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Gulf Coast Update Archive
June 2009
- Connor's Garden
- Thrivent Lane
- Thrivent House Dedication
- 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
Connor's Garden
The work on the Gulf Coast has been progressing wonderfully, thanks in part to the eleven Thrivent Builds teams that have participated in the Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community this year. The hard work and dedication of the volunteers and Partner Families has helped the construction of Connor’s Garden, Thrivent Builds’ second twenty-eight house development with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, progress as planned. The first five houses in the neighborhood are in the trim and cabinet stages. The newest five houses are in the final framing phases, with some ready to have sheetrock installed.
The Connor’s Garden homes are located in Gulfport and are all being built to meet the Energy Star rating for the Gulf Coast region. Each home will include Energy Star appliances, high energy conservation water heaters and many other features and building techniques to lower the energy cost for the homeowner.
Special thanks to both Thrivent Builds teams who volunteered with us this month!
Thrivent Lane
Thrivent Lane is now ready for homeowners! After much hard work, the neighborhood has been completed and approved by the city of Long Beach, MS. Partner Families are now able to schedule walk-throughs of their new homes! Fourteen of the houses have been selected by Partner Families and we expect the other fourteen will go quickly.
Ms. Joan is one of our fourteen families now assigned to Thrivent Lane and has been a star in fulfilling her Habitat requirements. Joan and her two young sons and teenage daughter currently live in a cramped two bedroom apartment. The family has done all they need in order to move into their new home and is just waiting for the lease to expire at their current apartment.
Joan is thankful for each and every person who has helped families like hers and is happy that God has listened to her prayers.
Thrivent House Dedication
This month, one of our happy new homeowners, Ms. Lakeshia, hosted her house dedication. Ms. Lakeshia and her two young children moved into their home on Convent Avenue in Pascagoula in February. Lakeshia has been an outstanding Partner Family, finishing her sweat equity requirements in record time. The intimate dedication was attended by friends and family from as far away as Ohio!
Lakeshia is extremely happy to be in her new Thrivent home and out of her previous tight living quarters with her mother. Now, Lakeshia is able to decorate her home as she see’s fit!
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.
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.