On a bright fall morning in 2023, students from Clemson University's Habitat Campus Chapter gathered on Bowman Field with a plan. It was close to Homecoming, and in a tradition spanning more than three decades, these dedicated students began constructing a home, transforming the football field into a work site.
Two years after being lifted from the green, the house now stands complete on Erin Lane in Pickens. Its long journey was carried forward by thousands of volunteer hours, careful coordination, and a coalition of partners who refused to let the project stall.
What followed the excitement of the build on Bowman was the quiet, sustained work that makes a Habitat house a reality. Campus Chapter students kept showing up, making the trek to the build site again and again to do the hard work long after the fanfare ended. They were joined by community service groups, faculty from Clemson's President's Leadership Institute, members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clemson, and volunteers from ArthreX, Champion Aerospace, and Mungo Homes. Dozens of individual volunteers gave their time and energy to creating something real.
The community's handprints are everywhere in the home. Signatures decorate the studs and subfloor, sharing pride and blessings for the family. At the open house, Clemson's art department presented the homeowner with custom pieces, a gesture that made the empty space feel like it already belonged to someone.
On August 26th, Pickens County Habitat staff had the true joy of handing over the keys. In the days leading up to it, the excited homeowner texted staff a countdown: "T-24 hours and the dream becomes a reality." The moment the keys were in her hand, the house was truly hers. Soon after, she sent photos of the little moments as furnishings went in, a washing machine was ordered, and the pantry was filled, finally making the house a true home.
On October 19, at 2 p.m., the community will gather on Erin Lane one final time for the home's dedication ceremony. The doors will be open not just to the new homeowner's friends and neighbors, but to every volunteer, partner, and donor who played a role in its construction. As the new homeowner puts it, "Tell everyone to come hungry!"
This house proves that when we come together, we can make real, lasting change in our world. It's proof that a build is never about one moment or one group—it is about every hand on a hammer, every dollar raised, and every company that steps in at the right time. Together, you've helped us further our mission and have changed the future for another family.
