ROANOKE (WSLS10) - An 89-year-old Roanoke man who has helped build more than 165 homes for families in need, is continuing to give.
Since the beginning of Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley, Greeley Wyatt has lent a helping hand in all of the organization's home builds since 1986. He plans to fully sponsor one in May to mark his 90th birthday.
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"I don't like the idea of ‘I did this', but we've done a lot of things in my 30-years with Habitat," said Greeley Wyatt.
Wyatt has been driving nails and raising walls, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for more than 30-years.
"I grew up a poor boy," Wyatt told us. "I had all I ever needed to eat or keep me warm, but I know how poor people feel and I want to help."
Money from the city and Wyatt's pocket will fund a four bedroom, two bathroom, one level home for a family of five along Essex Avenue.
Typically, each home build costs between $110,000 to $130,000 dollars.
"We just finished our 204th house and this is only the second guy that has individually sponsored a house," said Jenny Lee, the home build director at Habitat for Humanity. "So it's very, very rare."
Wyatt has also contributed his time recruiting volunteers.
"They had a sign 'women's build, no men allowed' or something to that effect," Wyatt recalled. "So, I showed up and had me a black wig come down to my shoulders."
"I don't know if he was wearing high heels or not, but that's how passionate he been to work on every single one of them," said Lee.
It's all part of the job. Through this passion, Wyatt said he has met people from all walks of life, including former President Jimmy Carter.