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Gulf Coast Update Archive
January 2009
- Block party helps celebrate accomplishments and exciting announcements
- December Blitz Build helps boost construction on Thrivent Lane
- Reflecting on 2008
- Virginia church features TBW Gulf Coast Community team in their newsletter
- 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
Block party helps celebrate accomplishments and exciting announcements
The month of December was kicked off with a Thrivent Builds block party celebrating the amazing work the Thrivent Builds programs have completed globally in 2008, as well as the generous commitment of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to Habitat for Humanity affiliates in 2009. Seven teams of volunteers came to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, built for the week of December 1, and helped us celebrate. There were team members from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
Both the construction and the festivities took place in Long Beach, MS at the Trace subdivision that will eventually include 28 Thrivent sponsored homes. Speakers at the Thrivent Builds block party included:
- Thrivent Financial South Region Partner Dave Meitzner
- Thrivent Financial Representative Terry King
- Thrivent Builds Alliance Strategy Office director Jeff Hahn
- Habitat for Humanity International SVP, Ken Meinert
- Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast CEO, Chris Monforton
- a representative from Governor Haley Barbour's office
- Long Beach city mayor, William Skellie.
Throughout the early morning hours on the day leading up to the block party, live interviews were conducted with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans CEO, Brad Hewitt and HFHI SVP, Ken Meinert to over 30 different television broadcasts nationwide, reaching an estimated 1.1 million people. Not bad for a Friday!
December Blitz Build helps boost construction on Thrivent Lane
Besides partying, Thrivent Builds volunteers have done quite a bit of work on the Gulf Coast in December. Two volunteers from Tennessee, Nancy Allen and Ginny Minniger, brought with them beautiful quilts that will be given to the home owners. Three more teams, led by Pastor Dan Brandt, Stan Stanfield and Dennis Fuhrman worked with the affiliate during the week of December 8. All teams in December have been working out at the Trace property on Thrivent Lane and currently 25 lots are under construction. Fifteen of these houses are at least 75% complete, three are 50% complete and the remaining seven are just getting started. Six families have been selected to occupy the homes on Thrivent Lane. As for the Thrivent homes on the other end of the Coast, all of the homes in Pascagoula and Ocean Springs have been issued Certificates of Occupancy. Families have been lined up for most of these homes and work diligently on completing their hours so that they can move in.
Reflecting on 2008
As 2008 wraps up and the holiday season comes to an end, it's a great time to reflect on all of the work that has been accomplished throughout the past year. A special "thank you" is due to all who have helped support the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community because thanks to all of you, 40 families either have or will soon have their own homes to celebrate their family holidays in. An additional "thank you" is due to all who have contributed to the program throughout 2008 and have helped raise $7,696. 2009 looks bright with the completion of the Thrivent Lane project … and an additional 28 homes that are to be constructed in Gulfport. We hope to see y'all this year!
Virginia church features TBW Gulf Coast Community team in their newsletter
Read about the experiences of volunteers Sandy Atkinson, Dick Atkinson, Ruth Lohmeyer and Denise Knox from Reformation Lutheran Church in Virginia – as included in their church's newsletter (PDF, 858K). Way to spread the word and inspire future volunteers to help build the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community!
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 will start building a new Community in Gulfport, Mississippi where it is committing an additional $1.7 million.
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.