Community Partners to Build Habitat Home in Memory of Forsyth County Resident

Habitat for Humanity – North Central Georgia held a First Nail Ceremony for the third of four homes being built on Hubert Martin Drive in the City of Cumming. It was a beautiful morning and over 25 volunteers participated in the first day of construction. The home is being built in partnership with the Tarelo family.

Maria Tarelo has lived in Forsyth County for the last ten years and has three children; Ricky (11), Natasha (10) and Elia (7). Ms. Tarelo is employed by the Forsyth County School System as a head custodian. “This is truly a blessing for me and my family,” said Maria Tarelo at the ceremony. “I want to thank all of the sponsors and volunteers who are helping to build our home.”

There are many community groups helping to support the construction of the Tarelo home including; ADP, Alcon, Cumming First United Methodist Church, Ingenico, Lambert High School Habitat Club, MarketSource, memorial gifts in honor of Bob Gorrie, MedAssets, Parkway Presbyterian Church, Patterson-Barclay Foundation, PCL Industrial Construction Co. Ryder, TechniPower and Wells Fargo.

This home is a special one for the Habitat staff, board members, volunteers and partner families. It will be built in memory Bob Gorrie, Habitat’s Forsyth County Construction Manager, who recently passed away from cancer. The first day of construction was a celebration of Bob Gorrie’s life and legacy. Members of the Parkway Presbyterian Church, where Bob was a member, attended the ceremony and helped to put up the frame of the Tarelo family’s home.

Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia is a non-profit, Christian housing ministry that builds affordable homes for purchase by low-income families who demonstrate the capacity for responsible homeownership. Since its inception in 1995, Habitat-NCG has completed 284 homes serving an estimated 1,000 family members in the North Fulton area and Cherokee, Dawson and Forsyth Counties. Habitat-NCG does not give away its homes. Partner families, who earn 30% to 60% of the Atlanta area median income, purchase their homes at or near appraised value utilizing 30-year no-interest financing provided by Habitat. In addition, each partner family is required to attend educational classes and perform 200-300 hours of construction “sweat equity.” Family members work side by side with the volunteers, sponsors, and Habitat staff to build their homes. Habitat-NCG’s slogan is “A Hand Up, Not a Handout.” For more information concerning Habitat for Humanity-North Central Georgia, please visit www.habitat-ncg.org.