In September of 2015, President Carter, at 91 years old, planned a trip to Nepal to build homes via Habitat for Humanity Work Project with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, 88. The
trip was cancelled due to the country's current civil unrest and some fuel problems. Since 1983, the Carters (who have been married for 69 years) have been building homes with Atlanta-based Habitat For Humanity. Refusing to break tradition, the Carters rescheduled to build homes in Memphis, Tennessee in November. Giving of their time, kindness and energy, is nothing new for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter who continue help others around the world.
On Sunday, January 31, 2016, single mother Linda Abel Randall posted a letter to President Carter on the Honoring Jimmy Carter Facebook page describing how much her Habitat home has meant to her for almost two decades.
Dear President Carter,
I need to tell you how much my Habitat house means to me...My family (2 sons & 1 daughter) moved into out house Christmas Eve 1997. As a single parent raising children & working 2 jobs, this was a significant milestone in my life. Now, 18 years later, the children are grown, the house has aged, I have aged, and am now 2 years away from paying off my mortgage. During those 18 years, I went back to school and earned my MA (Religion & Culture) in an effort to obtain a better paying job - no such luck.
After 2 decades of Human Services work, I now work 2-3 days a week in a hospital emergency room registering patients. I was forced to begin to collect social security early due to an employment lay-off and termination. My social security check is $840 after my student loan and Medicare deductions. It turns out that working with the differently abled as an attendant, working with low income, first-generation college students, and assisting economically and educationally deprived teens and young adults to earn high school diplomas and learn trades does not fit the ever-shrinking circumstances for eligibility for loan forgiveness. If it were not for my little home, I would be unable to afford to rent an apartment these days. I know that no matter what, I have a home, a place where I can grow old, familiar and comfortable and mine. And you, Mr. President, made this possible. For that, there are no words to describe my thanks.
God bless you, Mr. President
The Carter Work Project and Habitat for Humanity has helped build, renovate, and repair nearly 4,000 homes in 14 countries alongside 92,000 volunteers. Here are several random comments from the thousands of Habitat homeowners:
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“I can say by far that becoming a homeowner was my greatest accomplishment. It has given me a sense of security and knowing that I am able to provide a decent home for my family is the greatest feeling. Thank you Habitat for Humanity” – Habitat Homeowner
“I have just finished my 2nd semester in school since moving into my home. I look forward to more good things to come. What has Habitat for Humanity meant to me and my family? “The beginning of a stress free life! Thank you so much for this opportunity!” – Habitat Homeowner
“Partnering with Habitat for Humanity has meant that I can help send my children to college and get a better education than I got…my daughter is her second year at Winston Salem State and my son is in his first year at Sandhills Community College” – Habitat Homeowner
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For more information about Habitat For Humanity, visit their Facebook page here. To personally write to the Carters you can send your personal notes and letters to:
President Jimmy Carter/Mrs. Rosalynn Carter
The Carter Center.
One Copenhill
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30307
or
Email to: info@cartercenter.org
America’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate and 39th President Jimmy Carter continues to advocate for human rights, peace and democracy with relentless fortitude and compassion. To honor him, over 175,000 people have joined the new Facebook page, Honoring Jimmy Carter. There, they share stories and thoughts about this remarkable man, and Mrs. Carter, while paying tribute. In addition, many are also showing their appreciation by signing the Thank you petition below:
