TOLEDO, Ohio — Tuesday marked the 100th birthday of former president Jimmy Carter.
He's most notably known for his humanitarian efforts, and one of the organizations he's devoted much of his time to, Habitat for Humanity.
The nonprofit hosted its 40th Annual Carter Work Project this year in St. Paul, Minnesota, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
Even though the big build didn't happen here in Toledo, Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity hosted a women's build in west Toledo to celebrate the former president's big day.
Executive director Erin McPartland said this build just so happened to coincide with his birthday in the perfect way.
"This happens to be hundreds of women coming together to build this home and they're really bringing out what it meant to be and have that service above oneself," McPartland said.
She said this build is securing hope by using community strength to nail it down while cutting down barriers to homeownership for someone these F&M Bank employees don't know.
"We know home builds hope and we just come together as a community to be able to provide that opportunity to someone else," McPartland said.
Brenda Mossing and her coworkers said they're happy to do their part to help build a new home.
"It's fun. Teamwork is fun and learning something new is fun," Mossing said. "Doing it for someone else is fan-tab-ulous."
McPartland said this women's build is what Carter stood for.
"He really exemplified our mission, lived out his faith. He really brought awareness to the need for housing and also an awareness to get out in your community to serve and give back," McPartland said.
The president did make a stop in Toledo back in 1988, well after his presidency, to help Maumee Valley get started building homes for Habitat for Humanity. Now on his 100th birthday, this build is new work for F&M Bank workers.
"I don't even know how to hit a nail," Mossing said. "It's been a learning experience."
But it is encouraged to learn on the job.
This is something Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity's Michael Broderick had to get used to. For many years, Broderick worked in the trade industry where know-how in home construction was a must.
As he currently celebrates his two-year anniversary with the nonprofit, he explained how he's in awe of the community support and volunteer work.
"The effort that's put from all these volunteers, people that are building these houses that don't even know some people," Broderick said. "It's just coming out and taking care of the community and it's awesome."
To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, click here.