What will bankers, attorneys, students and representatives of businesses and churches have in common this weekend?
They will all pick up hammers and be part of Bulloch County Habitat for Humanity’s first-ever Build-a-Thon.
The two-day event begins Friday morning and ends Saturday. It brings together teams of volunteers who have made donations or raised money to fund Habitat’s 34th house in Bulloch. Friday and Saturday, they will put their donations to work as they begin construction of the house they raised money to build.
“We’re very excited to have so many community leaders participate in this event,” said Vicki Davis, executive director of Bulloch Habitat. “This is a great opportunity for us to show the community what Habitat is all about, not just talk about it.”
More than 30 community and student teams signed up for the first-time event, and have raised more than $24,000 of the $30,000 goal so far.
Money was raised through individual and business contributions, and fundraisers held by the teams. Fundraisers included car washes and bake sales by student groups, a raffle by the City of Statesboro team and collection cans at the Subway locations around Bulloch. Habitat volunteers are hoping donations during and after the event help reach the $30,000 begins with an opening ceremony Friday at 8 a.m. The ceremony includes introducing the future homeowners and a blessing the worksite. Teams will work in four-hour shifts Friday until 8 p.m. Saturday work begins again at 8 a.m. and continues with shifts until a closing ceremony at 6 p.m.
Members of the community are invited to come out and watch the construction through the two-day event. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be for sale, with all money raised going toward construction of the house.
“We appreciate all the wonderful support from the community members who have loaned or donated equipment, food, supplies and sponsored the t-shirts for the volunteers,” Davis said. "Thanks to their support, we’re able to put the money raised by the teams directly to work buying materials."
There also has been excellent support from the construction industry, said Jeff Edwards, who is co-chair of the Build-A-Thon, along with Floyd Futch.
Donated materials and professional labor, to date, include concrete blocks, fill dirt, plumbing, concrete for the slab, siding, shingles, framing labor and roofing installation.
Future residents of the Build-a-Thon house are a grandmother, daughter and granddaughter: Alma Smith, Maretta Moore and Michelle Moore. Alma Smith and granddaughter Michelle Moore will co-own the house.
Smith has lived and raised her family for 50 years in a small rental house, heated only by space heaters and a fireplace. This house will be her first opportunity to own a home.
The Smith family was one of three families selected in 2005 for a Habitat home. Since selection they have attended homeowner education classes, helped with construction of other families’ homes and worked on other volunteer projects with Habitat. Once the house is complete, they will buy it with a no-interest mortgage.
For information, call Habitat at (912) 489-2076, or visit the Web site at www.habitatbulloch.org
They will all pick up hammers and be part of Bulloch County Habitat for Humanity’s first-ever Build-a-Thon.
The two-day event begins Friday morning and ends Saturday. It brings together teams of volunteers who have made donations or raised money to fund Habitat’s 34th house in Bulloch. Friday and Saturday, they will put their donations to work as they begin construction of the house they raised money to build.
“We’re very excited to have so many community leaders participate in this event,” said Vicki Davis, executive director of Bulloch Habitat. “This is a great opportunity for us to show the community what Habitat is all about, not just talk about it.”
More than 30 community and student teams signed up for the first-time event, and have raised more than $24,000 of the $30,000 goal so far.
Money was raised through individual and business contributions, and fundraisers held by the teams. Fundraisers included car washes and bake sales by student groups, a raffle by the City of Statesboro team and collection cans at the Subway locations around Bulloch. Habitat volunteers are hoping donations during and after the event help reach the $30,000 begins with an opening ceremony Friday at 8 a.m. The ceremony includes introducing the future homeowners and a blessing the worksite. Teams will work in four-hour shifts Friday until 8 p.m. Saturday work begins again at 8 a.m. and continues with shifts until a closing ceremony at 6 p.m.
Members of the community are invited to come out and watch the construction through the two-day event. Hot dogs and soft drinks will be for sale, with all money raised going toward construction of the house.
“We appreciate all the wonderful support from the community members who have loaned or donated equipment, food, supplies and sponsored the t-shirts for the volunteers,” Davis said. "Thanks to their support, we’re able to put the money raised by the teams directly to work buying materials."
There also has been excellent support from the construction industry, said Jeff Edwards, who is co-chair of the Build-A-Thon, along with Floyd Futch.
Donated materials and professional labor, to date, include concrete blocks, fill dirt, plumbing, concrete for the slab, siding, shingles, framing labor and roofing installation.
Future residents of the Build-a-Thon house are a grandmother, daughter and granddaughter: Alma Smith, Maretta Moore and Michelle Moore. Alma Smith and granddaughter Michelle Moore will co-own the house.
Smith has lived and raised her family for 50 years in a small rental house, heated only by space heaters and a fireplace. This house will be her first opportunity to own a home.
The Smith family was one of three families selected in 2005 for a Habitat home. Since selection they have attended homeowner education classes, helped with construction of other families’ homes and worked on other volunteer projects with Habitat. Once the house is complete, they will buy it with a no-interest mortgage.
For information, call Habitat at (912) 489-2076, or visit the Web site at www.habitatbulloch.org