| Operation Home Delivery (Fox 9 News) |
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Bill Keller Tuesday, December 19 It has been more than a year since hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, but now the rebuilding process continues here in Minnesota. It is called Operation Home Delivery. The goal is to build four homes in four weeks in Mobile, Alabama.
In the past 20 years, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 600 homes around the Twin Cities, making it one of the largest affiliates in the country. Right now, volunteers are working on what project coordinators call an accelerated build. “We'll start with a slab and end with a completed house where someone will move in and in two weeks time they'll have a house to live in.,” volunteer Bill Norquist said. For the past two weeks, a regular group of volunteers called the Dakota Crew has been working in a warehouse in northeast Minneapolis. The warehouse is an assembly line for walls, capable of turning out a four bedroom house in just two days. “We've been flying with it,” Norquist said. “I think we're ahead of schedule right now. We only have one more day to go an we'll have all the walls finished.” So, far volunteers have assembled about 100 prefabricated panels. They've all been numbered and will be reassembled to make four homes in Mobile by volunteers from the Twin Cities. Last year, Habitat sent 15 homes to the gulf region, but this is the first time volunteers will go down to follow the project through completion. The first group of 50 volunteers will head to Alabama at the end of January, and only half of crew will be skilled labor. “You'll be amazed,” Norquist said. “Pick it up quickly and be a part of something that's really awesome.” Habitat calls it a “blitz build,” a demanding schedule that requires a lot of coordination, but they say one of the biggest challenge is getting the volunteers. “It's a great opportunity to get out and meet other people with similar interests and do something for the community,” Norquist said. Habitat for Humanity is still looking to fill about 20 spots for the beginning of February. Volunteers will have to pay their own transportation, but food and housing will be provided. If you’re interested, follow this link:
Habitat For Humanity, Operation Home Delivery
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