A Habitat for Humanity home at 415 Douglas Avenue here in Murfreesboro will be dedicated at 4:30 this Thursday afternoon. This home was constructed by over 300 volunteers from Murfreesboro Police, Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services, St. Thomas Health, and the Rutherford County Fire Department.
The community is invited to be there for the "First Annual 911 Tribute Home Dedication". After the ribbon cutting, Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland will lead the house dedication event along with chiefs and representatives from the participating agencies and Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity's Executive Director, Terri Shultz.
The Habitat Future Homeowner for this house is Takisha, a medical assistant at a local hospital. Takisha has completed a 30-week Financial and Homeowner Education Program, 300 hours of "sweat equity" and completed financial preparations to buy her house with Habitat's 0-interest mortgage. In a tragic turn of events, Takisha's cousin was one of the victims of the Waffle House shooting. Her bio is available and on the rchfh.org website.
Murfreesboro Police Department Chief Michael Bowen, Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Chief Mark Foulks, Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh and Rutherford County Fire Chief Larry Farley kicked off the "First Responders Build" with a ground breaking on May 3rd and construction of the three-bedroom house began on June 1st. (a photo of the ground breaking is available)
Sponsors of this Habitat Build include General Mills, Hammer Down for Habitat Motorcycle Poker Run event, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Pinnacle Financial Partners, Habitat for Humanity of Tennessee, THDA, Bridgestone, the City of Murfreesboro, United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, HISS Church and funds from The Big Payback (CFMT fundraising event). The 2018 Hammer Down for Habitat Motorcycle Poker Run event is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 15, providing funds for a 2019 Habitat house build.
Anjie Bond, from Medxcel Facilities Management offered to provide landscaping for this house after hearing about the participation of area first responders. Her daughter was in a serious car accident in April, 2017 and she greatly appreciates the care and expertise that first responders provided, and in particular, EMT Brad Matthews, who contacted her, explained the situation in a compassionate way and allowed Anjie to speak to her daughter before life-flighting her to Vanderbilt Medical Center.
"My daughter was able to make a full recovery, thanks to the care she received from Brad and all of the other first responders that were involved with her accident," she says. "The way he spoke to me really helped me hold it together when I had to drive to Vanderbilt while my daughter was on a life flight. He responded, "Well I'll tell you now it was all I could do to hold it together talking to you. I'll never forget that night and talking to you."
Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing ministry, seeks to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. This is done through building quality, affordable, sustainable houses while partnering alongside low-income, working families. Homes are built by RCHFH construction staff, partner families, and community volunteers. After a home is completed, it is sold to the family at no profit with a zero interest loan.
