Hammers swing on Mount Olive Habitat build
By Steve Herring
Published in News on April 23, 2018 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Richshawn Pratt, left, talks with Norma Carole McDonald, a member of Partners for Habitat of Mount Olive. Pratt will be the owner of the new Habitat house being build in Mount Olive.
MOUNT OLIVE -- Richshawn Pratt is scared of heights.
But that did not stop her from climbing on top of a house to lay shingles. She has even helped put in flooring and siding.
"I never thought I would be on a roof, but I am pretty good now," she said.
However Pratt joked that she doesn't plan to get a side job as a roofer.
"But I would still help others if they need to get the job done," she said Wednesday morning as a crew behind her was busy laying the foundation for the Habitat for Humanity house for her and her three children.
More than 25 people were on hand Wednesday morning to help Pratt get started on her new home at 202 W. Pollock St. by driving nails in 2-by-4s during a first-nail ceremony.
Afterward, they signed the boards.
But the boards will not be used in the house. Pratt said she plans to save them.
"I just want to thank everybody for their support -- the great hands that will be here building our little house," she said. "I am just excited to be starting a new journey in Mount Olive, meeting new people, new neighbors and starting off fresh."
She said she will be on site every chance she gets to work on her own home.
"When I first got out of the vehicle I was very excited -- you know the turnout of the people, supporters and the progress of the home already," she said. "I am feeling blessed and happy inside.
"It is going to be a new journey for me definitely."
The house has been a long time coming, said Pratt, who is currently living in a 1972-model mobile home in Dudley.
"I would say around 2000 I applied, and every year when I applied I kept getting denied," she said. "I gave it one more try, and she said that I had got approved. I wanted something for my children.
"I gave it a shot and look what God did. I think Habitat is a good organization as far as you wanting to own your own home, a better foundation for your family and a better environment."
She has three children Andrew, 21, Antjuan, 20, and Angel 16.
It is the ninth Habitat house to be built in Mount Olive. Construction on the 10th will start on the fall and will be located on an adjoining lot at 108 S. Chestnut St.
The last Habitat build in town was in 2013.
The house now under construction will be the site for a service project during the N.C. Pickle Festival from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 28.
"We are very excited to be down here in Mount Olive getting ready to build our ninth house and 10th houses," said Matt Whittle, Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne executive director. "We are even more excited to be working with this community on behalf of Richshawn Pratt, our homeowner."
Habitat for Humanity has been in Wayne County since 2001 and is closing this week on its 76th house, Whittle said.
"We are looking forward to these two being the first of regular schedule builds in Mount Olive and adding to that total," he said.
"We are not giving this home to Richshawn Pratt. She is going to be buying this home from us. It is an affordable mortgage, but she will be buying the home. Habitat believes in that idea of a hand up, not a simple handout."
But is more than simply buying the house, Pratt will held build it as well, Whittle said. Pratt already has exceeded the minimum requirement of 200 hours of sweat equity by working on other people's houses and at the Habitat ReStore, Whittle said.
Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne has built seven houses over the past several years with Mount Olive Partners for Habitat -- six in town and one in the Beautancus community.
Partners for Habitat of Mount Olive is a loose-knit organization made up of churches, businesses, clubs and individuals.
The fundraising goal for the two homes is $86,000 -- $43,000 for each house by June 30, 2019
Volunteers can visit the organization's website, www.habitatgoldsboro.org, to sign up for dates and times.
The volunteer days will be Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays primarily, Whittle said.
For questions or more information on the Mount Olive build, contact Whittle at 919-736-9592, ext. 5.
To donate, visit www.habitatgoldsboro.org. Checks can be mailed to 131 E. Walnut St., Goldsboro, N.C., 27530, with "Mount Olive Build 2018" in the memo line.