She said a hymn of praise for those gathered before the groundbreaking.
Dignitaries then gathered and took up their shovels and turned the dirt to get the house started.
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