Deborah with homeowner Naomi
This past Saturday nine of us from FPC worked with students from North Carolina A&T and two Habitat homeowners on a Habitat house. It was a full day. There was a great team of members with a lot of experience who came to work. I learned a lot from them and from our Habitat site coordinator. I now feel confident that I can frame a wall!
We also met the homeowner, Naomi, and another Habitat homeowner, Kim, who was putting in some sweat equity hours. Habitat homeowners put in 250 hours on their homes. They also can earn hours helping others. It is one way that they make an investment in their future. I was blessed hearing Naomi’s story and how much home ownership means to her and her two children. She was excited as we worked in what would become her home in the next few months.
If you are new to Habitat for Humanity, it is an organization that works toward a vision of a world where everyone has a safe and affordable place to live. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering, or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Home ownership is a major milestone on the road to a family’s financial success. It provides stability not only to a family but also to our community, as well. Since 1987, Habitat Greensboro has served over 500 families.
Our involvement in Habitat for Humanity is part of being a Matthew 25 church. One of the goals of the Matthew 25 initiative is to work toward eradicating systemic poverty. Providing the possibility of homeownership to low-income, working families is one way we can contribute to lifting people out of poverty giving them hope for the future.
We are in the process of returning to more hands-on involvement with Habitat Greensboro. Through the generosity of this church, we have supported Habitat financially over the past 20 years helping make the dream of homeownership a reality for many. During this time, FPC has sponsored eight homes. Last fall, a group of us started discussing how we could get more involved again with the on-site building. This past Saturday was a first step in getting people involved.
Habitat volunteers perform a variety of critical tasks, including framing, painting, floors, landscaping and installing cabinets, doors, and windows. There is also an opportunity to bring lunch out to the build site for our workers if you are unable to participate in other ways. In the next year, we hope to sponsor a home which will give members the opportunity to get involved and actually build.
If you are interested, we are going to be building again on April 15 and April 29. I don’t know what work we will be doing on those days, but rest assured, you will have all the resources you need to participate. Here is the link to use to sign up. Of course, if you have any questions, please give me a call. Special thanks to all those who participated on Saturday: Jim Hoeger, Jim Compton, Bud Strickland, Glenn Williamson, Bill Pinckard, Carter Gillespie, Joan Stone, Steve Conner, Joe, Naomi, Kim, and the students from A&T!
Jesus said: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 5:12
