A thick layer of fresh mud engulfed the bottom of Abigail Byrd's white sneakers, but the remnants of the week's rains did nothing to dampen her enthusiasm.

"We've been waiting for this for five years," said Mrs. Byrd, who spent Feb. 8 working on her new Habitat for Humanity home with her husband, James, and about 20 volunteers.

The Byrds' 1,100-square-foot, three-bedroom home is the 68th to be built by Aiken County Habitat for Humanity, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

"We built about seven homes and are on the threshold of the eighth in a year," said Richard Church, the executive director of Aiken County Habitat for Humanity.

Established in Aiken in 1988, the nonprofit built its first home in 1989.

A house can be completed in 32 days, but it can take about four months when volunteers work only Fridays and Saturdays. Officials broke ground on the Byrd house Jan. 25.

Mr. Church said the organization has to raise about $1 million each year to build the houses.

The Byrds' project was a little different. Dubbed the "Aiken Retirees Giving Back" build, the house is being financed by Joe and Kay Buggy. Mr. Buggy is the retired president of Westinghouse Savannah River Co.

Habitat for Humanity houses are sold interest-free and on 20- to 25-year mortgages to qualified families. The mortgage payments are used to build more homes.

The average cost of an Aiken County Habitat house is $60,000, according to an Aiken County Habitat brochure. The homeowners must make a $500 down payment and will have a monthly mortgage payment of about $320.

Another funding source for the organization is the Habitat Restore, which sells donated items such as furniture, collectibles, working appliances, vehicles, boats, tools and glassware. Located at 1026 Park Ave. S.E. in Aiken, the store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Mr. Church said plans are under way for an anniversary celebration for Habitat for Humanity sometime this year.

"We want to celebrate the community," he said. "It's the community that works through this. We want to give a huge thank you."

A special event already on the books is the Masters Tournament reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Cedar Creek Golf Club. Golfer Lee Elder will be one of the featured guests.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity or its programs, call (803) 642-9295 or visit www.habitataiken.org.

Reach Charmain Brackett at czbrackett@hotmail.com.