Hometown Habitat News

Villagers construct house for local mother who dreamed of a home

Joyce Tohill in front of Fruitland Park home

While raising her five children, one of whom is developmentally disabled, single-mother Joyce Tohill struggled to make ends meet.

Housing was always a problem and the dream of a home for her family seemed out of reach. Tohill had learned to be a medical transcriptionist so she could work from home and care for her disabled daughter.

Tohill had always taken an interest in Habitat for Humanity and volunteered for the organization. When The Villagers Habitat For Humanity of Lake-Sumter Club named her as the recipient of a new three-bedroom home to be built by club members, she was overwhelmed.

As she received the keys to the house on Tuesday morning from Villager Sandy Read, Tohill began to cry. She told the Villagers who worked on the home that she was “so grateful for making her dream come true.”

Last November, Tohill, her daughters and her grandchildren were present when Habitat for Humanity held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the beginning of construction.

“At that time it seemed to be a far-off dream,” Tohill said.

But as construction continued, her excitement grew as did her affection for the Villagers who worked hard to finish the house.

Read the full article by David Towns, The Villages-News