On March 15 Greene County Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) held its Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Habitat served dinner to its volunteers in appreciation and acknowledged all the accomplishments of the affiliate during 2011.  

Theresa Kemp, Habitat chairman of the board, told the 120 volunteers gathered at the First United Methodist Church, that “Greene County Habitat has more than 300 volunteers working toward our mission of ‘eliminating substandard housing in Greene County’. Many of these volunteers helped build four houses in 2011 and 34 houses in the last 15 years making us one of the most aggressive rural affiliates in the nation.”  

All volunteers were recognized by the committee chairmen who were introduced by Elaine Mathews, Habitat Executive Director. Elaine presented John O’Brien with the Habitat 2011-2012 Volunteer of the Year Award.

John F. O’Brien was born and educated in Rhode Island; however, a family business directed him to the south. In 2001 he and his wife, Laura, moved to Greene County where he became active in Christ Our King & Savior Catholic Church. Health forced John to slow and rest for a short period of time.  However, in 2010 Bob Coletta and Gary Purman encouraged his interest in Greene County Habitat and as his health improved he began as a volunteer with the Resource Development Committee. During 2011, he launched the annual “Community Home Build Project” and individually worked with businesses to obtain donations of funds, building materials, and labor for the house built at 1031 Hope Lane in New Horizons of Ludwig Place. The ex-marine that he is.

“He is extremely dedicated and doesn’t let his personal challenges stop his passion to achieve his objectives.  He is the ‘I’ll get it done man,” Elaine Mathews stated. “As soon as the community build project was completed, he went to work on the landscape project for New Horizons at Ludwig Place and encouraged area landscapers, designers and vendors to donate time and supplies to plant 48 trees.”

“Personally, I take home much more than I give to Habitat and that’s a great feeling, believe me,” O’Brien said. “It gave me my life back in many ways.”

Habitat says “Thank You John.”

Greene County Habitat is a nonprofit Christian organization working to eliminate substandard housing in Greene county by building simple and decent houses for families in need.  For more information call Elaine Mathews at (706)453-1718 or volunteer@gchabitat.com.