Letter: Help dreams come true

The congregation at All Saints Episcopal Church on Hilton Head Island was recently introduced to the woman whose family will be living in the Habitat for Humanity house that All Saints is working to sponsor.

It was a deeply heartwarming experience to see this humble lady shed tears of appreciation as Rector Rick Lindsey told her, “We are happy to be partnering with you to make your dreams come true.”

I couldn’t help but think of my mother, who was the middle of 11 children growing up during the Depression. Many families of that generation never owned a home; they rented and when they couldn’t make their payments they were forced to move, sometimes in the middle of the night.

The world has changed dramatically since then. Our country has become a wealthy and powerful nation.

Owning a home is something the majority of us take for granted. But there are still many families for whom “decent, affordable housing” is a dream. Fortunately Habitat for Humanity is now a part of our landscape, and with hard work and determination more families can realize that dream.

Partnering with churches such as All Saints and other civic minded groups, Habitat makes it possible for deserving families to get the hand up they need. At the same time, hundreds of Habitat volunteers and supporters know the satisfaction that comes from making dreams come true.

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 11:36 PM with the headline "Letter: Help dreams come true."