A single mother and her two children will be new homeowners thanks in part to volunteers from a local church.
Members of Seymour Lake United Methodist Church will assist in building a home in Pontiac with Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County and as part of the 2005 Jimmy Carter Work Project.
In February, SLUMC joined the North Oakland Circle of Faith Churches, a coalition of 19 churches that have raised the money to cover the $65,000 cost of construction materials for the 1,000 square-feet home and will work from June 11-24 to build it for the family, who was chosen according to need.
Although SLUMC is involved in several community projects such as the Ortonville Community Emergency Fund (OCEF) and Rebuilding Together, church members wanted to do something hands-on outside the community, too.
‘It will be a good thing for all of us because you need to step out of your box and get out of your comfort zone,? said Sharon Moore, the SLUMC coordinator for the Habitat for Humanity project.
About 15 members of the church will actively work on the project, doing tasks such as putting up drywall, roofing, painting, putting in doors and kitchen cabinets and laying carpeting. Team leaders will be able to teach volunteers how to do any of these jobs.
The church is signed up for specific days. Moore will be part of the crew that provides food for workers, not only at the one home, but at three others that are also being built in Pontiac at the same time. A total of ten homes are being built in Oakland County.
‘Anyone who wants to volunteer to work can do so on any of the four houses in Pontiac,? says Moore. ‘I’m very excited. This is gonna be cool.?
Habitat for Humanity, is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing organization, in which volunteers build simple, affordable homes in partnership with those who lack adequate shelter. New homeowners have a mortgage that is interest-free.
The Jimmy Carter Work Project opening ceremony begins between 4 and 4:30 p.m., June 19, at Oakland University banquet rooms A & B, 2604 N. Squirrel Road, Auburn Hills. Senator Debbie Stabenow will be there and Former President Jimmy Carter, who has worked with Habitat for Humanity to blitz build homes since 1984, will speak via satellite. The public is welcome.
For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County or to volunteer, call Steve Campbell at (248) 338-1843. For information on the North Oakland Circle of Faith, call Paul and Karen Yackell at (248) 625-6610.