Habitat build will be 2 November weekends

Published 11:59 pm Wednesday, October 14, 2009

When Habitat for Humanity of Covington County starts its first build in Andalusia next month, the “building blitz” portion of the project will take place over two weekends rather than one.

HFHCC president Dale “Flip” Pancake said Wednesday the organization will begin construction of a new house in Andalusia on Fri., Nov. 13, and Sat., Nov. 14, and also Fri., Nov. 20, and Sat., Nov. 21. The build was originally scheduled for the last two weekends in October, but the board of directors decided Tuesday to move it to later in the year.

HFHCC completed its first build earlier this year, when more than 150 volunteers worked over a span of two and a half months to construct a home for the Hanlin family of Opp. Most of the work was completed during a three-day “building blitz” from Fri., April 24, through Sun., April 26.

“Our first building blitz in Opp really stressed our building committee,” Pancake said. “They had to keep up with everything going on, both outside and inside the house. They were having to coordinate a lot of things all at once, and we decided it would be less stressful to split it over two weekends this time.”

The Andalusia build will take place on a lot along Bagley Street, near the Northside Baptist Church. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house will be built for the Marshall family, which contains a mother and her daughter, and the daughter’s children — a 16-year-old boy and two 9-year-old twins, one boy and one girl.

“We’re excited to be building in Andalusia for the first time,” Pancake said. “We hope that everyone who came out to the build in Opp will come to this one, and maybe we’ll also see some folks who weren’t able to come to the build in April.”

Habitat for Humanity is a Christian building ministry in which volunteers help construct a home for a “partner family,” who then pays a no-interest low mortgage to live there. Partner families are also asked to contribute “sweat equity” by participating in other construction projects.

Pancake said the building blitz is already well into the planning stages, and lunch and snacks will be provided each day. Those who wish to bring a volunteer group or church group to help with the build are asked to call John Croft, volunteer coordinator, at 222-3523.

In addition, HFHCC will have a booth set up at the Kiwanis Covington County Fair at the end of the month. There will be general information on Habitat for Humanity available, as well as information specific to November’s build.

Pancake said anyone is welcome to contribute through either donations or in-kind services or materials. HFHCC can be reached at 222-0827 or P.O. Box 1034, Andalusia, AL 36420. Donations are tax-deductible and checks should be made to “Habitat for Humanity of Covington County.”