St. Peter parishioners help build another Habitat home
Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 14:53 25 October 2012
Outreach part of year-long parish celebration
CHARLOTTE — St. Peter Church has been marking the 25-year anniversary of the Jesuits' presence at the parish with special service projects in the community. The church's latest outreach effort is a Faith Build project with Habitat for Humanity, an organization which parishioners have partnered with before.
"We wanted community service projects that could involve diverse group of parishioners and that could possibly be carried on after the celebration year," said Martha Schmitt, community service coordinator for the project.
"We raised the money through our tithing committee, proceeds from Garden of Eaten and a pasta supper fundraiser."
St. Peter Church is part of the Charlotte Church Partners, a group of 12-14 churches that volunteer to assist with the financial and labor needs for a Habitat for Humanity home building project. They have helped build a Habitat home every year for the past 15 years.
Each church contributes to the $60,000 cost for materials to build the home for a needy family.
Norm Getz, one of the Charlotte Church Partners coordinators at St. Peter Parish, is a 45-year construction veteran. He now helps recruit volunteers and coordinates the food and drinks for the volunteers on the day St. Peter Parish is assigned as the "site manager."
"I have been involved with building other Habitat homes and thought that when I retired I could volunteer my gifts to Habitat," Getz said.
"Well, I've now reached that age and my physical limitations limit what I can do. I have found a way of being a coordinator for St. Peter's, and I am able to contribute to an extremely worthwhile pursuit. I find this extremely rewarding."
More than 25 St. Peter parishioners have volunteered to help build the three-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot home during October.
The Siu family has been working on this and other Habitat houses and has been selected for this home. Ner Siu, his wife Hlan Kpuih and their young children Yut and Nay hope to move into the home the first or second Saturday in November.
For volunteer opportunities on the Faith Build Charlotte Church Partners' project for the Siu family, go to www.habitatcharlotte.org/charlotte-church-partners.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Pictured: Parishioners of St. Peter Church in Charlotte are involved with the latest Habitat for Humanity building project. (Photo provided by Stephanie Murphy)