Helping Others From the Ground Up
St. Paul’s is a member of the Faithful Builders Coalition for Omaha Habitat for Humanity. We are one of eleven area churches that team together for this coalition. Each year, the Faithful Builders Coalition constructs a new home in the Omaha area starting in August and finishing in late October. Our goal is simple: “to build a simple, decent, house” for a family that makes 25 to 50% of median income. The family makes a down payment in 350 hours of sweat equity plus a $500 down payment at closing. The habitat home is purchased at cost with a no interest mortgage of 20 to 30 years that includes an escrow for taxes and insurance. Donations of land, materials, and labor from community members help to keep the cost of the house affordable. Omaha Habitat gives a percentage of the cost of each house to a Habitat organization in another country. This donation may fund an entire house in that country. Fifty homes were constructed by Omaha Habitat in 2015. Our project for 2016 is a new house from the ground up.
How Can You Help?
Volunteer to Work
Construction experience is not necessary to be a Habitat volunteer. We have volunteer project leaders that are construction experts. They work side by side with people of all ages and skill levels. Frequently, we have volunteers who work a shift learning a skill and then leave with the confidence to start their own home improvement project of flooring, drywall, painting, roofing, siding, decking, or insulation OR leave with the knowledge that they should call a pro like the person who worked with them. Online registration is expected. To register, please go to www.habitatomaha.org and use registration code fb When asked “place of worship?” please type St. Paul’s Millard Please register online during June and July. (The minimum age to work on a Habitat project is 16 with parent permission.)
Volunteer to Provide Food on St. Paul’s Food Day (August 27th)
We usually have about 10 to 15 St. Paul’s members that donate the food and drink for lunch and break time. Our St. Paul’s “grill team” has helped for several years.
Donate Funds
Designate an amount for Habitat when you write your check to St. Paul’s. Use the “other” space on your offering envelope. St Paul’s will then keep track of this donation and it will appear on your St. Paul’s offering statement. Another option is to give to the “2nd mile offerings” when they are designated for Habitat. You are also welcome to send a check directly to Habitat for Humanity.
Pray for Our Success and Safety
Thank you to all of you that supported Habitat in the past: the construction volunteers, the food committee, those that donated money, and to those who offered up their prayers for our safety and success.
Our Faithful Builders Coalition has received grants in the past from Wells Fargo, Thrivent for Lutherans, and Habitat ReStore. These grants greatly help in the completion of our yearly project. Faithful Builders actively pursues grants to help with the cost of building our house each year. Thrivent is a major donor to our house this year!! In order to keep the large Thrivent grant for the future, it will be important to have Thrivent members on the job site or in the lunch crew on site. Questions about St. Paul’s involvement should be directed to Jerry Johnson jbjohnsonband@hotmail.com If you are interested in getting a group together for a habitat workday that is not part of our yearly build, you should direct your inquiry to the Habitat Office at 402-457-5657.
Faithful Builders House
Brandi Herndon and Family
Brandi Herndon and children Da’Nyla (6) and Darnell (3) is the 2016 family for the Faithful Builders house of 2016. Brandi is a mom who knows how to take charge of a situation. Growing up the oldest of seven children in Kansas City, Missouri, she learned from a young age what it takes to care for others. Now age 26 and living in Omaha, Brandi is devoted her two children. Her 6-year-old daughter, Da’Nyla, loves , acting and sports, especially gymnastics, basketball, and swimming, while her 3-year-old son, Darnell, enjoys playing games with his mom. Brandi and her family enjoy “Sunday Fundays” together, going to the YMCA, and baking goodies, and favorite family traditions include spending time with relatives for the holidays.
Although Brandi has made Omaha her home, she is still very close to her family in Kansas City. She lost her brother to a car accident when she was nine-years-old, so family is very important to her. Her parents and children motivate her to be the best person she can be, and thanks to their encouragement she had the strength to finish high school and technical school. In her free time Brandi loves to dance. She even used to be part of an African Dance group and drill team, and has traveled to many states to perform.
Realizing Her Dream
Brandi first learned about Habitat for Humanity of Omaha from a friend at work. She has always wanted to own her own home, and knew that Habitat was a great opportunity for her to realize this dream. She has grown greatly during her journey to homeownership and envisions raising her children in her new home for years to come. She looks forward to contributing to her neighborhood by keeping it safe and clean.
According to Brandi, “There’s nothing like having your own home. It’s always best to keep your home in top notch care. Homeownership is going to be so amazing, and I’ll know that my money is going toward something.” She can’t wait to decorate every room, do landscaping, and make her new home comfortable for her family. She is grateful for life itself and grateful for her family and all that God has blessed her with.
Habitat Omaha Homeownership
Partner Families purchase homes through no-interest Habitat Omaha loans, making monthly mortgage payments for 20-30 years. Potential homeowners first contribute up to 350 Sweat Equity hours working on Habitat Omaha construction sites. They also attend a variety of workshops to help prepare them for successful homeownership. At closing these buyers make a modest $500 down payment.