HUNTINGTON, W.Va.— Habitat for Humanity taking time to reflect on the lifelong impact that former President Jimmy Carter had on the organization but also the people he helped after his death on December 29th.
Carter served as the 39th President from 1977-1981
After losing in the 1980 election, Carter, and his wife Rosalynn Carter began helping people in 1982 when they opened up the Carter Center in Atlanta, in partnership with Emory University. The center aimed to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy and improve health all over the world.
And in March 1984, Jimmy and Rosalynn started volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, which helped to enhance their mission in helping people. And in September of 84, Carter and Rosalynn led volunteers to New York City to renovate a six-story, 19 unit apartment building that would take them a week to complete. This would become known as the first Carter Work Project, which is now held a week out of the year in a different country. This year’s will be in Austin, Texas in October.
David Michael, CEO and Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of the Tri-State says that his impact has helped thousands.
“Impact has literally been thousands of families and individuals around the world that have been impacted by his work,” Michael said. “On multiple levels as an advocate, as a supporter and certainly as a volunteer.”
During his volunteering, almost four decades, Carter helped build 4,447 homes for residents in 14 different countries and worked with 108,100 volunteers.
Not only did Carter work with future homeowners and volunteers on construction sites, he also worked behind the scenes to advocate for those who didn’t have access to affordable housing.
Michael said that when people think about Habitat, they think about Carter and the work that he has done.
“Being kind one of the faces of Habitat around the world, that you associate Habitat with the Carter’s and it gives them an opportunity the tremendous need, not just in the United States but all around the world of folks who are living in substandard housing that we as a society should be addressing that need,” he said.
And while he volunteered and advocated for Habitat, Michael said that his advocacy didn’t stop there.
“They were involved in so many other endeavors, societal type endeavors, health and welfare, advocating for those who are less fortunate to have access to something that they may not be able to access otherwise,” he said.
His impact not only touched the lives of the families and individuals that he helped but also the lives of those who work or volunteer for Habitat for Humanity around the world.
Michael said that watching his impact on the world has been amazing.
“It’s just been an amazing time to watch and reflect on his impact and how it has spread the word about the need that everybody deserves a decent place to live,” Michael said.
Carter was 100 years old when he passed away.
Photo from Habitat for Humanity of the Tri-State’s website