Kim Edwards and her three children, like most people, have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Chief among these is the brand-new home they moved into after Tuesday night’s Habitat for Humanity of the N.C. Sandhills home dedication for the Edwards family on 9002 Beeler Avenue in Hamlet.

They are now the proud owners of a four-bedroom home, large enough to accomodate their needs, and provided at an affordable price thanks to the Christian principles of Habitat for Humanity.

For 12-year-old E.J., this is the first time he’s called a structure his permanent home.

“It feels good, it feels like home,” he unassumingly said after Tuesday night’s dedication. “I plan on being here forever.”

He relented after considering the word “forever,” and decided he “might” want to go to college or get his own home when he’s a little older.

His little sister Amiyah and little brother Derek were also on hand for the event.

Edwards herself couldn’t quite decide on one adjective to describe her feelings Tuesday night.

“I’m happy - joyful - glad,” she said. “It’s been awhile (since my affiliation with Habitat for Humanity began). I learned a whole lot. Going through the classes, I learned a whole lot, and working on other peoples’ houses, I learned a whole lot.”

The classes and work Edwards spoke of are central to the Habitat concept.

Instead of giving a home away, the non-profit requires the recipients of its homes to put in 300 “sweat hours,” or hours spent working on their home and other homes being constructed by the group.

Also required of Habitat home recipients - 12 hours of classroom hours instruction about financial management and other practical lessons for homeowners.

For some family members of Edwards, a more deserving individual couldn’t have been found for the honor of becoming a homeowner.

Her cousin Tia Jones described a person who sticks by others through thick and thin.

“I’ll give you a perfect example,” she told some two dozen people who stood in the Edwards’ living room/kitchen area. “When we were little, we used to play together outside, and sometimes I would get bit by red ants. Man, she would get after those ants - I think she would put some of them in the sleeper hold, because she loved wrestling.”

Cousin Jazemine “Jazz” McSween seconded the notion.

“Kim is just the type of person who will give you the shirt off her back - even if it’s raining,” she said.

Habitat officials agreed with these assessments.

“I’ll say again to you, welcome home,” Board Chairman Gary Von Cannon said. “This is what Habitat is all about, helping people like you own their own home.”

“It’s always great to come to Hamlet, because it’s such a wonderful community to work in,” Habitat Construction Manager Steve Sims said. “It’s a really great place to be - here in Hamlet - and we’re really glad Kim can be here, and we could help her.”

Habitat Richmond County Area Manager Chris Carpenter said this is the first home he saw built while employed with the agency, but the ceremony had special meaning for him aside from that.

“This is really special to me, because I have coached E.J. in sports, and I have known Kim for about five years,” Carpenter said. “She’s a great person, and she really deserves this.”

Besides the well wishes, Edwards received home-warming gifts from a Moore County church and Boy Scout troop.

Another gift was given to the family by Habitat Family Services Coordinator Bob Northrup.

“I can tell you that in the short time I’ve known her, Kim is a wonderful person to work with, and she really deserves this,” Northrup said. “This is a Bible from Habitat for Humanity for you to keep in your home so God can continue to bless and keep you.”

Habitat is currently soliciting applications in Richmond County for new homes.

For more information, contact Carpenter at (910) 334-1162.

Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.