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Looking Back on the 2013 Carter Work Project

Every year since 1984, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, dedicate a week of their time to help build Habitat homes somewhere in the world. They have travelled the globe bringing resources and raising awareness for the critical need for decent and affordable housing in all communities. As we celebrate the 35th Carter Work Project (CWP) in Nashville, Tennessee this year, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver reflects on the 30th CWP that was hosted right here in Denver.

During one week in October 2013, Habitat Metro Denver gathered with 2,000 volunteers, partner families, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter to build 11 new homes and repair 15 existing homes in Globeville.

Throughout the star-studded week, local and world-renowned celebrities joined the action here in Denver, including Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood who donned hard hats and worked alongside President and Mrs. Carter.  Other build site participants included the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets and hundreds of daily volunteers.  The 26 families who built and purchased their homes, as well as the home repair partner families couldn’t be more grateful for the outpouring of support.

“This is a big thing to me, changing my life. Now I don’t have to worry where am I going to move to next. Now I’m not going to worry about that anymore.” -Saba, a 2013 CWP Habitat Homeowner.

“The repairs mean everything. It means a lot that Habitat is helping me because I want to stay here in Globeville.” – Ernie 2013 Habitat Home Repair Partner

At age 94, Jimmy Carter still carries his own tool box and builds every year. His passion for preserving and creating affordable homeownership is inspiring. Habitat Metro Denver thanks President Carter and his wife Rosalynn for their dedication and impact they have had over the past 35 years while working with Habitat for Humanity.

“Since I left the White House, there’s been such a dramatic change in the percentage of American wealth that goes to the richest people, so now a lot of folks that used to be middle-class are on food stamps. Americans cherish such rights as the freedom of the press, speech, religion, and the right to a trial by jury, but one of the basic human rights is to have a place to live, food to eat, a modicum of education, and at least a little bit of medical care. Those freedom rights are just part of the basic human right — the right to sustain yourself and take care of your children and have them sleep every night under a roof.” -2013 President Carter interview with the Denver Post.