Mission Statement/Purpose:
This ministry coordinates with other churches and groups working in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity to build good, affordable housing for local citizens.
Major Accomplishments:
St Thomas More has participated in 26 houses with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County since the mid 1990’s providing affordable homes in Chapel Hill, Efland and Hillsborough. For seven years STM partnered with University Methodist Church and the Newman Catholic Student Center Parish. In 2001 St Thomas More Parish provided both the volunteer labor and the finances to build the Art Hattman Memorial House in Richmond Hills, Hillsborough. Since 2004 STM and other local churches including Holy Trinity Lutheran, Community Church of Chapel Hill Unitarian Universalist, United Church of Chapel, Newman Catholic Student Center Parish have joined to build a house a year. This partnership of local churches is called Building Hope Partnership.
Major Activity:
Volunteers are needed to help build. Additional volunteers are needed to provide lunches for work crews.
Meeting Frequency:
The primary construction takes place on Saturdays. Volunteers can also do construction work on Wednesdays and Fridays. On these days, the work is usually of a more skilled nature, however, instruction is provided to willing learners.
Meeting Venue:
The building sites change. Currently, building is taking place in Efland, Hillsborough and Chapel Hill.
Estimated Time Commitment for Volunteers:
On Saturdays, volunteers are asked to work a four-hour morning or four-hour afternoon shift. Occasionally, volunteers will work the entire day. During a 16-week build, you may work every week, every other week or it might depend on the project for that day.
To volunteer please click https://orangehabitat.volunteerhub.com/events/index St Thomas More's builds are those listed as BUILDING HOPE, but you can certainly volunteer for other work-dates too.
Special Skills:
Volunteers must be 16 years or older. Younger teens must come with a parent. Construction skill/experience is highly welcomed but not required. Volunteers willing to learn are always welcome.