By Corey Poole

For one Natchitoches couple, a new set of keys is a beautiful thing. Christopher and Nicole Oswald and their daughter Emerson have a new home thanks to the Natchitoches Fuller Center for Housing.

At a dedication ceremony for the house June 17, the Oswald’s Pastor, Steve Ciaccio, said a prayer. Christopher and Nicole are youth pastors at Faith Family Church.

Board member Betty Smith said she likes seeing people own their own homes. “It’s my passion,” she said.

Board Member Glenrose Pitt said she enjoys making a difference in peoples’ lives. “It helps them become productive members of society when they’re struggling just to get by,” she said.

The Fuller Center began in Shreveport in 1997 as a Habitat for Humanity Affiliate. Millard Fuller left Habitat for Humanity because it started going in a direction that conflicted with his own vision, thus the Fuller Center for Housing was formed in 2010. Today Natchitoches has a population of nearly 20,000 with over 26.7 percent of the families living below the poverty line. The Center helps low-income families with affordable and safe housing solutions.

Board members include: Nettles Brown, Doug de Graffenried, Juanita Fowler, Myrna Lemoine, Dudley and Glenrose Pitt, Jim Roberts, Lisso Simmons, Betty Smith and Shirley Walker.

The organization’s new President, Jim Roberts, took over from Mike Murphy a month ago.

To learn more about their work and volunteer contact Glenrose Pitt at pitt56_123@suddenlink.net or Mike Murphy at mike.murphy.b291@statefarm.com.

NEEDS:

• Skilled volunteers
• Board members
• Financial support-donations may be mailed to Natchitoches Fuller Center for Housing, 455 Second St., Natchitoches, LA 71457.