ALCOA, Tenn. — Kalynn Kirchoff's 9-year-old son is really into sports these days, and excited to decorate his new bedroom in Alcoa with an athletic theme.
She's helping build that bedroom, and the rest of their new home, as part of Blount County's Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program.
"We live on a very busy street right now, and we're actually living with my mother sharing a bedroom," Kirchoff said. "So it's very tight right now. He's very excited about having his own bedroom again, and being able to ride his bike and scooter."
Kirchoff is a cancer survivor who was raising her son alone during her treatments. They were living in an apartment, but that apartment flooded a few years ago.
"I've been wanting a stable home for my son for three years now," she said. "And it's been hard with apartment living."
Kirchoff said a friend told her about Habitat for Humanity's Women Build program, which allows women to become homeowners. As part of the program, Kirchoff has to take classes about money management, volunteer with the nonprofit and put in what's referred to by Habitat for Humanity as "sweat equity."
That means Kirchoff has to physically help build her house, and the homes of others partaking in Habitat for Humanity.
"There's a lot of women that don't think that they can do it on their own," Kirchoff said. "You know, being single. You don't have to, you know, have a spouse to be able to get a home by yourself. Like, you can do it."
The community offers help, too. Maryville-based Clayton Homes is helping to build Kirchoff's home and workers with the company spent some time hammering at the site this week.
Ted Rutland, Clayton Homes' Social Responsibility Program Manager, said the company offers volunteer time off programs and encourages workers to take advantage of them. More than 950 Clayton employees have volunteered since 2022, Rutland said in total, these volunteers have put in nearly 3,500 hours of work.
Rutland has participated in Habitat for Humanity builds and said he's seen the change that stable housing brings to the lives of recipients.
"With the first homeowner that we worked with, I got to speak with her at a home dedication event," he said. "And she talked about how her kids now go play basketball up the street with all of the people here in the neighborhood. They talk about how safe and secure they feel."
Kirchoff said she's surprising herself every day with the work she's able to put into the home.
"I never thought I could do some of the stuff that I have begun to do at all," Kirchoff said. "I never thought I was strong enough to do it all on my own."
Blount County Habitat for Humanity is always looking for partners and volunteers.