From Sue:
This will be my sixth year participating in this project and I have to say it is one of the most rewarding things I have done while Ian and Sophie were at Marist. I’ll admit that I signed up the first year because I wanted to see how a group of unskilled women could build a home. It turns out, they do very well!
Each year we work alongside our friends and daughters building a home for a deserving family. I have been so impressed by the way Habitat for Humanity supports these families – from their thorough selection process through instructional classes on home repair and financial management. Each of these Habitat clients has demonstrated not just a need but also a willingness to fully participate in managing their future. They have proven financial stability and must work each week of the build and donate hundreds of volunteer hours to the program. They are overwhelmed by the generous spirits of those who volunteer as a community to help them in their quest for stability through homeownership.
As co-chair of Marist Women Build 2010 I went to a recognition party where the 1,000th recipient of an Atlanta Habitat for Humanity house, Linette Perkins, was the featured speaker. She gave a brief history of her family and spoke of her gratitude. Then she pointed to her oldest son, a junior in high school. She said that since they moved into their new home, he has been on the Honor Roll at school for the first time in his life. She pointed to her middle school son and said that he is now an honor student. We take a lot of things for granted. Like that fact that our kids will have a place to study every night. Even though I’ve been involved with MWB for several years, it struck me once again the difference a permanent address can make in a family’s life. I wasn’t the only one in the room whose eyes filled to hear Linette’s story.
Last year Sophie was finally able to work with me. I always choose Day 2 because I love working on the roof. As a team leader, however, I was grounded for the day so others could have the opportunity to work. Sophie scrambled up the ladder and with her friend Tori, worked through lunch to finish “just one more row of shingles.” She loved it and has been looking forward to Day 2 of the 2011 Build.
As volunteer builders adults donate $200 each to the cost of building this home. Students are asked to contribute $50. This year, in addition to our personal contributions, we are reaching out to family and friends to donate to this project. If we exceed our $75,000 fundraising goal, we will use the money to build additional houses through Atlanta Habitat. Our group will gladly accept any donation you would care to make to help us build our 10th Marist Women Build home.
Thank you!
