Cathy Jones and her family received “a gift from God” on Sunday as Habitat for Humanity, with the help of Highland Park University Methodist Church and SMU, gave her keys to a new three bedroom, one-and-a-half bath house, as sponsors, volunteers, and members of the community looked on.
Jones, a single mother of four, spoke through tears stating how grateful she was not only for Habitat for Humanity, but also all 480 volunteers that came together to make the house possible.
The house, which was constructed on SMU property and will be moved to 4839 Phillips St., was the 300th house in the Dallas area, and No. 145,000 worldwide for Habitat for Humanity. In addition, Phil Wise, a past board member of the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and a former SMU student and law graduate, said that the house would be “the first towards betterment for Cathy Jones and her family.”
Funded by The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation, the “Home on the Lawn” project came together with the work of many organizations. Carpenters for Christ, Crane Plumbing and Elk Premium Roofing all donated their time and energy to see the house completed in a two-week period. “It was an interaction of people, volunteers and Habitat workers, that came together in order to finish this project and make it a reality for the Jones family,” said David “Goose” Connolly, the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity lead construction supervisor. He gave Jones a toolbox that he hopes, “shouldn’t be needed on this house, but on the others which she is going to help build.”
SMU was well represented in the group. Student Body Vice-President Thomas Kincaid, filling in for the absent Student Body President Dustin Odham, gave Jones flowers, which he said would “grow and remind her of the friendship that must always be present in her home.” Sophomore Katie Bibb, representing the students and her sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, gave the family a housewarming basket with essentials for around the house.
Rebecca Bergstresser, SMU Director of Community Involvement, reminded the audience that the mission statement of SMU is to provide students with the right tools to go out and be a better part of the community, and of the world.
“The one thing that amazes the students is that the Habitat people are actually excited to see them on each house. They all come up to me and can’t wait to help with the next one because of the amazing people that work with Habitat for Humanity,” Bergstresser said during the dedication.
“Although the students may not have been the best builders at first, they all learned important skills that could come in handy, especially in today’s job market,” Bergstresser joked.
Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts of SMU gave the family a bottle of wine, and reminded them to “keep family, friends and festivities always at their home.”
“We, as students, really appreciate the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing opportunity,” Kincaid said after the dedication. “It allowed us to give back to a community that has given us so much.”
At the end of the dedication, David Calhoun, representing The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation, which footed the $65 thousand project, gave Jones and her family the keys. Calhoun reminded the audience that Sunday was Texas Independence Day, and “for Cathy, her own personal independence day.”
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization that started in 1976. The organization works through donors and sponsors in order to provide low-income families homes allowing them interest free mortgages, as long as the families help build the home, and pay it back when possible. Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity became a part of the international organization in 1985. There are 14 areas in Dallas that contain houses built by the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.
