| from the heart |
36 LAKE OCONEE LIVING | WINTER 2021
says Greene County
Habitat has been able to
impact 70 families in the
local community.
“That’s 80 adults and
140 children that have
had their quality of life
improve,” he says.
He adds one of the
biggest joys that comes
along with the process
is not just when he
sees families working
alongside volunteers to
put “sweat equity” into their
future homes, but when they
sit down for the official closing
on the home. “When we
come to a closing and papers
are signed and everything is
finalized and you look across
the table and see people with
tears in their eyes, then you
go to a home dedication and
see tears in their eyes,” says
Nunnally, “that lets you know
it’s all worth what is happening.”
Jan Broughton, who sits
on the board of directors of
Greene County Habitat with
Nunnally, echoes his joy of
being able to serve four new
families this year.
“We are not just changing the lives of the families that are
there right now, but changing the lives of these families
generationally because all of these children are watching
their mother buy a home that she never believed she would
be able to buy,” says Broughton. “These children now can
dream a different dream and hope a different hope and
believe in something they never believed was possible.”
This year’s VIP event and Showcase of Homes tour was
dedicated to the memory of Shane Meder, of Black Sheep
Interiors, who passed away unexpectedly in June. In honor
of his influence on the foundation of the entire Showcase
concept and generous support of each event, Broughton
explained the creation of the Shane Meder Circle of Friends.
A portion of dollars raised through the Showcase will be
designated to the Shane Meder Circle of Friends and will be
used to help with unanticipated needs of Habitat homeowners
and their children in the future.
“Shane made a huge impact in our organization and in our
community and in our hearts,” says Broughton. “It’s really
difficult for us to put into words what his generosity, and
his grace and his love meant when he poured it into Habitat
the way he did. We will continue to share the blessings he
shared with us through this circle of friends.”
Meder’s husband, Don Schoenberger, joined co-host Paige
Ruhl of DreamBuilt in thanking donors and supporters in
attendance that evening.
“As an interior designer, Shane believed that every person
deserves a beautiful home, a place they can relax and call
their own,” says Schoenberger. “Nowhere is that more important
than for the families served by Habitat for Humanity.”
Ruhl said she was proud to be a part of an organization
that meant so much to Meder.
“Habitat is not just this global organization, it’s the individual
homeowners in our own community,” she says. “That’s
where Shane felt so impassioned. After the home is built
with Habitat’s phenomenal resources, there are still people
who carry on Habitat’s mission by supporting the homeowners.
That’s where Shane took it up a notch and added
that extra touch of helping the homeowners when these kids
need books or even a prom dress, or a car breaks down and
something happens that they weren’t expecting. The Shane
Meder Circle of Friends goes to help with those important
things and carry his efforts forward.”
The Showcase of Homes committee also gave special
thanks to Reynolds Lake Oconee for the opportunity to
hold the Showcase of Homes within the community and for
supporting the event as a presenting sponsor over the past
four years. In addition to serving as the Showcase Presenting
Partner, Reynolds also announced that proceeds from
this year’s Reynolds
Cup will also be
donated to Greene
County Habitat for
Humanity.
“We never could
have imagined when
we started four short
years ago that this
is where we would
be standing and that
this outpouring of
generosity from all
of you would benefit
so many of our families,”
says Broughton.
“We are changing
lives and making
a difference in our
community.”
Jamie and Steve Noles opened their home for the VIP party
for the 2021 Lake Oconee Showcase of Homes. Co-hosts for
the event, Paige Ruhl of DreamBuilt, and Don Schoenberger
of Black Sheep Interiors, honored Shane Meder during
remarks. The Rev. Joseph Nunnally, chairman of the Greene
County Habitat board of directors, thanked the volunteer
Showcase committee for their efforts.