Hillsborough County Congregations Join In To Build Habitat Homes

TAMPA, FL —Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County kicked off its annual 10-week “Faith Build” event Aug. 1 when representatives from Thrivent Financial and eight local faith congregations used their gold shovels to turn the dirt for the symbolic start of home construction in the USF community development area for two low-income families.

Faith Build is a Habitat for Humanity construction event sponsored by Thrivent Financial, a not-for-profit Christian membership organization that supports families and communities. Through its grant program, Thrivent Financial contributed $70,000 to co-sponsor Faith Build and help underwrite construction costs.

This year, the Habitat Hillsborough/Thrivent Faith Build features eight local congregations who will raise funds to further underwrite construction costs and provide teams of volunteers to build affordable Habitat homes for Frederick Hobbs and his two children and Jennifer Rodriguez and her three children. Both families were on hand for the early-morning groundbreaking ceremony.

The eight congregations partnering in this year’s Habitat Hillsborough/Thrivent Faith Build include: St. Timothy Catholic Church, Apostles Lutheran of Brandon, First Presbyterian Tampa, Hyde Park United Methodist, Islamic Society of New Tampa, St. James United Methodist Church, Watermark Church and Fishhawk Fellowship. By the time both homes are completed, the partnering congregations will have contributed more than 2,000 volunteer hours.

The Hobbs and Rodriguez families will each fulfill 300 sweat equity hours and 10 homeowner preparation classes required by the Habitat Hillsborough program before they can purchase their low-interest mortgages.

“As a Christian-based organization itself, Habitat is enthused about partnering with Thrivent Financial and our local faith congregations to build decent, affordable homes that help stabilize low-income families,” said Tina Swain, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County. “In addition to partnering with us for our annual Faith Builds, Thrivent is also a tremendous supporter of our Home Preservation Program, which assists low-income homeowners with exterior home repairs. ”

For more information on how to qualify, sponsor or volunteer for a Habitat for Humanity home, call 813-239-2242. Congregations interested in partnering with Habitat for Humanity for the Faith Build should contact Melissa Crowther at [email protected].

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