Macon Area Habitat for Humanity and Bibb County School District celebrates with a new home dedication ceremony in Lynmore Estates

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon Area Habitat for Humanity and Bibb County School District celebrated with one lucky family on Tuesday as they received a set of keys to their new home on Worsham Avenue in Lynmore Estates.

The Vinson family are brand new homeowners of a four bedroom house.

“This home is not simply a dwelling, but a symbol of God’s love manifested through the efforts of many and offered in the hope that it would be a place of safety, growth, grace, and love,” said Royce Ivery of YouthBuild, during the dedication ceremony.

(Photo Credit: Godfrey Hall/41NBC)

According to Macon Area Habitat for Humanity, the new home was built through a partnership with Bibb County School District’s SOAR Academy YouthBuild, which is a pre-apprenticeship construction program, which serves as an opportunity for youth ages 16-24 to develop educational and occupational skills.

“Just an incredible group of students that have spent two days a week all semester helping us build this home,” said Ivey Hall, Executive Director of Macon Area Habitat for Humanity. “So while it’s not quite done yet, we wanted to make sure that we had a chance to celebrate with them and dedicate the home and celebrate with our newest Habitat Homeowner.”

“Really, I ain’t never do this before, so it was a new experience,” said Marcos Vargas, one of the students of YouthBuild. “It felt good though, helping someone, even though I didn’t know who the person was, you know, it felt good that I knew I was making something for someone else.”

“You never know the impact of the things that you do and this is yet another example of what happens when we take our young people and put them to work for a good cause, take their time and develop a talent,” said Dr. Dan Sims, Superintendent of Bibb County School District.

“They’ve worked hard. It’s been hot, it’s been cold, it’s been wet and they have made the decision to show up and come out here and work really hard,” said Hall.

“It means a lot to me to see this house and know that your hands, your hands, were utilized to do this and you’ll be old like me and be able to drive by this house and tell your kids and tell your grandkids that you, in this program, that not only developed you, look what you were able to do,” said Dr. Sims.

“I just want to say thank you to Habitat for giving me this opportunity and I want to thank all the volunteers,” said Nikki Vinson, the new Habitat Homeowner.

According to Macon Area Habitat for Humanity, sponsors involved with the project were, Bibb County School District SOAR Academy YouthBuild Grant, Publix Super Markets Charities, All-State Electrical, and LE Schwartz, they are also projected to complete another ten homes in the county over the next year and if you are interested in becoming one of those homeowners applications are available for pick up at 690 Holt Avenue or on their website.