A better future: Habitat for Humanity, SI Group make another dream come true

For years, Britannia Smith, known affectionately as “Bri,” had dreamed of one day owning her own home. That day arrived on April 18, thanks to the dedicated volunteers with Habitat Humanity and the SI Group.

Shown during the closing on the new Habit for Humanity/SI Group home are, from left, new homeowner Bri Smith, attorney John Shuler and Smith’s mother, Jackie Shivers, who is also a Habitat homeowner.

Larry Rivers, chairman of the SI Group Foundation, presented the 23-year-old single mother and Husqvarna assembly line worker a bible and the keys to her new Whitman Street home. It marked the fourth time he has been privileged to work on a Habitat home and present keys to a first-time homeowner, Rivers said.

“The look in the family’s eyes as they step foot into their new home is priceless,” he said. “My co-workers, all the volunteers and each homeowner work many hours as a team for over a year to pull it off. Bri is one of many deserving recipients.”

Smith will share the three-bedroom home with her 1-year-old son, King, and her 5-year-old nephew, Zylek.

The Edisto High School graduate said she is looking forward to stepping out on her own and providing a better future for her small family.

Her mother, Jackie Shivers, and her grandmother, Clarine Shivers, “have been very supportive, but there comes a time when everyone should move out on their own,” Smith said.

“I’m eternally grateful to Jamie Bozardt, Larry Rivers, Tabitha Shivers, the SI Group, the Wright family and the many faithful supporters and volunteers,” she added.

“We are so proud of Bri’s hard work to meet the requirements of our program,” said Jamie Bozardt, executive director of Edisto Habitat for Humanity. “Bri has exceeded the sweat equity requirement of 350 hours.”

Bozardt said the Edisto Habitat for Humanity affiliate is particularly happy that they were able to continue their annual tradition of building homes with the employees of the former Albemarle Company, now SI Group.

“This would not have been possible without the contributions of The Wright Family Foundation,” she said. “This new partnership is very exciting, and we hope to continue to partner with the Foundation and the SI employees for many years to come.”

“The SI Group employees have been faithful to our organization by volunteering of their time and talents for six consecutive years now … on other homes we build throughout the year; we have been very blessed by our partnership with them,” Bozardt added.

The summation of Bri Smith’s gratefulness is echoed in the words of the traditional Habitat for Humanity dedication prayer, “Bless This House.”

‘Bless this house, O Lord we pray, make it safe by night and day; bless these walls, so firm and stout, keeping want and trouble out; bless the roof and chimneys tall, let thy peace lie over all; bless this door, that it may prove, ever open to joy and love.’

Smith’s home is the 68th Habitat Home in Orangeburg.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity, call 803-536-2300.