Meet the Paytons

Todd served in the U.S. Army National Guard right after graduating high school. Growing up in a single parent household, he searched for a living that could provide for him and his mother. Joining the Army National Guard allowed him to gain independence and help his mother be financially stable as well. In 1987, Todd was honorably discharged due to a reduction in authorized strength.

Todd and Wanda care for their

24-year-old son. He was born with cerebral palsy – a group of disorders that affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. In addition to being wheelchair bound, he also endures seizures, intellectual disabilities, and mental health conditions. Having to adapt to living in apartment complexes with limited accessibility has been extremely challenging over the years. With only one accessible parking near their apartment, they often must unload their son from the van and search for parking elsewhere. Their son maintains an active lifestyle by attending an adult day care full time.

Wanda has been working as Personal Care Assistant for the last 6 years for a health care agency. Todd has been employed for a security company for the past 7 years. They are looking forward to having a place to call home after years of renting. A Habitat home will accommodate their son’s basic life needs along with providing a yard for their dog, Jo-Jo, to play in. The benefits of a single-story Habitat home will offer an accessible shower, ease of mobility from room to room, and a safe place to call their own.