Angela Thornton and her three children got to enjoy Thanksgiving in their new home after receiving the keys to their Habitat for Humanity house in Horn Lake on November 16, 2010. Around 350 Baptist DeSoto colleagues participated in the build, which took two months.

“This means a lot to me and my children,” said Ms. Thornton of the 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 1,200-sq.ft. house. “We’ve been blessed.”

Her 16-year-old son, Ulysses Abston, had a more pressing concern: “Which is the bigger bedroom?”

It meant a lot to Baptist DeSoto colleagues as well, many of whom participated in the metropolitan Habitat build last year in Memphis.

“[The metro house] was important,” said Baptist DeSoto Director of Human Resources Walter Banks. “But this is in our backyard, and it’s real important to us to continue to give back to our community. We’re here and we serve patients in this community — it’s just the right thing to do.”

Baptist DeSoto volunteers did everything from framing, roofing, painting and landscaping. Additionally, sweat equity was required by the family. In all, more than 1,000 hours of manpower went into the build.

For Angela, the new home means a safer environment for her children after living in a 30-year-old trailer in an unsafe neighborhood. “I just thank God every day for bringing Baptist to help build my family a home.”