Nashville Area Habitat celebrates completion of reconstruction after fire

On Friday, May 8, Nashville Area Habitat hosted a very unique dedication ceremony for the reconstruction of the two Providence Park homes that were destroyed by fire in December 2008.

Neighbors, Nashville Area Habitat staff, friends and family joined Amanda Donald and her son and Ayub Ahmed, his wife, Samira Lbhalla and their children for a special ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the homes they originally purchased in 2006. Amanda and Ayub, whose homes were destroyed by the same fire, say they will be glad to have their neighbors back and everything “back to normal.”

They may call it normal, but the bond among the families in Providence Park is extraordinary. Families watch out for each other and support one another in times of celebration and times of sadness. The morning of the fire, it was neighbors who banged on doors and yelled to wake up the families in the homes that were ablaze. They brought blankets and stayed until they knew the families would be safe.

Unlike most Habitat builds, construction staff and professional contractors did the majority of the work on these homes, with framing assistance from volunteer Supervisors on Site who regularly lead teams of volunteers on builds. Repairs were done this way in order to get the homes completed as soon as possible so families could move back.

“The Nashville community reached out to these families, donating nearly $15,000 for the four families, and we are so grateful,” said Nashville Area Habitat’s Chris McCarthy.

Among the contributors were Morris Property Management, which gave $4,000 to help cover homeowners’ expenses, and Whirlpool Corporation, which donated a washer, dryer, range and refrigerator to both homes that were destroyed.

Volunteers from Whirlpool, Nashville Area Habitat and Habitat for Humanity International originally built these homes in 2006 as part of Whirlpool Building Blocks, a 10-house build.

One homeowner offered the key to his house so my family would have a place to stay. Another took cell phone numbers and promised to route calls from people and churches that wanted to help. Others pulled cash from their pockets. It was so wonderful to know that all our neighbors cared about us so much. We have a great neighborhood.

Ayub Ahmed, Providence Park homeowner

Residential rental property manager Robbie Tenpenny (far L) and president and CEO Judy Rose (far R), both of Morris Property Management, present checks to help with expenses for Habitat homeowners Amanda Donald and Ayub Ahmed, whose homes were destroyed by fire. Also pictured is Ayub’s 6-year-old daughter.