First Presbyterian of Edmond's fifth Habitat build!

By Bob Turner

 

       Our First Presbyterian Church of

Edmond Build began at 940 NE 83^rd in

Habitat’s Hope Crossing on Saturday,

March 3^rd.  This was the fifth Habitat home

FPCE had sponsored in the past five years,

and it would be the home of Ruth W., her

sister Hellen and Ruth’s children, Gabriel,

12, and Grethel, 7.

       FPCE provided the majority of the

100+ volunteers that built this home and

raised $68,000 in cash and in-kind

donations.   Many who worked on this

build were skill trained and provided

construction labor generally done by

Habitat staff.

       A group skilled in carpentry from First Christian Church in Edmond provided assistance on several days, and a large group from Mount St. Mary’s School pitched in to help on landscaping day.  FPCE is very thankful for the help from these two groups as well as from other volunteers from churches, schools, and companies.

       The rising cost of construction along with an improved house plan increased the challenge for FPCE’s fundraising team, but they rose to meet it very well.  In order to involve more of our congregation this year, we sold components of the home such as doors, windows, carpet, etc.   For the more costly items such as the slab, framing, and mechanical, these items were divided into several units of contributions.

            FPCE established construction teams, headed by one or two leaders for each team, i.e., a framing team, brick team, dry wall team, trim team, clean-up team, and a landscape team.  This enabled FPCE members to assist in areas of their gifts and talents.  There were many also working behind the scenes that did scheduling and communication with the congregation.  The FPCE Journey Groups provided lunch every Saturday.  On several Saturdays, lunch was served to 50-60 people.

            Originally, the home was scheduled to be completed in four Saturdays, but due to weather, the schedule was extended to six Saturdays.  Scheduling the work on weekends provided an additional opportunity for volunteers to participate.  This worked better for FPCE than if this had been a blitz build.

       FPCE has a long history of service to the community and to Habitat.  The church sees these projects as a positive opportunity that fits in very appropriately with the missional work of the church.

 

       Central Oklahoma Habitat gratefully thanks all of our partners at First Presbyterian Church of Edmond for a wonderfully successful 2007 project!!