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Gulf Coast Update Archive
December 2009
- Thanks from Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
- Connor's Garden
- Thrivent Lane
- Partner Family Bio
- Lead a trip. Build an entire community and life-long relationships
- Make an Even Bigger Impact – Donate Today
- Send us Your Story
- Gulf Coast Update Archive
Thanks from Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
With Thanksgiving in the air, it is a time to give thanks for all that has been provided to us in the past year. At Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we are thankful for many things.
We are thankful for the hundreds of Thrivent Builds Worldwide volunteers that take time out of their busy schedules to help support our mission. We are thankful for the millions of dollars that Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has provided to build simple, decent, and affordable housing on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We are thankful for the continued volunteer support that Thrivent Builds is providing into 2010. The harvest of Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community is bountiful and thanks to TBWGCC, many deserving families will be celebrating this holiday season in their very own homes.
Connor's Garden
Incredible progress is being made in the Connor's Garden subdivision, part of Thrivent Builds 2009 commitment. Twenty homes have been issued certificates of occupancy, and five of those homes already have families lined up to live in them. The homes on 37th Ave. are all completed and now the work has shifted to 38th Ave. and 35th Ave. The 28 homes sponsored by Thrivent Builds will be completed by the end of 2009. Connor's Garden is truly beginning to feel like a community–a safe, decent, affordable place that people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast can call home.
Thrivent Lane
Sixteen families are now able to call Thrivent Lane home. In addition to their new homes, these partner families now have access to a wonderful playground sponsored by Thrivent. The playground at Thrivent Lane is now complete and in full operation. The addition of this state-of-the-art playground on Thrivent Lane will give the neighborhood children a safe place to play and encourage homeowners to meet each other.
Partner Family Bio
Ms. Rachel will be celebrating this holiday season in a home of her very own on Thrivent Lane along with her five children: Broderick (19), Ajhia (17), Roderick (16), Jade (14), and A'kia (12). Rachel has been a cook at a local casino for over 1½ years. Ms. Rachel says being a Habitat homeowner "gives you a sense of belonging to a real meaningful organization, and I know we’re helping a lot of people who thought they didn't have a chance." She realizes that, "I am one of those people who thought they didn’t have a chance, and with you (HFHMGC) and a lot of faith, I have been blessed."
Lead a trip. Build an entire community and life-long relationships.
Thrivent Financial has committed millions of dollars to help rebuild entire neighborhoods in Gulf CoastOn behalf of its members, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans committed $2.5 million to Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2008 to build up to 40 homes-nearly all in the Trace Lane community-and contribute to the affiliate's ability to serve more families. In 2009, Thrivent Financial built a new Community in Gulfport, Mississippi where it is committing an additional $1.7 million. And the work will continue in 2010!
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 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.
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.