A Vicksburg church has donated land to help speed the construction of this year’s first Warren County Habitat for Humanity home.

First Presbyterian Church of Vicksburg, 1501 Cherry St., deeded three lots just off Stadium Drive, near Memorial Stadium, two weeks ago after the congregation voted to uphold the church’s longstanding support of local Habitat efforts.

&#8220Several of our members were instrumental in starting Habitat in Vicksburg many years ago,” said Earl Edris, an elder who has been a member of First Presbyterian for more than 20 years. &#8220We have a long-time close relationship with that ministry.

&#8220Those lots were donated to the church, so that became an opportunity for us to donate to Habitat,” he said.

Sam McGrady, the local director of Habitat for Humanity, said he hopes to clear one of the lots for building within a month.

&#8220Right now, the property is wooded, and we’re working on getting it surveyed,” said McGrady, hired in the summer as Habitat’s first permanent director since it began operating here in 1990. &#8220Things really depend on how quickly they can get to it. If everything goes right, then we can start clearing.”

After the lot is surveyed and the land is cleared, construction can begin on the home promised to Towanna Anderson, a 33-year-old single mother of three from Vicksburg.

On Aug. 25 DiamondJacks Casino in Vicksburg, presented Anderson and McGrady with a check for $50,000 to cover building materials for Anderson’s home, the first Habitat structure to be built in Warren County this year.

At the time, the home was expected to be built on land donated by the City of Vicksburg.

&#8220The title work is taking a little longer than we expected on the property donated by the city,” said McGrady. &#8220This property came through first.”

McGrady said DiamondJacks employees, who have volunteered to build Anderson’s home, will work extended hours.

&#8220Normally, volunteers just work on weekends, so it takes several months to finish a house,” he said. &#8220These employees will be working during the week as well, which should really speed things up.”

Since it opened 16 years ago, Warren County Habitat for Humanity has built 18 homes in the area. The organization hopes to start building three homes in the county this year.