Jimmy Carter's involvement with Habitat for Humanity International began in 1984 when the former president led a work group to New York City to help renovate a six-story building with 19 families in need of decent, affordable shelter. That experience planted the seed, and the Jimmy Carter Work Project has been an internationally recognized event of HFHI ever since.

Each year, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter give a week of their time--along with their building skills--to build homes and raise awareness of the critical need for affordable housing. The JCWP is held at a different location each year, and attracts volunteers from around the world. The 1997 JCWP was held June 15-21 at seven sites in the Appalachian mountain region of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee and was named HAMMERING IN THE HILLS. Other Habitat affiliates in the two states built homes throughout the summer in dedication to the JCWP. The work pushed to well over 400 the number of houses built as part of the Jimmy Carter projects.

Raising houses is just one goal of the Jimmy Carter Work Project, however. The other is raising awareness of the critical need for affordable housing everywhere. In the Appalachian region that was the focus of this year's Jimmy Carter Work Project, as many as 52 percent of the households live in poverty. On average, these households earn less than $13,000 a year and more than 16 percent in the region do not have plumbing facilities--more than 15 times the national average!

The Tennessee site for the 1997 JCWP was Robbins, Tennessee in Scott and Morgan counties where 10 houses were built in one week! Many local brethren as well as brethren from across Tennessee and the entire U. S. worked on site as operative builders. The Vision 2013/HFH Task Force members assisted by promoting this project at the 1997 District and other meetings, helped raise donations, and recruited needed sub contractors. Shown at left are (from right to left) Task Force members Brothers Bill Whisel, Brother Jimmy Turner (also of St. John's Lodge #332) and Brother Tom Boduch working on site as plumbers. Assisted by Betty Boduch (who took the picture), they plumbed 4 of 10 houses built during the week.

Led by Sister Gigi Schooler (Past Matron of Sunbright Chapter No. 303, OES), the local Eastern Star Chapters, along with churches and civic groups fed nearly 100 workers three meals a day during the pre-build week. Many of these same workers contributed to the task of feeding approximately 700 volunteers during the actual build week. Many Lodges and Eastern Star Chapters throughout the state sent donations of food and money. Brother Lanny Schooler (New Faith Lodge No. 768--shown above), when not working on a house, used the Sunbright Senior Citizens van to shuttle volunteers to the various work sites. Scott and Morgan Counties also represent the newly reestablished District #25. District Chairman, Brother Harold Nitzschke, also helped coordinate efforts and resources. Appalachia Habitat's Director, Biz Ostberg, (shown at left with Sister Gigi Schooler) commented that she couldn't believe "how much the Masons have helped, especially on short notice."

Local Brethren were also involved in construction and support services. Shown below left are "master chefs" (from Left to Right) New Faith Lodge No. 768 Brethren Kenneth Bolling, SW; Tommy Davis, WM; Lanny Schooler, Secretary; and LeRoy Freels, Tiler. Below right are Brothers James Buck, JW (left), and Tommy Davis, WM (right), unloading lumber at the site.

Youth groups also participated. Shown below left are Girl Scouts from Oak Ridge, with their Leaders, taking a break after feeding volunteers lunch at the work site during the pre-build week of project. The girls spent three days in the area, camping out in Historic Rugby, and doing all sorts of odd jobs in addition to helping with lunches and dinners. Shown below right are Oak Ridge and Clinton OES Chapters Past Worthy Matrons with members of a Scott County Brownie Troop who also assisted with meal service.

HABITAT Co-founder Linda Fuller spent the entire week on site and led the building of a house built all by women! Millard Fuller and the Carters spent most of the week working in Pikeville Kentucky, but briefly visited the other 6 sites during the week.Mr. and Mrs. Carter are shown at left accepting a quilt depicting the ten homes built in Morgan and Scott County. Millard and Linda Fuller are shown at right addressing over 700 volunteers in Robbins Tennessee.

In summarizing HABITAT's work, Mr. Carter has said, "Habitat has successfully removed the stigma of charity by substituting it with a sense of partnership. The people who will live in the homes work side-by-side with the volunteers, so they feel very much that they are on an equal level."