Thankful and Blessed.

Fayetteville Habitat
1 day ago
2 min read

Ms. Phyllis McCroskey greeted Fayetteville Habitat's team, volunteers, and fellow veterans every morning with a smile that said just that, "I'm thankful and blessed."

Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity's annual Veterans Build brings together veterans, active-duty soldiers, community partners, and volunteers to help build and repair local veterans' homes. It is a home repair service week and a call to action for volunteers looking to offer a helping hand to qualified veteran homeowners in our community. This event also focuses on increasing awareness of the challenges many veterans face in obtaining stable shelter for themselves and their families, and the services Habitat for Humanity offers through its Veterans Initiative program.

Ms. Phyllis McCroskey was our veteran recipient of critical repairs this year. She is a disabled retired Army veteran, serving from 1981 to 1993. She was a Sergeant, E-5 at separation with the MOS: 71LF5, Administrative Postal NCO. Ms. Phyllis served two tours in Honduras during the 1980s, as well as assignments in Hanau, Germany, and Fort Bragg, NC. Ms. Phyllis has been volunteering with the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity (FAHFH) for over two years. She can always be counted on to volunteer at Veteran and Women Build events, as well as other construction and painting events. She’s also a frequent patron of The Habitat ReStore.

SCOPE OF WORK

The project focuses on much-needed repairs and improvements to Ms. McCroskey’s home, including replacing rotted trim boards and fascia, upgrading electrical fixtures, performing yard work, painting, and repairing her deck. Work began on Oct. 24–25, with teams completing chimney reframing, installing new light fixtures, upgrading outdoor electrical outlets and security lights, repairing deck boards, and repainting key areas. The final phase, Nov. 14-15, included finishing the chimney with new cement and siding, rebuilding the back deck railing, completing the painting, and replacing the remaining light fixtures. Ms. McCroskey also had a new dishwasher and refrigerator installed.

COMMUNITY

The Veteran’s Build is more than just an event. It is a community initiative that unites people of all backgrounds to honor and assist veterans in need. Whether through a donation or volunteering your time, your support helps us stand together—shoulder to shoulder—as we make a lasting impact in the lives of our fellow veterans. During the two build months of October and November, 104 volunteers and 11 skilled volunteers gave 473 hours of their time to make Ms. McCroskey's home and winter wonderland safer. Fayetteville Habitat has also made a lasting impression on summer camp attendee, Jax. Jax volunteered with his mother Saturday morning, excited to do age-appropriate tasks at Ms. McCroskey's home.

Throughout the four-day Veteran Build, organizations, businesses, and partner families came together in support. Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity sincerely appreciates every sponsor, community vendor, and local gift-in-kind donation that contributed to this successful build.