By ZOË WATKINS
zwatkins@bedfordcountypost.com
Spirits were high at Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity’s 26th annual ball and fundraiser which took place Saturday night in Bell Buckle.
Highlighted at this year’s event were Habitat Home recipients Jordan and Landon Johnson; however, due to illness, they were not able to attend the event.
Pam Birtcil, Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity Director, spoke on their behalf, saying, “This family went into their home in 2015-2016. They were babies, and they were thrilled. They worked hard; they worked their 350 hours of sweat equity. Their mom had done education classes and got them into their home.”
The home is located on Nutmeg Drive, which also has 12 Habitat Homes on it total. Jordan and Landon are now in school, with one completing high school and the other attending Motlow State Community College.
“The stability of having one home to come to is wonderful for the children,” said Birtcil. “I always say I fall in the love with the parents because the parents are doing it for the kids. But I do what I do for 18 years now, for the children. We see a huge difference in kids when we can takes them out of fluid situations where they move from home to home.”
In addition to food served by the Bell Buckle Banquet Hall catering, guests enjoyed a silent and live auction. At this year’s auction, several highly contested items were sold, including a football signed by Tom Brady, donated by Charlie Palmer which went for $6,000; natural diamond jewelry from heritage Jewelers that went for $3,500; tickets to the UT-Kentucky football game in November, donated by the Pewitt Family, which sold for $3,000; and a guitar signed by Dustin Lynch, which sold for $1,000.
“We definitely want to thank everyone for coming and we appreciate everyone,” said Birtcil. “This is how we build homes in Bedford County—by our businesses and our families and our individuals who care enough to know our community is a better place when we have housing for everyone.”
