(MURFREESBORO) On Thursday (9/6/2018) HABITAT FOR HUMANITY dedicated the 154th home built in Rutherford County. The home at 415 Douglas Avenue was built by local emergency responders.

Local emergency responders plan to make this an annual activity, not only to help our community, but to honor the men, women, and families who were victims of the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

Takisha is the homeowner. She is a mother who for the past five years has been working in the pediatrics field and is studying to fulfill her lifelong dream to become a nurse. After hearing great things about the Habitat program from a co-worker, Takisha decided to apply. "When I found out I had been accepted, I was so happy," she said with her beautiful smile. "My son and I are going to have something we can call our own."

With the dedication and Takisha and her son getting their keys, we see another future changed because they now have a place to call home. We see one more shining example of the goodness of the people of Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, and Tennessee. We witness once again the men and women who daily put their lives on the line to help protect us going above and beyond the call of duty to be a good neighbor.

Murfreesboro Police Chief, Micahel Bowen is a believer in Habitat for Humanity because of what he has seen it do for the family's earning the home and also the people who volunteer on the builds saying "The value for not only the people who receive the homes but for the people who participate in the home building is just immeasurable" . . .



The celebration was genuine from the opening remarks by Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, Terri Schiltz to the presentation of the keys by Mayor Shane MacFarland. Each speaker and person present at the dedication was deeply impacted by and genuinely happy to be part of this process to build a home, a life, and a future, together.

Thank you Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity, Takisha, volunteers, corporate sponsors, and each of the first responders for helping to change the world by building something up and doing something so good in honor of what was torn down in by such cowardly hate.

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland presented the keys to the new home owner . . .

The build at 415 Douglas Avenue included over 300 volunteers, many from Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Dept., Rutherford County Fire Dept., Murfreesboro Police Department, Rutherford County Sheriff's Dept, St. Thomas Health, Rutherford Emergency Medical Service and several other first responder groups.