By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
Top Photo: With the motto “A Hand Up not A Hand Out,” volunteers with the Habitat for Humanity group serving Autauga and Chilton Counties break ground on a new home in Prattville.
It was an emotional day for Mary Cozadd as she, her three grandchildren, family, friends, and community members celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for her new home. The new home will be located in Prattville on Lower Kingston Road.
“I’m just so happy and blessed. I’m truly happy for my grandkids because they deserve to be in better living conditions,” Cozadd said.
Cozadd, who has dealt with health concerns for years, has struggled to live in her current home. She said the experience has been nothing short of troublesome.
“It’s just been one thing after another. Our roof fell in at one point, my car was torn up, and we had sewer issues that caused a foul smell throughout the trailer,” Cozadd said. “There was rot and mold along the walls and on the floor, so it was unsafe to walk on in some parts.”
Cozadd said that she was pushed into applying for the home by one of her best friends, Wilma Perry.
“I love her so much. She’s been there for me every step of the way and I can’t thank her enough,” Cozadd said as she held back tears.
Perry, who was present at the groundbreaking, said that Cozadd only needed an extra push.
“I’ve been in tears ever since she got approved. I told her, ‘You need to try. The only thing they’re going to tell you is yes or no’, and when she got approved, I just fell to my knees. It’s been such a wonderful, wonderful blessing,” Perry said.
Cozadd is currently living with her son and three grandchildren. She, along with her three grandchildren Jhamarian, Jhazlyn, and Alexis, will be moving into the house together upon completion.
“Our trailer is a three bedroom, but it’s basically all just one living space. It’s so small and I get complaints from the children all the time amount of room that we have. We just couldn’t take it anymore. It was time for a change,” Cozadd said.
Like all potential Habitat for Humanity homeowners, Cozadd has attended many hours of class time on subjects such as finances, budgeting, home maintenance, understanding escrow and insurance and yard care. She also participated with 100 “sweat hours” and will work an additional 100 hours when the organization starts on her home.
The project is expected to start “soon after the 4th of July” says Habitat President/Board of Directors, Tom Risher. He said the house should be completed roughly three months after groundwork starts.
“It really is a dream come true,” Cozadd said.
The Autauga County Habitat for Humanity was formed in 1993 and the Habitat for Humanity of Chilton County was formed in 2003. The two affiliates joined together and updated the name in 2009. To date, the affiliate has built 45 homes between the two counties and has served an additional 17 families in Central America and the Caribbean through its tithe to Habitat International
