KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

After over a year of first acquiring the lot from the city of Tullahoma, Highland Rim Habitat for Humanity (HRHFH) have officially begun building its next home for a Tullahoma family.

The groundbreaking of the new home took place on Maplewood Avenue in Tullahoma Sunday, Oct. 13, where members of Habitat for Humanity, community members, volunteers and city officials gathered to commemorate the future home of Zac Bryson and his four children Sean, Sebastian, Zayna and Zoey.

According to Terrie Quick, HRHFH President Terrie Quick, the lot was donated to the organization by the City of Tullahoma a few years ago. The house in question has been abandoned for over a decade after the previous owner died. Over time, it became a place for squatters and drug addicts before the brush became so overwhelming no one could get on the property. In January 2023, the organization began to cut down the brush during the winter to begin cleaning up the lot and demolishing the house to make room for a new home. She said HRHFH received the go ahead from the city this year to begin construction, and now the lot will be separated into two houses, with the first house to the Bryson family while the other lot will be a future project.

Quick said Bryson is a single father, and while he is not working, he is actively involved with his children and their sports, including being a coach for the traveling baseball team The Outlaws.

“He just really puts his interests in doing right by these children,” Quick said.

Quick said the determining factor in selecting Bryson and his family was contacting his references.

“Every single person that I reached out to they all had wonderful words to say about Zac,” she said. “That meant a lot to us, and we knew we were serving the right family.”

Bryson said being selected to the house was a blessing and came at the right time for him and his family.

“This just fell into our lap at the last second and I just want to thank everyone for just always believing in me, being a coach and a mentor for children, and giving me an opportunity to get a house in Tullahoma where I am from,” he said. “I’m just overall happy to be back in the community I grew up in.”

For the house, Quick said the house will be a story and a half to accommodate the size of the family, including four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

As for the timeline to completion, David Sliger, Vice President of Nissan Decherd Powertrain Operations, said the goal is to have the house finished and ready to move in by Christmas. Quick said Nissan is the primary corporate sponsor with HRHFM, and will help with funding. She added Coca-Cola partners with HRHFH by providing waters and other drinks throughout the construction and this year Prescott Bottling & Distributing will be providing drinks, as well as providing lunch during one of the volunteer days.

Quick said she is most looking forward to providing a sweet environment for the children and to help with gifting different services to help the family.

“I’m excited about that,” she said.

Volunteers began working on the house the following Friday, Oct. 18, and the volunteer days schedule was shared on HRHFH’s Facebook page.

Those interested in volunteering can send a text message to Quick at 931-273-2201 or sending a message through Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/highlandrimhabitat.

HRHFH is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian organization dedicated to building simple, decent and affordable homes in Coffee and Franklin counties since 1992. The nonprofit is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which has over 2,300 affiliates worldwide. HRHFH partners with volunteers and low income families to fulfill its purpose. Homeowner families are chosen according to their need, ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest mortgage and their willingness to work in partnership with HRHFH.