Clayton home building group, Clayton Homes of Pelham and Jesus Works Ministry, a multi-congregation outreach program headquartered at the Alabaster First United Methodist Church, have teamed up to donate a home to Ava Woods, a church nurse at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Alabaster, Ala.
Woods was identified by Jesus Works Ministry, which includes a dozen area congregations, as a person in need of a home after she submitted a request to have her floor repaired. Upon seeing the state of her home, project organizers began the process of getting Woods a completely new home.
The 77-year-old Woods was down on her luck, living in a home with no plumbing and in a state of disrepair. Despite her poor living conditions, Woods was known for her giving spirit and as someone active within her community.
“We are so happy that we were alerted to this situation,” said David Brewer, General Manager of Southern Homes Russellville. “We had a home available that had previously been utilized for energy-efficiency testing for the government. This highly energy-efficient home will bring Ms. Woods comfort for many years to come.”
Southern Homes Russellville (Ala.), a Clayton home building group subsidiary, recently tested its Zero Energy Ready home models for the U.S. Department of Energy. Southern Homes Russellville donated one of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom, energy-efficient Zero Energy Ready homes to Woods.
“We were delighted to be able to help out in this situation,” Clayton CEO Kevin Clayton said. “Our purpose is ‘opening doors to a better life,’ and Ms. Woods has improved the lives of countless people. We wanted to open a door for her.”
Clayton Homes of Pelham worked on removing Woods’ old home and setting up the new energy-efficient model home at no cost. On Oct. 7, Woods saw her new home for the first time.
“This is my birthday present,” Woods said. “God is good.”
