Lifelong Hammond resident, Darnell Jones has had his life impacted by some unfortunate occurrences.
But now Darnell is the recipient of a fortunate circumstance. He is a partner family and a recipient of a Habitat for Humanity home that is being designed specifically for him. He's 32-year's-old and has custody of his daughter and son who will also be living with him.
Darnell's Habitat home is just off Calumet Avenue in Hammond. He was allowed to pick exterior and interior features of the home... including it's dark blue siding. Partner families also get to choose the color and type of flooring, the color of the cabinets and the type of light fixtures for the home, according to Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Bridgette Simmons. Darnell's home is a product of Habitat's women build, which is held every year.
The recipients of the Habitat homes, which are referred to as Partner Families, are required to also put in 300 sweat equity hours on their own home.
As the opportunity to become a homeowner touches the hearts of the recipients in a very positive way, the opportunity to volunteer and learn while working with Habitat is also extremely valuable to the ones to strive to give back like Bill Ambry, who started volunteering with Habitat in June.
Ambry and co-volunteer Larry Biegel, who has been volunteering for Habitat for about three years, are working together on the project of the day, flooring.
Simmons says getting to be a part of Habitat For Humanity's work is a great feeling.
Construction Manager Michael Poe agrees. He spent his career as a homebuilder for 30 years and just couldn't handle retirement and has now been with Habitat for just over one year.
