AMERICUS, Ga. — A project straight from the hearts of former President Jimmy Carter and his late wife Rosalynn is landing one family a new home.
To many across Central Georgia, Jimmy Carter is not only a former president but an example.
His impact in his hometown of Plains, the state of Georgia and throughout the nation is tremendous. Many are inspired to keep his legacy going.
The Fuller Center for Housing, Habitat for Humanity and over 400 Georgia Southwestern State University students just finished building their latest home.
It took them three weeks and throughout their hard work, they were reminded of the dedication the Carters showed as they served their community.
David Snell is the President of the Fuller Center for Housing
"Jimmy felt that a life well lived was a life of giving," Snell said.
Snell says he worked closely with the Carters in the '90s and early 2000s and says they were humble and motivated to be involved in the community.
"This house is being built in honor of the president and Mrs. Carter and recognizing their profound gift to the issue of housing for God's people in need," Snell said. "They lived humbly because they wanted to give back, which they do tremendously. They have helped renovate Plains and they are great citizens and even went to Georgia Southwestern."
Emmanuel Robinson is the new homeowner and has three kids, one eleven-year-old and three-year-old twins.
"I got the call and he said, 'You got the house' and that just turned my whole day around," Robinson said. "It gets hard sometimes as a single father, so when you see Georgia Southwestern State University, the Fuller Center, and Jimmy Carter's foundation coming together to do this for me, it's overwhelming."
Robinson was raised in a Habitat home himself, and he applied for this house after realizing the state of the housing market.
"We were staying in a house that the electricity was bad, the floors were caving in and Habitat came in and built us a house," Robinson said. "So, I grew up in a habitat house and now I have my own house. Not even that long, passing by I just saw dirt and grass and hills and rocks. Now, when I look at it, it's where I'll be living for the rest of my life. It's amazing, my life has definitely changed."
When it comes to the volunteers, Alex Cobzaru is a freshman at Georgia Southwestern State University.
"I think he finds it amazing because he was here to build a foundation and to see how much we've all evolved," Cobzaru said.
He says the hands-on experience and the community service are something the Carters would be proud of.
"It's nice to get to walk in his footsteps and especially see where he grew up and went to school," Cobzaru said. "I got here today at 8 a.m. and it's been nice to do something different for a good cause as well."
Diane Bies is a volunteer from the Fuller Center.
"It's just so neat to see President Carter and to know that this is in his honor," Bies said. "It has been amazing to see all of the progress that has happened."
In working with Habitat for Humanity, they took a tour of Plains when the Carters were visiting and they got to meet them.
"I've got my picture taken shaking his hand and he was just so sweet and such a humble and beautiful man," Bies said, "All of the work that he's done for the area and giving to Americus is just wonderful."
The organizations held a home dedication on Friday evening for Robinson and his three children, who are now able to settle in and make the house into their home.