Roofing company in Conway, SC

Monisha Hickman accomplished this past week her goal of owning a home and giving up rent payments by the time she was 30 years old. She turns 30 in December.

On Friday, Oct. 18, many of her friends and folks from Habitat for Humanity gathered on Turtle Street in Conway to celebrate her new two-bedroom, two-bathroom home.

The lifelong Conway resident is employed as the memory care clinical manager at Portside at Grant Dunes, that bills itself as an assisted living, independent living and nursing care facility.

To accomplish her goal, Hickman completed 300 equity hours that involved construction and working in the Habitat retail store. She also completed seminars on home buying and financial literacy to prepare her for making her down payment, which she did before Friday’s celebration, and continuing her monthly payments.

“I am excited,” she said. “I’m just hoping that I accomplish this something new.”

It has taken her two years to satisfy all of Habitat’s requirements. The organization is clear that it helps homeowners afford their homes, but it doesn’t give them away.

Monisha was helped by the supermarket chain, Publix, that pitched in $50,000 toward the purchase of the home, helping to make it affordable for Hickman. A number of Publix employees attended Friday’s celebration.

Hickman said she was very grateful for Publix, which has a store just beside her workplace. She added that she likes to shop at Publix and really likes the store’s fruit.

There were also funds from the federal government and a laptop computer was gifted by Well Springs Church. Food Lion donated a gift card to help fill her cupboard, Lowes provided lawn equipment. and Palmetto Academy of Learning and Success put together a welcome home basket with necessary items including tissue and toilet paper.

Perhaps most importantly, she was given was a Bible. Habitat always has a Bible verse for the new owner. Charles Hickman read Isaiah 41:10, that says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”

Sarah Moniz, president of the Habitat Board of Directors, said until now Habitat has had the goal of building seven houses a year at various locations. They have five underway now, but Moniz said in the next five years they’re hoping to double that to 14 houses a year due to the need that they see in this county.

She believes the real estate market just can’t keep up with this area’s growth, making Habitat much more valuable.

Jonas Johnson with Publix said the company’s founder George Jenkins believed owning a home provides more than shelter for a family. It can give a family safety, independence and hope.

He said since 2005, the company has donated $43 million to build homes and provide emergency shelters.

Danielle Lewis, homeowner services specialist and member of the Habitat staff, said Hickman continues to persevere. She’s humble, always has a smile and always did what she had to do. She described her as passionate about her job and the people she works with and those she cares for.

Hickman thanked God for the great opportunity she’s got now. She also thanked Publix, Habitat and her family.

According to information provided by Habitat, in addition to spending time with her family, Monisha loves dancing, eating and having fun. She loves cookouts and outdoor activities, but her favorite activity is singing. The ceremony was followed by a huge lunch for everyone there.

Tommy Cardinal is the managing editor of MyHorryNews. Reach him at 843-488-7244 or tommy.cardinal@myhorrynews.com. Follow him on X @BySTCardinal.

Conway residents, CCU's Homecoming Court customize their golf carts in competitive, spooky style for Halloween.

Downtown Conway is the place to be Saturday, Oct. 19, when, for the second year in a row the Coastal Carolina University Homecoming Parade joins forces with Conway Downtown Alive’s annual Halloween Golf Cart Parade for one “Monster” of a procession, according to Hillary Howard, director of CDA.

The hijinks begin at the Conway Public Safety Building on 9th Avenue, then continue down 9th Avenue to Laurel Street into downtown Conway, ending at Marina Drive and Elm Street.

“When CCU's Homecoming falls in October, we combine the Halloween Golf Cart Parade (in its 5th year) and the CCU Homecoming Parade into a whimsical morning of Halloween delight!” she explains.

It’s free to register for the parade; however, participants must register in advance so Conway Alive can prepare.

Community members participating in the HGCP take this event seriously, often spending weeks designing and finessing their golf cart piece to compete for a giant orange and black ribbon for the front of their cart in addition to bragging rights for a year, Howard notes. There are awards, with participants engaged in either a non-competitive or competitive category. Residents get involved “all for the love of the ‘City of Halloween,’" she adds.

“Pair this with CCU student organizations that arrive via shuttle bus with armloads of decor, and boxes of inflated balloons, and prebuilt cart additions,” Howard continues. “The students have just two hours to decorate their rented cart, and the juxtaposition between the two approaches creates a wonderful energy that embodies why Conway is honored and proud to be the home of Coastal Carolina University!

Along with Conway Alive, the Halloween Golf Cart Parade is sponsored by Daisy Fair Flowers, Santee Cooper, and Pepsi Bottling Ventures.

Conway’s Halloween Golf Cart Parade - Downtown Saturday, Oct. 19, 9:30 a.m. (843) 248-6260, conwayalive.com

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