East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity Builds with Thrivent Financial!

East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity (ESTHFH) is proud to announce that four homes being built in Slidell will be apart of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity. From May 11-17, 2008, the Carter's annual, week-long event will be hosted in Biloxi, Mississippi. The Carters have partnered with Habitat for 25 years helping to raise awareness and assist low-income families realize the goal of homeownership. Sponsors for Habitat homes in the Gulf that are completed and / or begun during that week will be invited to participate with the Carters in opening and closing ceremonies. ESTHFH's 100th and 101st homes, sponsored by Merrill Lynch, and a Fund for Humanity home will be among those completed and dedicated during that week.

What is Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity?

Thrivent Builds is a financial, volunteer and advocacy alliance formed between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International and significantly expands the already strong relationship Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity have enjoyed since 1991. The initiative includes three programs to help end poverty housing and help families achieve greater economic independence:

• - Thrivent Builds Homes is a national program that joins the nearly 3 million Thrivent Financial members with Habitat for Humanity volunteers, other Lutherans, their families and their communities to build homes in the United States.
• - Thrivent Builds Worldwide is a program of short-term (one- to three- week) international and domestic working trips for individuals or groups to build Habitat houses in partnership with families facing critical housing needs.
• - Thrivent Builds Neighborhoods provides multiple grants each year to community organizations, coalitions and nonprofits for projects that will measurably improve poverty housing in specific neighborhoods.

To learn more about Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity go to www.thriventbuilds.com

Who is the Thrivent Builds Partner Family?

Shirley Parker and her two children Danielle 18, a student at Delgado Community College, and Daniel, a lively three year old, have been on the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity waiting list since October 2005. Hurricane Katrina damaged her old and unsafe trailer beyond repair and she evacuated to Mississippi for a month following the storm. When she returned Shirley lived with her mother for almost a year. FEMA delivered her travel trailer in 2006 and she remains there today.

It has been over 2 years since Shirley saw a sign advertising Habitat homes and called our office. When Habitat approved her application in 2005 Shirley volunteered on several Habitat homes and earned all of her 200 sweat equity hours. Shirley has been very patiently waiting and she is so excited saying, "I never thought the day would come that my home would finally be started."

Want to Volunteer and help build Shirley's home?

Call our Volunteer Coordinator at 985-639-0656 or email at volunteer.coordinator@esthfh.org