Staff report

Habitat for Humanity will dedicate a new house for Marilyn Herbin at 259 Old Gibson Highway, Hamlet, at noon Thursday.

The house construction was sponsored by citizens of Richmond County and Habitat Moore Store and Fund for Humanity. It is the 165th house built by Habitat in Richmond and Moore counties.

Five years ago, Herbin lost everything in a house fire. She had no insurance.

Having no way to recover her losses, but having the support of her family, she moved in with a cousin and stayed for four years before finding an apartment.

While recovering, a friend had seen a Habitat presentation at her church and suggested Herbin apply for a Habitat house.

She applied and was accepted in the spring of 2008. She will now be the owner of a new house on the same land where she was born.

“The fire was a blessing in disguise,” Herbin said. It may have taken away everything she owned, but now she feels like it was meant to happen, making way for an even better home.

“Habitat for Humanity of the N.C. Sandhills is excited for Herbin and congratulates her for her achievement,’ said Amanda Jakl of Habitat.

Habitat provided the construction and labor for the house. Jakl said Herbin was a “very deserving homeowner.”

She provided 300 hours of the “sweat equity,” where homeowners must volunteer their time to help build other Habitat homeowners’ homes or work on their own. She has attended all the necessary homeowner classes. These are requirements for all Habitat recipients.