Holston Habitat for Humanity cuts ribbon on new office

KINGSPORT — Holston Habitat for Humanity celebrated its move into a new Kingsport office space with a ribbon cutting on Thursday. Laura Kelly, executive director for Holston Habitat, expressed her appreciation for those who came out to support the nonprofit during the event. The new space is located at 1034 Wilcox Court in Kingsport. The Kingsport Chamber held the ribbon cutting in the partnership with First Horizon Bank. "This is our new home, and over our 41 years history of serving the greater Tri-Cities region, we're really deeply committed to serving our community," she said. "Our mission is to put God's love into action, bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope. And we believe so strongly in that mission because we have a greater vision, and it's pretty simple." Kelly shared that Holston Habitat has served 440 families across the region to date — with 270 being new homes and 170 involving critical home repairs. She also noted that 146 of those new homes have been constructed in Kingsport. "We believe that everybody deserves a decent place to live, as simple as that," she commented. "Everybody deserves to have their own safe, affordable place to call home. So when I think about what home means, it means security, it means joy, it means comfort. It's a safe haven." 'We get to grow' Kelly acknowledged that the new office space is nearly 5,600 square feet larger than the former Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church parsonage Holston Habitat operated out of for decades. She said it took about eight months of "sweat equity" from volunteers and many others. "This office represents 41 years of history of serving our community, but it also represents our future," Kelly explained. "It represents a future where Habitat gets to grow into this office — and believe me, it's not lost on me or any nonprofit leader that we might just have a little more space than we need. It means we get to grow into this space." She said the building offers multiple conference rooms, bathrooms for Habitat staff, a break room and even a construction staging space to store materials and for indoor workdays. "It also allows us to invite more people to join us in this mission in this important work," Kelly noted. "So we can host community meetings and workshops. We can host partner meetings. We can invite our donors to show them why our gifts matter. We have a space to call our own." Holston Habitat will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Johnson City 12-home development called Morrison Meadows on Oct. 29. Kelly said it will be one of the largest projects the organization has taken on to date. "We've got a lot going on, and we hope that you'll continue to partner with us and walk alongside us," she concluded. Tanya McInturf, Holston Habitat board president, shared a few words during the ceremony as well. On behalf of the board of directors, she thanked all who helped bring the project to fruition. "We are excited for the families we will serve, the communities we will strengthen and the hope we will continue to build together," she said. "Welcome to our new home." Holston Habitat is a nonprofit housing ministry that serves Carter, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington Counties in Tennessee as well as Bristol, Virginia.