Habitat for Humanity 2010 Interfaith Home Build

Breaking News ! ! ! Our UU Habitat Construction Team Leader Kim Banz has accepted an immediate position in Nicaragua.  Rob Harveland has stepped forward to fill that volunteer role.  YEAH! ROB!  Our next construction dates are:  T Sept. 14, TH Sept. 16 and SA Sept. 18.  A sign up sheet is located on a special Habitat table in the Commons.  If you are unable to sign up at church, please email Rob at:  r.harveland@ieee.org.  He is the contact for volunteer questions on construction.  

What is an Interfaith Build?

An Interfaith Build is an opportunity for faith communities to join together for the common purpose of building a simple, decent, affordable home in partnership with a family in need. Participating faith communities help raise money & provide volunteer labor to build a house along with the partner family.

Our UU Program Council, Social Justice Council and the Poverty Task Group have accepted an invitation from Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity to participate with 21 other faith communities in an Interfaith Home Build.

What are the benefits to the faith community?

An Interfaith Build has the potential to build harmony and understanding among different faith communities. In a world where our differences often tear us apart, this allows us to concentrate on our similarities & create something truly special. An Interfaith Build project provides a local service opportunity that calls people to reach out to the community and to put their faith in action. Participating faith communities experience revitalization, as members come together for a hands-on project that offers time for team building and fellowship.

What has been accomplished thus far?

*** UPDATE:  The Interfaith Home will be built at 3062 Eastwood Road SE (map and contruction information in Commons). A Somali family has been selected. Guled and Saido have 7 children ages 2 - 18; Saido's mother will also live with the family. .  Guled works at IBM in manufacturing.  When Habitat discussed the Interfaith build with him, he shared that he leads an assembly line group at IBM that includes Somalis, Cambodians, Sudanese, Eastern Europeans, Hispanics as well as Caucasians - so he "lives" interfaith in a way every work day.

CONSTRUCTION & HOSPITALITY DATES FOR UUS SET: Dates for our 1st rotation (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 9:00 am - 4:00 pm/ 6 or 3 hour shifts) began week of 7/20 with work on the foundation and continue 9/14 and 10/26.  We are paired with the Franciscan Community for these weeks.  Sign up in the Commons or call Rob Harveland.  Noon meals will be needed from our Hospitality volunteers for Saturdays only.

Construction Volunteers: PLEAE READ! If weather is inclement on the morning or afternoon that you are volunteering, please call RAHH construction manager Brian Wimmer at (507) 273-3217  to confirm that constructuion is still happening.

How can you become involved?

• Keep checking this website for the latest information.
• Read the monthly Venture & the weekly bulletin.
• Contact a UU Habitat Committee Member:  Jeanne and Jay Hoecker or John and Sandy MacLaughlin.
• Monthly: attend a Community Wide Committee meeting - next meeting - September 10  5:15 - 6:30 pm at RAHH
• Sign up in the Commons or with Rob Harveland to participate on Fall or Winter UU construction work teams.
• Offer to provide part of a Saturday noon meal for the construction workers on September 11.  Sign up in Commons.
• Summer  2010 Six UU Volunteers will assist Artist Mike Podulke in the creation of a stained glass window for the Habiat Interfaith Home.  Dates will be set when the window frame arrives.

How much $$$ have we raised to date?  $6,688.26 with the recent addition of money from the sale of Karin Lindsay's bird paintings.

Our UU goal was $5,000.00 - RAHH writes, "AWESOME JOB!  You've done a great job of fundraising.  Thanks for all your hard work and support."

For more information about Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity go to www.rahh.org