A Home Built on Sold Ground

By Charleston Southern on November 11, 2010 - 11:33 am in Serving / no comments

Charleston Southern and Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County have joined forces to build a home in Moncks Corner. A large circle of more than 50 people weathered the heat to attend the groundbreaking in August.

The Habitat partner family, Cassandra Brown and her two daughters, are currently living in unsafe and substandard conditions. The family has been working on another Habitat home, building up their sweat equity; they are excited their house is the next to be built. Brown addressed the group: “I truly appreciate you giving up your time and energy for someone you don’t know personally, especially you college students; I know you have a work load…I thank you, I thank you, I thank you.”

Sam Williford, CSU’s Americorp Vista representative, is pleased with the number of students involved. “Universities are sometimes viewed as being in a bubble, that they are disconnected from the needs of their community. This is not the case for Charleston Southern University.” Williford is organizing student groups to work with the goal for completion the day before Thanksgiving. Faculty, staff and alumni will also be involved in the project.

Charleston Southern has been involved with many Habitat projects over the years. This project is the second time the University has been the sole partner with Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County to build a home. The first was in 2003.

Moncks Corner resident Johnny Ward and his family have worked with Habitat for some time and have been very generous. “It’s just a very good cause,” Ward said. “The Lord’s been good to us, and we just try to help people along the way. You’ve just got to do your part to try to help this world be a better place. These students who are a part of it, they’ll see the miracle happen.” Ward is on the CSU Board of Trustees and donated the lot and provided funding for this house.

“At Charleston Southern we value integrating our faith,” said Dr. Rick Brewer, vice president for student affairs and athletics. “Being part of this project will be a transformation experience for us, because we will be changed in the process.”

Tags: Cassandra Brown Charleston Southern University Habitat for Humanity