While it is not unusual to meet someone who held the same job for ten years, when you meet a volunteer who has faithfully shown up for over ten years, it catches your attention. Marcus Booker, a former Habitat Board Member, is such a loyal volunteer. “I enjoyed giving back, meeting the needs of people. I meet these folks out in the community and get to know them really well. I keep up with them and their kids,” said Booker. “What motivates me to keep working with Habitat is the wonderful feeling I get when a family shares with me what their house means to them. There is a great deal of satisfaction when I see what a difference owning a home means to them and the positive changes that have occurred in their lives.”
Booker has built over 14 homes during his time at Habitat, and he’s not done yet. He has served on the Habitat Rabun board twice--serving as Board President and Building Committee Chair during those terms. What drives him to help is the knowledge that “Habitat provides houses for people who couldn’t otherwise afford them, and that is a stabilizing force in our community.” He is exceptionally proud of the quality home Habitat builds, "We take care to make the house livable and of high quality." He and a dedicated group of volunteers meet twice a week to build the home. While the statewide COVID-19 shelter at home order has put a hold on build plans right now, the building committee is still hopeful they will complete the 2020 ADA compliant home begun earlier. “One of the biggest misconceptions many people have about Habitat Rabun’s mission is that they give away houses,” said Booker. “It’s not true. Homeowners receive a 30 year, no interest loan mortgage, which Habitat holds. All that money [mortages] goes into the pot to build more homes.” Additional funding for homes comes from donations and ReStore sales. Booker’s wife, Kathy, is also involved in the builds. A master gardener with the Headwaters Master Gardners Association, she comes in and helps the homeowner with landscape and gardens after the house is built. Habitat Rabun is grateful for passionate volunteers like Marcus and his dedication to affordable housing. We appreciate his commitment to us and Rabun County.
To learn more about how you can join Marcus in building homes or support our cause, click here.
“What motivates me to keep working with Habitat is the wonderful feeling I get when a family shares with me what their house means to them. There is a great deal of satisfaction when I see what a difference owning a home means to them and the positive changes that have occurred in their lives.”