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Sarah Midgyett had been on pins and needles of anxiety since learning Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity officials wanted another at-home visit with her and her husband. She sat with her husband on their front porch thumbing through mail and anxiously waited for the guests to arrive. The Midgyetts had hoped to be chosen as the next Habitat for Humanity family meaning they could move into a brand new home, one much larger than their present 2-bedroom abode, but the couple had received no indication that such good fortune would fall their way. No indication, that is, until a delegation of Habitat for Humanity representatives converged at their home in the 1100 block of Webster Street.

Sarah sat motionless as several strangers intermingled with a few familiar faces approaching the porch. Troy remained silent, uncertain about what would happen next. Rosaline Epps, part of the group of about a dozen people, stepped forward and announced that the Midgyetts had been chosen as the third family. "Oh, my goodness," sighed Sarah. "A brand new house... Thank the Lord."

At the urging of Sarah's mother, the Midgyetts applied to become a Habitat family in early spring. While their home on Webster Street has provided adequate shelter for the Midgyetts and their three children, the 2-bedroom structure is small for a growing family. The basement of their present home is caving in and the roof leaks. There are also concerns over the strength of the floor.

After completing the lengthy application procedure after attending a meeting in the spring, the Midgyetts waited to hear a response. Waiting was difficult for the couple, especially after hearing this week that the group wanted to meet again with them. Troy Midgyett said little during the group;'s visit, but a smile stretched across his face and stayed there throughout the duration. "I'm smiling so much, I'm giving myself a headache," he said.

The Midgyett's new home will be at located at 112 Jackson Street.

What began with the purchase of the property at 112 Jackson Street ended with all smiles when Habitat members presented the Troy and Sarah Midgyett family with the keys to their new home October 28, 2001. The keys were given to the family during an open house dedication ceremony in front of approximately 40 people.

With Sarah Midgyett occasionally dabbing the tears from her eyes during the short ceremony, she and her husband, Troy, and their children stood on the front porch steps at 112 Jackson Street. The event featured brief remarks by several Habitat members and Sarah Midgyett's father, Chester White, who is a minister. "I have always said God will answer our prayers," White told the group, adding his thanks for all those who helped work or contribute to the building of the new home. And while the crowd of people enjoyed looking at the finished product of months of work by the Midgyett family and volunteers, Habitat members also took time to celebrate the process of building the house during the dedication ceremony.

Jim Johnson, fund-raising chairman, recalled some of the events which occurred during the building of the home and talked about the dedication and work ethic of the volunteers who spent their Saturdays working on the house. In his remarks, Mike McClure, Building Chairman, told the crowd that when he first started his tenure as Building Chairman, he thought of building the house, primarily in the physical or material sense. However, as time went on, his views on the construction of the home changed. "It's about the process of bringing people together - people who know a little about construction, a little about fundraising or organization, who don't know each other, who donate their time." Instead of just keeping his eyes on the end goal of finishing the house, he reported he discovered that it was just as important to step back and enjoy the process of building. A proud McClure also praised the workmanship that went into the construction of the home. "That's what you get when you get people who put their love into it."

Elizabeth Cunningham, Habitat president, also spoke to the group briefly and told the group that not only were they there to dedicate the house, but "to celebrate the camaraderie of a family-of-choice working together, to acknowledge the basic premise that everyone should and can have adequate housing... and to lift up our prayers collectively for Troy and Sarah Midgyett and their precious children." The Rev. Donald Hoffman also took part in the dedication, leading the crowd in a small service. The Midgyett family also received a quilt made by the children of the Calvary Baptist Church vacation Bible school and Mickey Cox.

Quilts Donated by Chillicothe Correctional Center
The following story and photos were published in the December 6, 2000, Constitution-Tribune. First photo courtesy of Julie McCoy. Second photo courtesy of Catherine Stortz-Ripley, C-T News Editor

Women incarcerated at Chillicothe Correctional Center made and donated 11 quilts to the Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity. The quilts were made through the restorative justice program, a Department of Corrections program requiring inmates to be involved in community service projects.

Neal Dietz, president of the Chillicothe Area Habitat for Humanity at the time of the donation, said the group was pleased to have received the gift and has already distributed some of the quilts and is making plans for the others. Rose Derrickson, functional unit manager at the correctional center, was instrumental in starting the quilting program after learning how a quilt drawing last year raised nearly $1,200 for the local Habitat. Upon receiving the donation, the organization presented one quilt to each of the three Habitat families. Two quilts were sold for a total of $300 during a recent auction, with the funds split between an orphanage in Haiti and the Habitat for Humanity.

Photos provided by the Chillicothe Constitution Tribune.

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