FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Crystal Scott
Director of Resource Development                    
Pensacola Habitat for Humanity
205-401-5855 (mobile), 850-434-5456 (office)
cscott@pensacolahabitat.org

(Pensacola, FL - Saturday, May 11, 2019) This week, for the fourth year in a row, volunteers from diverse faith communities joined together to build a home to be purchased by a family working through Pensacola Habitat for Humanity’s affordable homeownership program.

While there is often tension between communities of differing faiths in our broader society, this build gives an opportunity for those groups to unify under the common goal of providing an affordable home for a family of modest to moderate income. 

Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, which identifies as an ecumenical Christian organization, has a longstanding tradition of inviting those of other faiths to join in their mission of putting God’s love into action by building homes. However, the motivation for creating a single, week-long interfaith build came when a local group of interfaith leaders came to Pensacola Habitat with an idea. They were searching for a service project that would bring differing faith groups together for a common purpose and Habitat’s mission seemed a perfect match. Dave Donaldson of the Baha’i community mentions that, “no matter what we believe, providing basic human needs such as shelter is found at the core of all major religions.”

With that mantra in mind, over 50 enthusiastic representatives from the Jewish (Temple Beth El) Protestant (1st Presbyterian, Gadsden St. United Methodist, St. Christopher’s Episcopal, Perdido Bay United Methodist, Pine Forest United Methodist), Catholic (The Basilica of St. Michael), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Baha’i communities, started the week with a blank slab and together have hoisted the walls and raised the roof on the Hitchcock Ave. home. “This unique build, with its powerful message of unity, is significant for our community in so many ways,” states Tim Evans, Executive Director for Pensacola Habitat. Tomorrow, the faith build will conclude with the builders putting the final touches on the framing of the home. The faith groups will rejoin later in the summer to landscape the home and will work throughout the year to identify other projects the interfaith group can take on.

Last day for the Faith Build 2019
Saturday 5/11/2019
8405 Hitchcock Ave
Pensacola, FL 32514