Posted August 3, 2023 By ALLEN MINCEY
ALVIN AND ZANDRA JACKSON were surprised last year when told that Operation Finally Home and the Cleveland community announced the couple would receive a new home.
Last August, Alvin and Zandra Jackson learned their home — which had been deteriorating for years, including the family having to use 5-gallon buckets to catch rainfall coming through their roof — would be replaced.
This Saturday, the family will join others for the dedication of their new home, located at the same site as their previous residence. It has come to fruition through the kindness, and hard work, of many in the community.
Lamar Orr spearheaded the rebuild of the Jacksons' home, and with Alvin being a Vietnam veteran, knew one entity that might help — Operation Finally Home.
“Two-plus years ago, we did another house for a veteran, with Charlotte Peak [of KACE Construction] leading that project, and when I learned of the Jacksons’ need, I came over and saw that the home could not be repaired,” Orr said. He contacted Rusty Carroll with Operation Finally Home and the new home project started.
Operation Finally Home applies and gets assistance from major corporations to put back into the community to help veterans. Orr, a veteran himself, knew working with Operation Finally Home would be a possibility.
Orr wasn’t going to stop there, as he began going out into the community seeking support for the project.
“I started reaching out within the community and I told the story that Alvin was a Vietnam veteran who served in the jungles as a scout and came home and he had 25 years [in the military], so he's honorable,” Orr remembered.
And the community responded.
Charles Blankinship, a local builder, was brought in and used his expertise, as well as his company name, to secure what was needed to begin the construction.
The community rallied to help the Jacksons, with Orr remembering special help that came from his church — Westmore Church of God.
“Josh Roe [at NewsChannel 9 in Chattanooga] had put together a video, and [pastor] Kelvin Page “showed it one Sunday morning and did a special offering for this project and raised over $5,000 at one time. So that really helped,” Orr said.
Others joined in the project — Men of Action, the Ocoee Region Builders Association, and Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland.
“Tammy [Johnson, Habitat president] gave me a spreadsheet that they use to build houses and said, ‘Here's an example.’ So I critiqued it to fit this project and created a spreadsheet from it,” Orr said.
Others in the community offered to help, from roofing to guttering, to concrete that was being poured for the sidewalk to the house on Tuesday.
“I would plug in these numbers to give me a total of what we have in donations,” Orr said, noting that during the process, more than $108,000 in gifts and donations had been secured, along with $20,000 from Operation Finally Home.
The work proceeded, and Saturday, the home will be ready for occupancy. Orr said the Jackson may take a little time to move in, but he is sure they are ready.
When their previous home was razed, Alvin and Zandra Jackson had to stay with relatives. Now, they are going to be back in their home, on the same property they have lived for years.
“This is where they lived before. The house was pointed the direction toward Pugh Street, so that is the address they used, but it will soon be changed to Lang Street. The actual address that is being used for direction purposes for Saturday is 155 Pugh St. NE."
Saturday’s dedication is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., and Orr said he hopes many will attend to welcome the Jacksons into their new home. He especially hopes area veterans will attend for their fellow soldier.
“This has been a community project, and I can’t think of a nicer couple than Alvin and Zandra to receive this support,” Orr said.
“When I really started out [with this project], I was hoping to build relationships, not just with the Jacksons but in the entire community, and we have seen that,” he added. “I am proud to live in this community.”
