On Monday, July 21, 2014, thirty-three young adults with Bike & Build Inc., a national non-profit committed to affordable housing, bicycled into Springfield on their journey across the United States. The riders worked throughout the day to help with multiple projects at the Habitat for Humanity of Springfield ReStore. The cyclists travel from Boston, MA to Santa Barbara, CA every year in order to raise money and awareness for affordable housing causes.
The group will travel for more than 10 weeks and will help build affordable housing in thirteen locations, including St. Louis and Springfield, MO, and Tulsa, OK. In order to participate in the trip, each rider raised at least $4,000 to help fund the trip costs and affordable housing efforts nationwide.
“Habitat for Humanity of Springfield has been blessed with some of the greatest volunteers in the country, and the volunteers from Bike and Build are among the best,” said Tommy Hawkins, Habitat-Springfield volunteer coordinator. “We enjoyed working with the newest group from Bike and Build. Local volunteers can sign up today to learn how to build a home, help wonderful families, and have fun!”
Individual and group volunteers, 16 and older, with skills levels ranging from novice to expert are welcome to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Springfield. Volunteer opportunities are available Monday – Saturday within the ReStore and Wednesday – Saturday on the construction site.
For more information on volunteering please contact Tommy Hawkins at 417.829.4001 ext 112 or at tommyhawkins@habitatspringfieldmo.org.
About Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, MO
Habitat for Humanity of Springfield believes every person in the Springfield and surrounding area deserves to live in safe, decent, affordable housing. As one of 2,300 affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat Springfield builds an average of 10 homes each year. Since 1988, Habitat Springfield has either built or rehabilitated over 250 homes, providing shelter for more than 600 men, women and children in Greene County. Habitat Springfield partners with deserving families and individuals to build homes, and we rely on support from the community to provide compassionate construction. Community volunteers and corporate sponsors help Habitat Springfield fulfill our mission to provide safe and affordable housing to those who would otherwise go without.
Families who partner with Habitat for Humanity go through a rigorous application and selection process and are then expected to perform 350 volunteer hours before closing on their home. Once families complete the program requirements, they are financed for a zero-interest home loan, which is later recycled back into the program through homeowner payments, to provide funding for future projects.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families without regard to religion, race, gender or nationality by constructing, rehabilitating or repairing homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to financing to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.
For more information on the Habitat ReStore, applying for a Habitat home, or to donate/volunteer, call the Habitat office at (417) 829-4001 or visit habitatpsringfieldmo.org.