Habitat for Humanity needs local volunteers to get involved.

Valdosta was chosen to host this year's Jimmy Carter Work Project because of the community's commitment to end poverty housing in the area.

The event is a chance to show off that commitment by the number of local volunteers who decide to hammer away along with President Carter and his wife.

"Getting the local volunteers involved in Valdosta, in this community is very important to show that Valdosta does support this project and we want anybody, everybody to come out," said Heather Able, Volunteer Coordinator.

Because of the magnitude of the project, volunteers will now have to register in advance and pay a fee participate in the June 6 through 13 build.

"We have two options available for local volunteers, one is registering for that whole week, which is $50 and the second option is to register by the day, which is $20," said Gwendolyn Scott, Valdosta-Lowndes Habitat.

Almost 2,000 people from around the world will come to Valdosta to build 25 houses that week. But Habitat wants to make sure that there will be plenty of local volunteers to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity.

If you would like to volunteer for the Jimmy Carter Work Project, you can register on line atwww.valdostahabitat.org.

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Habitat for Humanity

• Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization.

• Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 100,000 houses in more than 60 countries, including some 30,000 houses across the United States.

• Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner families.

• Habitat houses are purchased by the homeowner families.

• Three factors make Habitat houses affordable to low-income people worldwide:
  
  • Houses are sold at no profit, with no interest charged on the mortgage.
    
  • Homeowners and volunteers build the houses under trained supervision.
    
  • Individuals, corporations, faith groups, and others provide financial support.

• Homeowner families are chosen:
  
  • according to their need
    
  • their ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest mortgage
    
  • their willingness to work in partnership with Habitat.

• Habitat for Humanity does not discriminate according to race, religion or ethnic group.

• Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, "sweat equity", into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.

• A Habitat house could cost varies throughout the world, from as little as $800 in some developing countries to an average of $46,600 in the United States.

Source: http://www.habitat.org/ (The Habitat for Humanity International Web site)