My name is Tonya VanBuren, and I am 24 years old. I have a 3 year old son named Ryan Harris, Jr. I am a full time mother and work at UMC Hospital as a phlebotomist with 10 hour daily shifts (Tuesday through Saturday). I am proud to say that I have been working since I was 15 years old, so all I know is “get a job done.” It is not easy because I have my child depending on me and work gets harder.
We are very grateful that God opened the door of “HOMEOWNERSHIP” for us to walk in and meet the wonderful staff and volunteers who work for New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. I grew up in the Florida Projects, and I have seen awful “things” and lived terrible times. As a mother, I do not want my child to be exposed to those situations. Instead, I decided to apply for the First Time Homebuyer’s Program at Habitat and give it a chance.
We can’t wait to move into my new home, a new neighborhood for “us”, full of other Habitat homeowners, who worked hard for something they wanted. This is just an awesome feeling. Thank you to this great organization from the bottom of our hearts.
