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Gulf Coast Update
June 2010
- Program overview – a look at our progress since the beginning
- Partner families living in Thrivent Builds homes – a demonstration of the lives you've changed
- Stay in touch with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
- Lead a trip. Build an community and life-long relationships
- Make an Even Bigger Impact – Donate Today
- Gulf Coast Update Archive
June will be the last month for the online Gulf Coast Update – though many teams will still be volunteering this year! So, this month we'll give you an overview of Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community from its inception, highlight partner families living in Thrivent-sponsored homes, and give you information on how to keep in the loop on what's happening with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast (HFHMGC) and Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community.
Program overview
Seeing an immediate need for simple, decent, affordable housing in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast region, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans quickly stepped up to the plate to answer the housing needs of South Mississippians. That was 2007, two years after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Now, nearly five years post Katrina, hundreds of volunteers still make their way down to the Gulf Coast to lend a helping hand. Here is a glimpse at Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community over the past 3 years and a call to action for the years to come.
In keeping with the idea, "Membership in Action," Thrivent Builds also wanted to rally volunteer support to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. And that they did. The goal was to send 60 teams of volunteers to the Gulf Coast. The volunteer program was piloted in September of 2007 and by January of 2008, Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community had its official kick-off with the goal of increasing capacity and ensuring the sustainability of the affiliate.
Since the inception of the TBWGCC, 68 homes have been built by more than 850 volunteers and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has contributed a whopping $4.2 million (not to mention the donations made on behalf of each team that has traveled to the Gulf Coast in 2010)!
"The continuing partnership between Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity in 2010 provides an ongoing focus for volunteers, helping ensure that even more families will have not only have decent, affordable housing, they will also have the opportunity for prosperity," declares Chris Monforton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community is still hard at work building safe, decent, affordable homes to meet the needs of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. There are 17 more teams scheduled to make a trip to the Gulf Coast during the summer and fall of this year, and talks have begun on what the TBWGCC program will look like in 2011.
Partner Families Living in Thrivent Sponsored Homes
| Ms. Leslie | Mrs. Nicole & Mr. Leroy |
| Ms. Hermia | Ms. Patricia |
| Mr. Tykari | Ms. Chandra |
| Ms. Claudia | Ms. Melissa |
| Ms. Beryl | Ms. Alexis |
| Ms. Doris | Mr. Brian & Mrs. Alexandria |
| Ms. Rachel | Ms. Lakeshia |
| Ms. Todosii | Ms. Albernette |
| Ms. Donna | Ms. Christine |
| Mrs. Ebony & Mr. Brandon | Ms. Latasha |
| Mr. Kevin | Ms. Trina |
| Ms. Bettie | Mr. Tim & Mrs. Annette |
| Ms. Joan | Ms. Natasha |
| Ms. Kathy | Ms. Nekiaya |
| Ms. Robyn | Ms. Rose Marie |
| Ms. Malikah | Mr. Jerry |
| Ms. Bethany | Ms. Evelyn |
Not only have each and every one of you been instrumental in the successful completion of the homes that these families now live in, you have also been integral to securing a brighter future for the children that live in these homes. Without volunteers like you, it would be impossible to complete our mission. We hope you will continue your support of Thrivent Builds Worldwide Gulf Coast Community in the future.
Stay in Touch
Website: www.hfhmgc.org
Online Newsletter: http://www.hfhmgc.org/newsletter/
Facebook: Click Here To Be Our Friend
Twitter: Click Here To Follow Us On Twitter
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.
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.