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From February to October,
Reinhardt students, faculty and staff along with members of six area
churches and the future homeowners, Denise and Terry McCloud have hammered,
sawed, painted and drilled their way to a beautiful new Habitat for Humanity
home for the couple and their three children. On October 22, Reinhardt
President Dr. J. Thomas Isherwood proudly handed the keys over to the
McCloud family in front of relatives and numerous volunteers who have been
working on the home since day one.
The project began with the donation of land from Reinhardt College to the
local Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Cherokee County. Soon after, the
McCloud family was chosen, and then the Waleska Churches-In-Action (CIA) was
born. These churches included Waleska United Methodist Church, Waleska First
Baptist Church, Heritage Baptist Church, Faith Presbyterian Church, Lake
Arrowhead Chapel and Sardis Baptist Church. Volunteers from these churches
joined in with student members of the newly-formed Reinhardt Chapter of
Habitat for Humanity, and the work soon began.
During construction, many Reinhardt students, faculty and staff pitched in
on group work days, and students made connections with every member of the
McCloud family.
“I can truly say that no family is more deserving of this home than you,”
said Candace Boyd, Reinhardt Chapter president, tearfully during the house
dedication.
Since the group’s inception in 2001, the student organization has worked on
several area Habitat Homes and sponsored several fundraisers. Becoming an
official chapter in 2004 was a big step for the organization because it
signified a strong commitment from the students to the ideals of Habitat for
Humanity. One of the chapter’s varied goals is to one day become a partial
sponsor of a future Habitat home.
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