Ancient tradition helps Gadsden families build a brighter future
Story by Paul South
Photos by Mackenzie Free
On a short, sun-soaked stretch of the Coosa, folks celebrated an ancient Chinese tradition to help solve a present-day problem and give some Etowah County families a brighter future.
The Gadsden-Etowah affiliate of Habitat for Humanity’s annual Dragon Boat Festival resumed after a two-year, pandemic-related hiatus, raising money to help low-income families realize the dream of home ownership.
Colorful watercraft, powered by dedicated rowers, driven by a drumbeat – including one pacesetter bearing a striking resemblance to Elvis – raced to boost the local Habitat effort.
In its 26-year history, Gadsden-Etowah Habitat has built 57 homes, with more to come. A 58th home is fittingly expected to be completed by Thanksgiving.
The idea for a dragon boat race came from a brainstorming session among the organization’s local board searching for fundraising ideas. The races are popular in Florida.
And while participation this year was down – only nine boats competed in 2022 – the dragon boat race has made a splash in Gadsden. Business, civic and school groups are involved. And it’s not just the race, but music, food and fun.
“The city loves it,” Habitat Executive Director Sarah Meehan said. “Even though participation was down, enthusiasm was up. I think when there’s not as many teams competing, people get very excited, because they think they have a better chance.”
The race is on a short course, but rowers paddle at a furious pace.
“A minute, 15 (seconds), and you’re done,” she said.
The races featured multiple heats, and boats compete in two classes – recreational and competitive.
And while the races may seemingly sprint by in a blink, they pay big dividends for Habitat and for the families it will help. This year’s race raised more than $38,000 to go toward building future Habitat homes. Sponsorships generate the funding.
Founded in 1976 by the late Millard Fuller and his wife, Linda, the national Habitat organization has local chapters. In Gadsden, it was founded by Steve and Suzanne Scharfenberg.
How does Habitat work?
There are misconceptions about Habitat homeowners, chosen after a rigorous application process. They must make a down payment to cover the first year of insurance and a $600 deposit. They also must repay a 20-year, no-interest mortgage and accompanying insurance and property taxes. Plus, they have to invest 300 hours of “sweat equity” – physical labor put toward their own or other Habitat homes.
“A lot of people think Habitat homes are free,” Meehan said. “They’re not.” She added, “We enter into that partnership with that family. We are partners for the next 20-plus years and beyond.”
She added, “Families are invested. They’re paying a mortgage. They have to buy in.”
Habitat “budget coaches” help Habitat families craft and maintain a budget.
And as for the sweat equity, Meehan said, “Three-hundred hours seems like a lot. But we’ve never had anybody not get their sweat equity hours.”
Sometimes, before the roof is raised on a Habitat home, the organization has to knock down an invisible wall. “There is an aspect of cynicism,” Meehan said. “When you’re buying into a mission, when you’re buying into a goal, it’s hard. These are people that are very low income. They have not had help. They have not had chances. So, you have to break down that wall to get them to fully buy in. And when they do, it’s amazing.”
There wasn’t a drop of cynicism on the Coosa at this year’s Dragon Boat Festival. Powering the all-volunteer effort were two groups of high school students. The Titan Ambassadors from Gadsden City High School and a team of local homeschoolers.
Teams set up colorfully themed tents and provided music and food. The drummer that sets the rowing pace like something you’d see in an old Kirk Douglas movie, dresses in costume compatible with the theme.
The winning team with their Elvis drummer – The Alley, a local bowling alley – featured a tent with girls dressed as 1950s waitresses, who served root beer floats to competitors, volunteers and spectators. “They were so awesome,” Meehan said.
The City of Gadsden sponsored two teams, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Special Programming for Achievement Network (SPAN) program that works to improve the lives of at-risk youths and families in Etowah County.
Kim Back, a longtime Gadsden City school teacher, is the sponsor of the Titan Ambassadors. She tries to impress upon her students the importance of making a difference in their hometown. When getting her kids involved, she looks for organizations that help Gadsden, and that are instantly recognizable on a college application or resumé.
“The concept when they started the dragon boat race, I knew high school kids were really going to be psyched about that. It’s something that excites them.”
In ancient China, dragon boat races sought to appease the gods, beseeching them to soak parched farmlands with rain. On the Coosa, teams want to “make it rain” for Habitat and bring a flood of hope to take a step toward ending substandard housing in Gadsden.
For Meehan, a former banker, events like the Dragon Boat Festival and work for Habitat are, “what I was called by God to do.” And this mix of hope and happiness is what Gadsden is about.
“(Habitat and the Dragon Boat Festival) say everything about Gadsden …. Ultimately, this community wants to build houses to help families.”
She recalled a recent groundbreaking for a Habitat home that is etched in her memory and signifies what the whole program is about. She mingled with people as a concrete truck prepared to lay the foundation. The home’s footings in the red clay muck and the truck were the only signs that a house would soon be there.
“The truck was so much more than a symbol,” she said. “It was the story of this amazing woman. Seeing her and seeing her family there, and they’re just looking. This is going to be her house. Her mom was crying. It was witnessing them and her moment. Her land. It’s her house. They weren’t talking. It was a moment.”
GET INVOLVED
The Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity affiliate is always looking for volunteers. The learn more about Habitat or to volunteer, call 256-543-1898 or visit gadsdenhabitat.com.
