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Local residents see Carters at work

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, continue to help others through Habitat for Humanity, two local residents witnessed recently.

Alvin Phillips, executive director, and Heather Eichner, ReStore development coordinator, both with Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley, participated in the Carters Work Project for Habitat for Humanity in Memphis from Aug. 21-26.

Eichner of Marietta worked on constructing a five-bedroom, two-bathroom house for a family in a 19-home building project in North Memphis. She was joined by many other volunteers.

The Carters – Jimmy, 91, and Rosalynn, 89 – worked on building a nearby house.

“They (the Carters) were there everyday … putting up walls and insulation,” Eichner told me this week.

Jimmy, who has battled cancer, gave a beautiful devotion on the first day of the work project, and spoke at the opening and closing ceremonies, Eichner said. Eichner had her picture taken at the end of the week with the Carters, the volunteers and a family of eight receiving a Habitat home.

“He (Carter) said hello and thanked the group of Habitat volunteers,” she said. Carter gave a Bible to the families receiving Habitat homes.

Jimmy Carter invited the Habitat volunteers to attend his Sunday School class in Plains, Ga., Eichner said.

Phillips said he worked in a support role on the work project by handling registration and delivering water, Gatorade, snacks and cooling towels to those building the 19 houses.

“He (Jimmy Carter) was working in the heat. He was busy,” Phillips said.

“The Carters have such a marvelous attitude of helping people … the less fortunate,” Phillips said. At the opening and closing ceremonies, Jimmy Carter spoke to the work project group about the importance of Habitat for Humanity, describing it as faith in action and providing affordable housing for the less fortunate.

Both Phillips and Eichner noted that Jimmy Carter discouraged the volunteers from taking photographs of him and Rosalynn during the house construction.

“If he stopped for a picture, it meant two people are not working,” Eichner said about Carter’s instructions.

“Carter said we are there to work, not socialize,” Phillips said.

The Carters remained focused on building houses and not posing for photographs, Eichner said.

“It was wonderful,” Eichner said about the work project in Memphis. She met many nice people who worked together on an important cause through Habitat for Humanity, she said.

Eichner said she learned about how to coordinate a large number of volunteers on a Habitat work site and how to use a chop saw in hanging a door. She didn’t like using a measuring tape, saying it was hard to read.

Closer to home, Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley has built 93 houses in Wood and Washington counties. Four more houses are being constructed now: one near Belpre, two in south Parkersburg and one in Wirt County. The lot in Newark, Wirt County, was donated and the family wanted the children to attend the local school system.

Phillips said the recent merger of Habitat for Humanity groups in Wood and Washington counties is going well.

“It is speeding up the work,” while keeping costs down and stopping a duplication of efforts, Phillips said. “I’ve felt welcomed by the people in Washington County,” he added.

This summer, Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley sold its former ReStore headquarters on Seventh Street in Parkersburg and a storage building on Elder Street. ReStore is doing well at its new headquarters at 600 16th St. in Vienna, Phillips said.

“We are blessed,” Phillips said.

Anyone wanting to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley can call 304-422-7907.

Contact Paul LaPann at plapann@newsandsentinel.com

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