11/11/05 - Reinhardt Habitat for Humanity Chapter & Waleska Churches-In-Action Dedicate Local Habitat House

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 fund raisers. 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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