COMMENTARY: Central VT Habitat for Humanity mourns the death of former President Jimmy Carter

December 30, 2024  |  By Zachariah Watson 

Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity joins the world in mourning the death of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and joins observances around the world to remember his life of service. 

The former president died in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, on Sunday, December 29, at the age of 100. 

He and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter served as Habitat for Humanity’s most famous volunteers over the 35 years they helped to build affordable housing with the organization. Rosalynn Carter died at the age of 96 on November 19, 2023, in Plains, Georgia. 

I’m moved by the tributes following President Carter’s passing. His work helped make Habitat one of the most recognizable organizations in the world, enabling us to recruit volunteers and raise funds to support affordable housing for families in need. It’s an honor to be part of an organization that meant so much to him, and the more I learn about him, the more I think we should all strive to live by his example. 

After leaving the White House, the Carters sought out meaningful ways to continue their commitment to social justice and basic human rights. They first volunteered with Habitat for  Humanity in Americus, Georgia, near their home of Plains, in March 1984. Later that same year,  the Carters joined Habitat volunteers in New York City’s Lower East Side to renovate an abandoned building in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. That trip marked  Habitat for Humanity’s first Jimmy Carter Work Project (later renamed the Jimmy & Rosalynn  Carter Work Project). Each year since then until 2019, the Carters volunteered with Habitat to build or improve houses alongside homeowners in communities across the United States and around the world. President Carter also served as a member of the organization’s board of directors from 1984-1987.

“I think every human being has within himself or herself a desire to reach out to others and to share some of our blessings with those who are in need,” President Carter said in reflecting on his service with Habitat. “What’s opened up that avenue for me and my wife and hundreds and thousands of others is Habitat for Humanity. It makes it easy for us to reach out and work side-by-side with the homeowner who’s never had a decent house, perhaps. I haven’t been on a Habitat project that I wasn’t thrilled and  inspired, and wept.” 

Over the last three decades, the Carter Work Project has touched lives around the world by inspiring more than 108,000 volunteers across the U.S. and in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,447 Habitat homes. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has served more than 62 million people around the world.  In 2016, Habitat named President and Mrs. Carter as the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians for their extraordinary dedication to service in alignment with Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. 

“We are deeply saddened by President Carter’s passing, and our prayers are with the rest of the  Carter family,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “President and Mrs. Carter began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity near their home in southwest  Georgia, soon bringing worldwide attention to the need for decent and affordable housing. We are grateful for the incredible impact the Carters have had on Habitat and on the families who have benefited from their shining example. The Carters put Habitat for Humanity on the map,  and their legacy will live on in every family we serve around the world.” 

Habitat for Humanity will be celebrating President Carter’s life of service with local observances. No plans have been announced yet for such an event in Vermont. 

To learn more or to share a tribute, visit habitat.org. 

More information

Located in Montpelier, Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity, Inc. is an affordable housing non-profit serving Washington and Orange counties in Vermont. It builds and rehabilitates housing and offers affordable, zero- or low-interest mortgages for income-sensitive Vermonters. It also completes critical home repairs for income-qualifying homeowners. An affiliated collaboration works in the towns of Craftsbury,  Glover, Greensboro, and Hardwick in Orleans County. The organization also operates a ReStore resale store at 149 S. Main St. in Waterbury selling home furnishings and goods to support its mission. Learn more online at centralvermonthabitat.org.

Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is a leading global nonprofit working in all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and more than 70 countries. Habitat’s model includes organizing volunteers to help prospective homeowners build new homes. Learn more online at habitat.org.

Zachariah Watson is the executive director of Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity.