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Gulf Coast Update Archive
May 2010
- Connor's Garden Update
- Partner Family Spotlight
- 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 Update
As the final push to complete the remainder of the homes in Connor's Garden Subdivision has begun, April was a very fruitful month for Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Foundations are being poured, walls are being raised, and dreams are being realized one house at a time. The Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community volunteers have played an integral role in the realization of Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast's mission. In April, three Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community teams made their way to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help build simple, decent, affordable housing.
- Greg Ulmer led a team of 9 volunteers from Michigan to the Gulf Coast to help in the rebuilding effort. Greg's team helped to convert a Mississippi cottage in Pascagoula. This is Greg's second trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help with recovery efforts.
- Jack Mihr brought a team of 10 folks from St Paul's Church in Orange, California, to help build homes in Connor's Garden Subdivision. Jack has previously led teams to the New Orleans area, but this was his first trip to help out on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
- Bob Ballard spearheaded a group of 11 volunteers to the Gulf Coast to help build homes in Connor's Garden Subdivision. Outside of building on the worksite, the highlight of this team's trip was its Swamp Tour and Shrimp Boil excursion at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center. (The folks at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center have now redirected their efforts to help in the management of protecting the local fauna and flora of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in lieu of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.)
Partner Family Spotlight
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 Coast.On 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 continues 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.