Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood add star power to Carter Work Project

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- On day two of the 35th Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, the volunteers had some star power to help swing the hammers.

The Carters' good friends and Habitat for Humanity partners, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, spoke with ABC57 about the project and the project's future.

It's a project running 35 years strong.

"I think it gives a sort of perspective to your life because it's easy to drive by every day and not think about how fortunate you are in life," said Adam Wilcox, a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.

A project rooted in hard work and dedication.

"I think especially doing something with your hands and helping to build something in your community, it's just to look at and say 'look, I helped build that," Wilcox said.

"Just to see everybody work together, it's great," said Laura Garner, a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.

It allows people to help others help themselves.

"We're just thankful that we can be a part of something that helps someone become a homeowner," said Kathy Diggins, a Habitat for Humanity volunteer.

It's a project country music superstars Garth Brooks and his wife Trisha Yearwood have held near to their hearts for over a decade now.

"They put in the sweat equity, they're right alongside you building. And you get to meet the person who's going to live in the house you're building," Yearwood said.

The singers started swinging their hammers for the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter work project back in 2006.

It has taken them all over the country - as far as Haiti and this year, to Michiana.

"One of my favorite parts is watching the Carters. Nobody works harder," Brooks said.

The couple says the Carters, who they call close friends, don't plan to dial back their efforts any time soon.

"No matter what the future is, it's the Carter Project because these people are going to live to 100 years from now because of the work that they've done. So that's really all we want to talk about, is how much we love Habitat. I don't even want to address a world without the Carters. They're sweet people. Good people," Brooks said.

Yearwood and Brooks say they plan to be right there beside them every step of the way.

"If they decide they want to swing the hammer a little less, we'll be happy to swing a little bit more, but it will always be the Carter Project," Yearwood said.

Around 2,000 volunteers will be out all week long in Mishawaka helping to build 23 new homes for people in the community.

Homeowners should be able to move into their brand new homes by December.