Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity (FAHFH) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony with a Habitat partner family led by Tarika Brown for the organization’s second build in Cumberland, a FAHFH press release stated.

“This is always a special day, marking an important step in the journey toward homeownership,” officials said in the release.

Brown, along with her three children, shared their groundbreaking ceremony with many family and friends who came out to support them on that special day, the release noted. Due to the extreme weather conditions, the ceremony was moved indoors to Fitzgerald Memorial Baptist Church, which also hosts the monthly Habitat Cumberland leadership meeting.

The groundbreaking ceremony included a musical selection sung by a family member, words of encouragement from Fitzgerald Memorial Baptist’s pastor, Barry Vassar, and a message of gratitude from Brown, the release cited.

FAHFH Community Outreach Director Sam Rabon said, “This is a very special day, and we are excited to partner with Tarika and her great children on our second build in Cumberland. She has gone above and beyond in being willing and available to share her Habitat story in various venues. And she has already volunteered so many hours in addition to working full time and raising her three children.”

Rabon also thanked the Cumberland branches of Citizens and Farmers Bank and Essex Bank, which provided the refreshments for the event, officials stated in the release.

“As construction prepares to begin, there are many opportunities for individuals, churches, businesses and other organizations to be involved,” officials said in the release. “Contact the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity at (434) 394-3001 to learn more.”

The release highlighted how for many locally, it is challenging to find safe, decent, affordable housing. Many families are forced to choose between either living where they can afford, which can often be substandard housing, or spending a majority of their income on decent housing, leaving little for other necessities.

“When individuals and families apply with Habitat, three things are taken into consideration: their current housing situation and need for a new housing solution, the ability to pay an affordable mortgage and their willingness to partner as they commit to volunteer over 200 hours working on their home and another home,” officials said in the release. “As they begin to earn their ‘sweat equity’ volunteer hours, they also take 16 hours of homeowner education classes, covering topics from personal finance to understanding credit to basic home maintenance and many others. Once the time comes for groundbreaking, many months have been invested by the family.”