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Gulf Coast Update Archive
August 2008
- Two families move into the first Gulf Coast Community homes!
- Clearing the way for "The Trace"
- Pascagoula area of the Community begins a new home. Fund-raising efforts are making more homes possible.
- Lead a trip. Build an entire community and life-long relationships.
- Make a bigger impact - donate today
- Send us your story!
- Gulf Coast Update Archive
Two families move into the first Gulf Coast Community homes!
The Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community is excited to announce that two families on the Mississippi Gulf Coast now own homes, thanks to the work of Thrivent Builds volunteers. The Anderson family and the Irby family have both moved into their new homes in the Rosemont community in Ocean Springs. They are the first two families to move into homes that are part of the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community. Timothy and Annette Irby began working with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in late 2007. They have an 18-year-old daughter, Carol Anne, who will be a sophomore at Jefferson Davis College this fall. The Irbys had a wonderful experience in the process of building their home and are so thankful to have become homeowners. As for the volunteers who have helped build their home, the Irby family has this to say, “Good people are hard to find, but the volunteers have truly been a blessing.”
Clearing the way for "The Trace"
The largest undertaking of the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community is the twenty-eight lot project in Long Beach, currently known as "the Trace." These eight acres of land have been cleared and contractors have begun grading and filling the land in preparation for road construction. The road plan had to be revised in order to salvage some live oak trees that are common throughout Mississippi Gulf Coast. Once the infrastructure has been completed, the road will need to be accepted by the City of Long Beach and then the affiliate will apply for permits for each of the twenty-eight lots. Construction on the Trace property is expected to begin this fall - so now is a great time to lead and recruit a Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community team for this fall! Plan to be the first to build in this exciting new location!
Pascagoula area of the Community begins a new home. Fund-raising efforts are making more homes possible.
Volunteers have been busy roofing, decking and siding the four houses on Polk Avenue in Pascagoula. Construction has also begun on an additional home in this neighborhood on Tucker Avenue. At this time, the home on Tucker Avenue is in the framing stage, but will, in the end become a new home for a deserving family.
The total donations received for the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community is $5,239. This money will be used to build houses in addition to the forty homes Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has committed to the affiliate. Thank you to all of those that have contributed.
Lead a trip. Build an entire community and life-long relationships.
Thrivent Financial has committed $2.5 million in 2008 to help rebuild an entire neighborhood in Gulf Coast
Of the $125 million Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity alliance, $2.5 million has been committed to help Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast rebuild a community—up to 40 homes will be built, along with a park and pavilion. As part of the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community, up to 60 teams this year will be building homes, staying in Biloxi's Yankie Stadium and learning more about the destruction of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
Your enthusiasm and leadership skills are the catalyst to help your congregation, Lutheran group or local chapter of Thrivent Financial experience a life-changing trip. Take the lead and help build a home with a partner family in need of simple, decent, affordable housing.
- Learn more about becoming a team leader.
- Take advantage of the benefits of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans membership.
Make an even bigger impact - donate today
Through the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community program, Thrivent Financial members are helping 40 families to rebuild their homes - and their lives - in the Missisippi Gulf Coast. But the need is still great:
- Only 15% of the homes along the Gulf Coast destroyed by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina have been rebuilt.
- Thousands of families are still living in unsafe temporary housing.
- More than 100 families are in the pipeline, waiting for homes with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
YOU can make a difference and help even more families today. Donate online to Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and your dollars will help build even more homes in the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Send us your story!
Have you been part of a Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community trip? Do you have stories or photos you'd like to share with others? Send them to Nicole Doebert for consideration in future issues of the Gulf Coast Update. We want YOU to share the experience and inspire others to help!
Gulf Coast Update Archive
If you would like to read previous issues of the Gulf Coast Update, simply access the Gulf Coast Update Archive from this link or from the left navigation bar.