By Maggie Clarke
Special to The Citizen

During the weekend of Oct. 20 – 22 approximately 80 volunteers from Fayetteville First United Methodist Church, Landmark Christian School, Fairburn, and other metro Atlanta churches worked to provide housing for two Pass Christian, Miss., families displaced by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

The project, known as “Blast to the Pass,” was coordinated through Square Foot Ministry (SFM), a local non-profit organization. SFM usually focuses on helping Fayette County residents with housing needs ranging from minor repairs to complete houses. Because of the extent of damage done to the Gulf Coast, leaders of the ministry decided it was time to broaden the reach of the organization.

Ministry leaders worked with Waveland (Miss.) United Methodist Church and Restoration Point, a relief organization, to locate families in need.

In the weeks leading up to the project, students at Landmark Christian School and other volunteers assembled the interior and exterior wall units in the school parking lot. The walls were then transported to Pass Christian where volunteers and students took delivery on Friday afternoon.

Over the course of that evening and Saturday, workers raised the walls, roof trusses, and roof boards for two 1,100 square foot houses. Because of local regulations, SFM can only be involved with erecting the walls and roof of the houses. Relief organizations in the area help families coordinate the other work, such as electrical and plumbing work that must be done by professionals.

After work on Saturday, the team sponsored a spaghetti dinner for the residents of Pass Christian. Approximately 75 residents turned out for the event, where they learned how they could receive housing help from SFM.

The next Gulf Coast build is scheduled for February 2007. The organization needs to raise $50,000 in order to build three houses in downtown Pass Christian. These three houses will replace some of the tents currently used to house volunteers working on construction projects in the area. Once the temporary housing is no longer needed, the three units would be completely finished and made available to residents as permanent housing.

SFM was begun by and is supported by Fayette County churches of many different denominations and ethnic backgrounds. Donations of money and supplies come from local businesses, churches, and individuals. All donations are tax-exempt and go toward meeting the housing needs of families.

In addition to money and supplies, each build event also needs volunteers to help with construction as well as activities such as preparing meals for the team.

“This is a ministry where everybody who is willing can contribute something,” a spokesperson said.

The board of directors of SFM meets at 6:30 p.m. every second Thursday of the month at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church. Anyone interested in becoming involved is welcome to attend the meetings.

For more information on SFM, visit the website, www.squarefootministry.com or call Doug Higgins, 770-461-4746.

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