From left, Executive Director for Athens-Limestone Habitat for Humanity Garth Lovvorn, President of the Athens-Limestone Association of Realtors Kim Hodges and President of the Athens-Limestone Homebuilders Association Rusty Strickland will lead their organizations in a joint effort in April for the Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz.

The Athens-Limestone Habitat for Humanity will meet tonight with Realtors and homebuilders of Limestone County to confirm plans for the start of Home Builders Blitz in Limestone County.

The blitz is a nationwide project involving professional homebuilders in the construction of Habitat homes. The program themed Plans for America is held nationally May 31 to June 7. However, Athens-Limestone Habitat for Humanity will start its blitz build in April.

“It’s a nationwide program that’s been taking place since 2006 but it will be the first time has happened here,” said Garth Lovvorn, executive director of Habitat for Humanity for Limestone County.

The program has taken time to spread to all Habitat affiliates, he said.

The Athens-Limestone Association of Realtors and Athens-Limestone Homebuilders Association are at the forefront of the project.

Realtors will concentrate on fundraising for the home. A Habitat home typically costs approximately $50,000.

“We live here, we work here and we rely on the public. They give to us so I felt we should give back to them,” said Kim Hodges, president of the Athens-Limestone Association of Realtors, and owner of and broker with Alabama Reality Group.

Homebuilders will focus on building the home. The home will be built in the Myrtlewood subdivision in the Piney Chapel community. Typically, a build takes three to four months to complete. However, with the homebuilders and realtors involved during the blitz the build is expected to take a month.

“The Homebuilders Association felt like we needed to give something back to the community in return for the public supporting us,” said Rusty Strickland, president of the Athens-Limestone Homebuilders Association. He and his father, Russell Strickland, own Strickland Homebuilders.

The “house leader,” or coordinator for the build, will be Homebuilder Association member and Habitat volunteer Terrell Carden. Roy Shaw, treasurer of Athens-Limestone Habitat for Humanity and a retired homebuilder, will assist Carden.

“I am very happy about how Kim and Rusty received Habitat’s approach to get their associations involved in the blitz,” Lovvorn said. “They did everything they needed to get their members involved. I commend them on spearheading this, because without them it would not happen. Their leadership in this has been critical”

Donations for the Athens-Limestone Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz can be made at any realtor’s office in Limestone County or by contacting the Athens-Limestone Habitat for Humanity office at (256) 230-6001 or email habitatforhuman@bellsouth.net.