About Us

A History of Wilson Area Habitat for Humanity

Wilson Area Habitat for Humanity was incorporated in December 1989 after a handful of Wilson residents came together to establish a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. HFHI was established in 1976 and now has more than 1100 US affiliates and more than 100 serving in other countries. Wilson Area Habitat pays an annual tithe to HFHI and has to meet specific guidelines to stay “in good standing” with HFHI. Our mission statement reads, “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.”

Wilson Area Habitat completed its first house in 1991 and its 19th in 2023. Wilson County, the territory for WAHFH, has a large number of abandoned and substandard homes and a high percentage of renters vs. homeowners. WAHFH has constructed homes using volunteer labor, and through many of its early years, without any paid administrative staff. We now have a full-time executive director, part-time housing specialist, ReStore manager, and assistant manager, as well as four part-time store employees. However, the community’s faithful volunteers provide the leadership and backbone needed to keep WAHFH “building homes, communities and hope.”

To further that mission, Wilson Area Habitat opened its Habitat ReStore in 2004. In 2020, we doubled our square footage at 626 Ward Blvd. with lease of the adjoining space. The ReStore accepts donations of new or gently used building materials, tools, hardware, furniture and household items. Proceeds from the store go toward building and repairing homes.

In 2021, the Board approved the creation of a “Repairs Ministry” in partnership with Wilson Community College’s Building and Construction Technology program. The goal of this ministry is to complete needed repairs to eligible homeowners who cannot finance the repairs themselves. WCC students, under the supervision of a licensed general contractor, will provide the labor for the repairs, and WAHFH will provide materials, volunteers where needed, and professional labor if necessary.

About Habitat for Humanity International

Founded in Americus, Georgia, USA, in 1976, Habitat for Humanity today operates around the globe and has helped build, renovate, and repair more than 600,000 affordable houses, sheltering more than 46 million people worldwide.

 

Wilson Area Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, 2024-25

Stephen Bennett

Dan Blackmon

Lizzy Clapsadl, Chair

Robert Clark, Immediate Past Chair

Tammy Daniel

Mike Holt, Treasurer

Kesha Howell, Vice Chair

Rodger Lentz

Eric Maas

Dr. Charles Murphy

Bryan Radford

Denise Stinagle

Lori Winstead

Dr. Jami Woods, Secretary

Administrative Staff

Suzanne Coker Craig, Executive Director

Lori Hines Jones, Housing Specialist

 

ReStore Staff

Anthony Lettley, Manager

Daydra Applewhite, Asst. Manager

Our Supporters (partial list)

A+ Graphics

Adams Flooring Company

Carolina Tile Company

CG Masonry Inc.

Collins Aerospace

Consolidated Electrical Distributors

Creech’s Plumbing Inc.

DLT Roofing Inc.

Farmer’s Concrete Services

First Presbyterian Church

First UMC of Wilson

Good News Advent Christian Church

Greenlight

Hawley Electric Inc.

Herring-Sutton & Associates

Hill Building Contractors

Home Builders Supply Company

Jarco Supply

Kenwell Plumbing Inc.

Langley’s Landscaping and Lawn Care

Lowe’s

Penny Drywall Construction Inc.

Performance Heating and Cooling

PLT Concrete Services Inc.

Priority Waste Inc.

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church

StaDry Roofing

Telford Family Foundation

Tri-City Insulation and Building Products

Truist Foundation

Vick Family Farms

West Nash UMC

Wilson Rotary Club