Habitat hits the big 7-5

NEWPORT - Nine-year-old Christopher White Jr. is looking forward to more room to run and play.

He'll soon have just that as a new home rises from the vacant space next to his grandmother's house and within walking - or running - distance to the Newport Town Park.

"I'm looking forward to running," said Christopher, who joined his family in turning dirt at Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony for the house made possible with the help of Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity.

"We're just overwhelmed. Habitat for Humanity is a blessing of an organization for us," said Rebecca White, Christopher's mother.

Christopher and Rebecca White and Christopher Jr. and his siblings Hannah, 12, Jalen, 14, C.J., 17, and Sherice, 19, will occupy the 75th home to be built by Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity.

"We're in our 20th year of existence and this is quite a milestone for us," said Kris Durham, executive director of the habitat affiliate serving Carteret County and Havelock.

Christopher White Sr., a volunteer firefighter with Newport Fire Department, works at a local Pizza Inn while training to become a full-time, paid firefighter.

He said Habitat has provided him an opportunity he might not have otherwise: the chance to own a home and move his family from the cramped quarters where they now live to a four-bedroom house.

"We do the best we can, but this is a blessing," he said.

The groundbreaking marks the start of construction of the latest Habitat home, a build that will be sponsored by the 11th annual Crystal Coast Habitat Golf Tournament.

The tournament has raised $220,000 over the past 10 years for Habitat projects, and the White home is the eighth Habitat house to receive funding from proceeds of the annual event.

It's just one of the ways Habitat continues to provide decent, affordable housing for families along the Crystal Coast.

"We have a dream, and I know that you guys have a dream," said Al Smith, a golf tournament committee member who spoke during the ceremony. "We want to share our dream with you."

Durham has seen the community of Habitat families grow significantly in the five years she has served as executive director.

"When I started, we were just finishing up homes 52 and 53, and 54 and 55 were under construction," she recalled. "I've been through a few groundbreakings and dedications and it's so much fun working with the family and working with the community."

Contact Carteret County reporter Jannette Pippin at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 252-808-2275. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment.