Episcopal Bridgebuilders

Coalition is Growing: Ten Churches Join Episcopal Bridgebuilders

Episcopal Bridgebuilders is a coalition of Episcopal Churches in Fairfield County who work with Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County to construct housing for families in need. Coalition members provide funding and volunteers, and Habitat provides planning and construction supervision. The original coalition was formed in 1999 and built 5 houses in Bridgeport by the end of 2006. St. Mark’s led the formation and recruitment of the current coalition with the goal of sponsoring part of Habitat’s new housing project in Stamford. Coalition Chair, Bob Stephan, reported that member pledges and other donations have reached a total of $135,350 and that the coalition is well on its way to becoming a major sponsor of the Stamford project.                                                              

Coalition Members:

Christ Church Greenwich              St. John’s Stamford

Christ the Healer Stamford            St. Luke’s Darien

Grace Church Norwalk                St. Mark’s NC  

St. Andrew’s Stamford                 St. Matthew’s Wilton

St. Francis Stamford                     St. Paul’s Riverside 

 

Summer Hands On Project – Sign up now!

 

Construction on the Stamford will begin sometime later this year. In the meantime, parishioners have the opportunity to work on Habitat projects in Bridgeport this summer. We have reserved dates this summer for St. Mark’s volunteer teams to go to the Habitat for Humanity warehouse in Bridgeport for a day’s work either cutting lumber, building pre-fabricated wall panels and painting in the warehouse or onsite at one of their Bridgeport projects to assist in whatever way is needed.  Men and women are welcome. No experience is required. This is an excellent opportunity for us to gain experience in working with Habitat in preparation for our forthcoming local efforts in Stamford.  All volunteers must be at least 16 years old.  To learn more or to sign up, contact George Wright at 203.652.0526 / gw4@pips.com.  

 

 Volunteer dates are:   Friday, July 11  &  Saturday, August 2

 

Donations to the Episcopal Bridgebuilders/Habitat for Humanity project can be made by sending your tax deductible check, payable to "Habitat for Humanity CFC" with "Episcopal Bridgebuilders #6" in the memo line, to Habitat for Humanity CFC, 1470 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport CT 06610.       

       

      Habitat and Bridgebuilder Timeline

       

      §         1999—Original coalition of 19 Episcopal churches is formed to build houses in Bridgeport in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. 

      §         Episcopal Bridgebuilders completes construction of 5 houses by end of 2006.

      §         November 2006—original coalition concludes its work in Bridgeport and provides $10,000 seed money to encourage formation of a new EB coalition in Southern Fairfield County.

      §         August 2007—Habitat clears site for a 6-unit housing project in Stamford.

      §         September 2007—St. Mark’s New Canaan commits $20,000 toward Stamford project, to be paid over 2-year period.

      §         November 2007—Five churches hold first meeting of new coalition at St. Mark’s with goal of participating in Habitat’s Stamford project.

      §         May 2008—Coalition membership increases to 10.  Total amount pledged by members plus individual donations reaches $135,350.

      §         May 2008—Habitat obtains planning board approval for revised Stamford project, increasing number of units from 6 to 8, with construction anticipated to start in late 2008.

       

      How the Coalition Works:

       

      §         Parishes provide money and volunteers (skilled and unskilled, men and women).  Habitat provides project administration, on-site supervision, screening and selection of resident families.

      §         Coalition Steering Committee consisting of representatives from member parishes organizes fundraising, work team schedules, publicity, and liaison with Habitat.

       

      How the House gets Built:

       

      §         Habitat does the site work, pours the foundation and puts in the sub floor.

      §         Member churches provide teams of workers, men and women, skilled and unskilled.

      §         Preliminary construction of forms done by volunteers in Habitat's warehouse

      §         On-site work done mainly on weekends by volunteer teams until completion.

      §         On-site volunteers age restricted to 16 and over until finishing work begins.

      §         Flexible in scheduling volunteer team member assignments.

      §         Other volunteer opportunities:  work team leader, volunteer coordinator, serve on the coalition steering committee, publicity, family liaison, fund raising

       

       

      Would You like to join this effort by donating time, treasure or talent?

       

      Please contact: Bob Stephan 203.972.5800 or George Wright 203.652.0526

       

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      Sketch of Stamford Habitat Residences that begin

      construction later this year.