When we hear the word home, what do you think of? Family? Security? Investment? Your retreat from a long day? Future memories to be made? Well, that is exactly what Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity provides in our Homebuyers Program.
In 2009, that dream for one family came true. Lakisha Mahone, her husband Robert and their children were a young family in search of and in need of a home that would shelter and grow with them over the years as their children grew up. Sometimes, even without a new build, such a home already can exist. Lakisha and Robert applied to the program after a coworker mentioned Habitat for Humanity. From that moment on, they set a goal to learn everything they could and put the work into being active in the program. Lakisha was working, going to school, raising their children, and attending classes at Home Depot to learn all there was to learn on various aspects of refurbishing an existing home that was in foreclosure.
The house was originally built in 1973 and needed a lot of tender loving care. The Mahone family completed five hundred hours of sweat equity towards the Homebuyer program. Additionally, our community of volunteers (such as students from UMW and members of Habitat for Humanity) worked side by side to make the best home possible with dedication and hard work. The Mahone family was actively a part of this endeavor from start to finish.
When I asked Lakisha how it felt to be a part of something like our Homebuyers Program, she stated, “This is a very big deal and a new chapter in our lives. For me personally, there weren't many people in my family who actually had their own home. My husband and I feel that this experience has also set a great example to our children about volunteering for others and to learn that you can achieve great things with patience and a strong will to succeed. Anything is possible.”
All of us here at Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity, along with Lakisha wish to honor her loving husband Robert who passed away. This wonderful man is someone of great character and kindness and a loving husband and father. In Lakisha’s own heart felt words “Robert is not just my husband....Robert is and always will be my best friend and the love of my life”. Our love and prayers to all the Mahone family and Robert will always be a part of our Habitat family. We honor his memory with respect and love. And thank you to Lakisha for so generously sharing her time to talk with us and to honor Robert in such a beautiful way.
Lakisha currently still sits on our Homebuyers Selection Community. Lakisha looks at her position as a crucial one, since she has been through the process and can help future families with the first-hand knowledge she has from being a Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity Homebuyer. As they say...there’s no place like home.
~Lucy Godwin
Volunteer Coordinator/Community Outreach
For more information on our Homebuyers Program please visit our website
“We build strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter”
