How Jimmy Carter built a lasting impact through Habitat

MORE: Looking back on Jimmy Carter's life, legacy

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - If you’ve heard of Habitat for Humanity, it may be because of Jimmy Carter.

While the former president from Georgia didn’t create Habitat, he was a huge piece of what the group does across the country, right up until he just recently entered hospice.

Through his work with Habitat and other efforts, Carter got down on the level of those in the community to meet people where they were, and help those who need it the most.

That’s the mission of Habitat for Humanity.

For Stephanie Bolton, the dream of raising her four boys in a safe community and home is now a reality.

“This process just allowed me to be a part of something that I didn’t think that I could be a part of, to build my home from the ground up,” she said.

She says the legacy Carter planted more than 30 years ago, meeting community members where they are and assessing their needs, is still impacting families like hers all these years later.

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“You don’t normally have presidents or anyone coming out and building homes and just interacting that interaction with other people that you don’t ordinarily have,” said Bolton.

Bernadette Fortune says it’s a program creating the foundation or memories.

“If you think about it, I bet you still remember what your Christmas dinners look like at your house. I bet you still remember where the Easter eggs were hidden, right? If you celebrate Easter, know where the Christmas tree was placed? These are things that you cannot give to people, but you can help them get them for themselves. And I think, you know, that is really what Habitat does,” she said.

And that is how Carter’s legacy will live on here in Augusta.

“Jimmy Carter, by no means had to do any of the work that he did. He did it because of his strong faith, because of his belief in the community as a whole. Because of his belief that the human race is entitled to live in the United States in a comfortable, affordable, appropriate housing. That is amazing,” said Fortune.

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