MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — When volunteers for Habitat for Humanity are working at build sites, they often use markers to write words of encouragement on 2x4s while the house is under construction, according to Cristi Lawton, development director for Habitat for Humanity in Hanover County, Va.
“Even though the boards are eventually dry-walled over, our homeowners often remark on how special it is when volunteers sign and write notes on their home’s lumber as they work to build it,” said Lawton.
College students from Cool Spring Baptist Church recently worked at a build site in Hanover County.
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This became the impetus for a “Sign a 2×4 and Build More” community campaign sponsored by Hanover Habitat for Humanity in May — engaging Baptist churches in Mechanicsville, Va., as well as local businesses, schools and other faith communities in blessing Habitat homes without being onsite. Since youth have to be 16 years old to work on the build site, Lawton said the campaign was also a useful and meaningful way to engage youth at schools and churches in its mission.
Hanover Habitat for Humanity partnered with a local home improvement store that donated 200 2x4s for the campaign. It delivered the lumber and Habitat materials to participating organizations which included 10 churches, an elementary school, two daycares and several local businesses.
Five 2x4s were delivered to New Highland Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, where they were displayed in the hallways for members to sign, said Kimi Brown, administrative assistant. The congregation has members who are actively involved in building homes for Hanover Habitat for Humanity and this project coordinated by its pastor Bob Lee helped raise awareness of the lasting difference this ministry makes in its community, she said.
Message written on a 2×4 for Hanover Habitat for Humanity from New Highland Baptist Church. |
Bryan Dupuis, senior high and college age minister at Cool Spring Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, said groups within his congregation have a long history of participating in Habitat builds.
“The most recent was our college-age ministry that served on a construction site during their Christmas break,” said Dupuis. “Our high school ministry also served at the Habitat ReStore [a retail outlet of new and used building supplies, home furnishings and appliances operated by Hanover Habitat for Humanity] as part of their summer mission trip to Richmond.
“The Habitat ‘Build More’ campaign was set up to raise awareness about the work of Habitat and to encourage the Cool Spring community to sign up for future builds,” he added. A display with signs and literature, the 2x4s and activities for children were located outside doors leading to the worship center.
“We have had at least 50 people who have signed up to be contacted for the next build in Hanover,” Dupuis said. “We raised over $500 and gathered close to 100 signatures.” There was a suggested $1 donation for Hanover Habitat for Humanity to sign and many gave and did not sign one of the 2x4s, he said.
“It’s been very inspiring and fun to see all the signatures, biblical quotes and messages of love that folks have written on the ‘Build More’ 2x4s,” Lawton said. Some of the boards have already been used in the construction of a home on Randolph Street in Ashland, Va. Those remaining will be used when framing begins on a home on Studley Road in Mechanicsville.
Barbara Francis ([email protected]) is on the staff of the Religious Herald.