Lakeway Area Habitat for Humanity recently held a ribbon cutting celebration for their latest home build and is getting ready for a full summer as they look to engage more with the community.

Homeowner-partner Tabitha was excited to finally be moving into her Morristown home after working to turn a dream into a reality.

She was joined by family, friends and the Habitat staff/volunteers who work hard to, as their mission states, “put God’s love into action.”

“Everybody here knows what this means to us, and I appreciate everybody,” Tabitha said. “You guys, every single one of you guys have been on my journey with me. And you guys have picked me up when I was low. And you guys just know basically everything about me and everything about our journey. And we are just so, so grateful and thankful.”

Lakeway Habitat Executive Director Christiana Love-Baldwin talked about that process.

“This house marks the culmination of four houses that we built with our THDA home grant,” Love-Baldwin said. “And we are ready to sign up for another one.

“It could not be done without every single one of you: Leslie, our number one cheerleader — she’s great at what she does, the (Habitat Re)Store, bringing home the bacon so we can cook it up in a pan -ya’ll keep rocking, our homeowners… everybody’s A-plus.”

Community Outreach Coordinator Leslie Brenna said that while the homes that are built are sometimes the most visible thing that Habitat does, the staff and volunteers at Habitat do many things like house repairs for the elderly and, in addition to operating their thrift store in Morristown, organize events to support the work of supporting home ownership.

One of those events is an upcoming Makers & Bakers Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 30, at the Habitat ReStore, 1080 Alpha Valley Home Road.

The community event will feature baked goods, handmade crafts, local vendors, food trucks and thrift shopping inside the ReStore. Admission is free.

Vendor applications are still being accepted. Booth spaces are $35, and organizers are inviting local makers, artists and small businesses to participate.

For vendor information, call 423353-1193 or email recyclinghope@lakewayareahabitat.org Later on this summer, Lakeway Habitat is hosting a pickleball tournament, organized with help from Lakeway Area Pickleball, on July 11 and 12.