ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – This week, thousands of volunteers are putting their hands to good use to build dozens of homes for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
Volunteers include country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, who have volunteered for the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project for years.
Brooks and Yearwood are lending their voices and their hands to the Habitat building in a St. Paul neighborhood.
“There was one year which we wish we could have back. They allowed nail guns on the thing. Her nickname was Nail Gun Diva,” Brooks said.
No matter the tool, the couple has been all in on Carter’s work project since their first build post-Katrina in 2007.
Their inspiration are the Carters.
“I think his whole life, he understood that work ethic is going to get you the result you want. And I think he passes that down to all of us,” Brooks said.
“There is a work ethic that is ingrained in this group. And I think a lot of people on the Carter build are repeat customers. You know, a lot of people have built with the Carters so there’s that feeling. There’s that sense of responsibility and celebration. I mean, this is just, this is such a place of joy and love,” Yearwood said.
Brooks and Yearwood were emotional when they heard the story of Habitat for Humanity homeowner Leandra Estes.
“Our health, mentally, physically and spiritually has totally improved in every way,” Estes said. “And for my whole family, the generational impact is foreseeable and is attainable.”
Yearwood said the work is “inspiring.”
“It’s inspiring to me to see a generation that’s younger than me who understand the important, the important things in this world and who are going to fight for those things. It makes me feel good about us. I mean we every day can find many ways to not feel good about us. And this makes me feel good about who we are,” she said.
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