THE BUILD IS ON!

Thrivent Builds is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for a deserving family, Lonnie & Bobbie Snouffer and their four children.  Thrivent Builds is a financial, volunteer and advocacy alliance formed between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International and significantly expands the strong relationship Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity have enjoyed since 1991.  First Lutheran is committed to assisting with this build, which began on March 16 with the ground breaking ceremony at the new home location:  1186 Greenspring Road, Newville, PA.

This year’s Congregation Champion representatives are Elaine and Dave Haag.  They are the main points of contact and will coordinate fund raising activities and solicit volunteers to help with the build.  They can be reached at 241-2619 or via email at carlislebuds@comcast.net.

First Lutheran, as well as other congregations in the West Shore and West Cumberland Conferences, will be responsible for raising 10% of the total cost to build the house, which is approximately $12,300.  Donations of professional services, labor, and/or materials, such as plumbing, HVAC, windows, flooring, etc. (gifts in kind) free of charge or at cost, would be extremely helpful in order to decrease the dollar amount to be raised.  Anyone with residential construction expertise, or associated with companies that provide any of these services, who is willing to help should contact the Haags as soon as possible.

The build schedule for construction activity that requires congregational volunteers is as follows:

Date              Activity                                 Volunteers         Food?

May 12           Wall Framing                                 20                 Yes

May 13&14     Roof Trusses/Sheathing                15                  Yes

May 15-17       Roof/Windows/Doors                  15                 Yes

June 2             Siding/Insulation/Shed                   8                 Yes

June 7             Siding                                            15                 Yes

June 9             Drywall                                         10                  Yes

June 14           Drywall                                         15                  Yes

June 16           Drywall                                          6                  Yes

June 28           Interior/Exterior Trim                 15                 Yes

June 30           Interior/Exterior Trim                 10                 Yes

July 12            Prime Painting                              20                 Yes

July 19            Finish Painting                             20                 Yes

July 21            Cabinets                                       10                 Yes

July 28             VCT Tile/Hardware                   10                 Yes

August 2          VCT Tile/Hardware                   10                Yes

August 11         Clean up/Punch list                   15                Yes

August 23         Landscaping                               15                Yes

Volunteers can perform many functions to support our efforts:  builders and workers on site, go-fors, greeters, sign-in volunteers, nurse/EMT/first aid support, meal/snack preparation and service on site, and clean up.

Our First Lutheran congregation has taken responsibility for two days of the build:  Saturday, June 14, (minimum of 15 volunteers needed) and Saturday, July 19, (minimum of 20 volunteers needed) from approximately 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  As noted above, June 14 is dedicated to drywall installation and July 19 to finish painting.  Habitat for Humanity professionals will supervise our congregation members.  We will also be responsible for preparing and providing food and drinks for everyone and cleaning up the job site at the end of both days.

Sign up sheets for both days are posted in the narthex at the church.  You can volunteer for any of the functions mentioned above on either or both days.  If you have the time and would like to join us, we’d love to have your help.  If you would like to participate in the build, but cannot make it on these two days, you can still sign up for any other day that you’re available.  There is a general support sheet posted in the narthex, where you can indicate what day(s) you can help, and what support you’d like to provide.  Directions to the build site are posted there as well.  (Directions:  Follow Rt. 641 W from Carlisle all the way to 1186 Greenspring Road.  From I-81S, take exit 37, right at the bottom of the ramp on Centerville Road into Newville.  Take a left on W. Main Street and follow Rt. 641 about 5 miles to the build site.  You will see the Green Spring First Church of God on your left about 200 yards before the Thrivent Builds construction site on your left.)

Our fund raising activities began with the “Board Signing” in the narthex of the church on March 16.  For a donation, you can send a message to the Snouffers and sign a piece of their new house.  There are also Habitat for Humanity envelopes in the narthex for donations.  Checks should be made payable to First Lutheran Church and marked “Thrivent Builds” on the memo line.  Children can also help by picking up one of the Thrivent Builds house banks and trying to fill it with change.

More information and updates on the progress of the build will be included periodically in The First Edition Weekly.  If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Elaine or Dave.  With God’s help, we look forward to assisting this needy family in fulfilling their dream of owning their own home.  On their behalf, thank you for your help.