SFM aids Katrina-stricken area with Pass Christian Mega Build

Tue, 10/23/2007 - 3:55pm
By: The Citizen

SFM aids Katrina-stricken area with Pass Christian Mega Build Earlier this month, members of Inman United Methodist Church coordinated construction of the walls for a Square Foot Ministry house to be built in Pass Christian, Miss. The work was done in the parking lot of Lowe’s on Ga. Hwy. 85 in Fayetteville, with the sections later transported to Pass Christian. Shown above, left to right, are Lowe’s Manager Mauricio “Moe” Linares and Gary Wood, Mega Build project coordinator for Square Foot Ministry. Photo/Special.

Square Foot Ministry in Fayetteville took a group of over 300 volunteers to Pass Christian, Miss., Oct. 10 - 14. During the weekend, the group raised the walls on nine houses as part of its first Mega Build to assist people in the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

SFM has committed to building 100 houses in this area over the next 10 years. In the last year, the group has constructed the walls for 16 houses.

Members of Inman United Methodist Church in Fayette County coordinated construction of the walls for one house. The work was done on Oct. 6 in the parking lot of Lowe’s on Ga. Hwy. 85 in Fayetteville. Volunteers from several churches in Fayetteville and Carrollton built the walls and loaded them onto a flatbed trailer for delivery to Pass Christian the next week.

Members of Providence United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church, both of Fayetteville, also constructed walls for two houses. Other churches from the metro Atlanta area built the remaining seven houses.

The next weekend, the volunteers raised the walls and roof for the house for Judy Marquez, whose house was totally destroyed.

Marquez came to Fayetteville on Oct. 6 to meet the people building her house and to express her gratitude for all of the work.

Her original house was over 100 years old. In order to preserve some of the history, the doors that could be saved will be used in the new house. The beams from the original house are being cut into planks for use as flooring in the new house.

Once volunteers finish the walls and the roofs, professional contractors install the plumbing, electrical, and heating and air conditioning systems. Many of these contractors donate their time and charge only for the cost of materials.

Individuals, churches, and businesses also donate money or materials. Marquez says that she hopes to be in her house by Christmas of this year. She said that she has asked her family and friends not to give her any Christmas presents but instead to make a donation to Square Foot Ministry.

Jeannie Burnam, the project and volunteer coordinator whose home was also destroyed by the storm, says that the number of volunteers has dropped over the last few months but more work is needed in the Gulf Coast region. She estimates that it will take at least another 10 to 15 years to rebuild her city.

Square Foot Ministry was begun by members of Fayetteville First United Methodist Church and now involves churches from several denominations. For information on future builds or to make tax-deductible donations, contact David Clark of Fayetteville First UMC, 770-639-0346. Information also is available at the SFM websites, sfmer.com or squarefootministry.com. Jeannie Burnam can be reached at jeannieburnam@yahoo.com.

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