Here is a quick statistic...
Habitat for Humanity has now completed or neared completion on 400 homes in the Hurricane Katrina-affected region. Habitat is by far the region's most active and successful private sector rebuilder.
The numerous one-year retrospectives on TV and the internet demonstrate that this area is in for many more months of cleanup and many more years of rebuilding. To learn more about the work of Habitat and others who are helping, go to Habitat International's site at http://www.habitat.org/. Here you can find stories and statistics on this ongoing work.
The solution to this and other housing problems world-wide is made up of millions of individual efforts. Thanks to all who have been one of the parts of the solution!

Partnership. I think it's safe to say Habitat for Humanity is known for buidling successful partnerships to overcome the obstacles that trap good people in bad housing. It is a cornerstone in our mission. The year 2006 has seen many such partnerships make dramatic and welcome changes in the lives of deserving neighbors. The Bayer Corporation, The Segal & Davis Family Foundation and Blessed Sacrament Church have stepped forward to strengthen our community by sponsoring homes for Habitat families. Later this year, the Kanawha Valley Board of Realtors will sponsor and build a house. This demonstrates that blending the community spirit of organizations and businesses with the determination of volunteers produces some wonderful results.

On Friday, August 25, another local corporate partnership project kicked off a Habitat building project of their own. Volunteers from E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company gathered together to begin construction of Habitat's 109th house. Led by Plant Manager Bill Menke, DuPont has provided financial support, materials and labor to build a new home for Jerry Burns. Jerry has been volunteering his time and effort to Habitat's work since December 2004. DuPont management, employees and contractors will be working through the fall months toward completion of the home later this year. Our regular Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday crews will also be on the project. DuPont has been in our community for 80 years and has a committment to supporting the community. Habitat welcomes DuPont's participation and wonderful support.

Shirley Cole thanks volunteers at the dedication of her new home.

On Saturday, August 18, some remarkable people came together to celebrate a remarkable achievement. This summer, the members of Blessed Sacrament Church of South Charleston sponsored and built a Habitat for Humanity home for Shirley Cole. It is Habitat's 108th home overall and the 24th in Jubilee Heights. Blessed Sacrament has long been one of Habitat's strongest supporters and they certainly know how to put their faith into action.

Shirley has spent hundreds of hours working on the homes of other Habitat families and has attended many hours of homeowner education classes. Beginning on July 5, Shirley worked side by side with dozens of Blessed Sacrament volunteers to make her dream into a reality. Many parishoners are members of Habitat's regular volunteer crews. Charlie Stark, John Providenti, Mike Habenshuss, Ron Baehl, Jim Sapp, Bill Frame, Bob Galloway and Evan Cebula worked on this house in addition to their other Habitat work. David Lewis of Monarch Services Corporation provided his expertise on the house's electrical systems. Teens from Charleston Catholic High School , and churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois worked together and learned the value of cooperation and service

Father Jim O'Conner of Blessed Sacrament guided and inspired the workers and proved he is pretty handy with a hammer. Mike McCready and Joan Garton spent many, many hours planning and building this wonderful home. Special thanks go out to them.

Habitat for Humanity is deeply thankful to have such a committed partner as Blessed Sacrament. The people mentioned here played an important role in this effort, but many others also worked and sweated to get the house built. The community, young and old, blended their efforts to change the life of one of their neighbors. It truly was a remarkable effort accomplished by remarkable people.