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Blitz Build to wrap up with home dedications

by Michelle Swartz , June 23. 2006 11:08AM

link to this article @ www.MonroeNews.com

Another successful Blitz Build is nearly complete for the Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.

Hundreds of volunteers for the nonprofit organization built three homes in 10 days.

Even though the official ending of the Blitz Build was Tuesday, Director Debora Wykes said volunteers still need to wrap up the finishing touches on each home this week.

The recipients of the homes, which are located on Norwood Dr. and Almyra Ave., are Hope Kanaley, Kathy Sherba and Scott and Mandi Lajiness.

Beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, a dedication ceremony will be held at each home. The public is invited to attend.

The dedication also will include a house on Railroad St. built earlier this year by students from Monroe High School.

Habitat volunteers will take a short break before picking up hammers again this summer. Two more homes will be built during a Weekend Build, during which volunteers will work only on weekends from Aug. 19 to Sept. 30.

Among its many donors, Habitat received a large monetary gift from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans this year. The national program, called Thrivent Builds, has teamed up with Habitat International to help build homes.

Recently, Thrivent Builds presented the local Habitat with a $160,000 gift. According to Ms. Wykes, Thrivent Builds is sponsoring two of the six homes being built this year.

Volunteers from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans also volunteer to build the homes it sponsors.

"They are a national program, and we are their chosen charity," Ms. Wykes explained. "They see the value of Habitat and see the shortage of low-income housing, so they formed a partnership. They have been very supportive."

Thrivent Financial is funding 70 percent of two homes, and 10 percent of the costs is being raised by local Lutheran churches. The remaining 20 percent comes from Habitat.

Habitat for Humanity builds affordable housing for low-income families. Each house is paid for through community donations. Volunteers help build each home.