To all willing workers of the Diocese:
We are very pleased to announce that we will be partnering again with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh to renovate another house for a deserving family. Recall the fulfillment and fellowship in the spring and summer of 2010, when the Social Justice and Outreach Committee of the Diocese sponsored the renovation of a house in Sharpsburg for a refugee family from Somalia? The next house, also in Sharpsburg, is a three-story, five-bedroom, three-bath, single-family house located on Clifton Street.
The family that has been selected includes five children ages 6 to 18. Both parents are employed, the mother at Giant Eagle and the father at the Omni William Penn Hotel downtown. The family immigrated to the United States in 2008 from a refugee camp in Tanzania. They are currently living in overcrowded and unsafe public housing in Northview Heights.
As the parish commitment form indicates, the diocese is asking churches to commit time, talent and treasure towards this project. Please give prayerful consideration to not only the number of volunteers and workdays, but also the financial commitment. Our goal is to contribute the $30,000 needed for the renovation and we already have $11,800 in preliminary commitments.
Work days, mainly on Saturdays, are scheduled starting February 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and continuing through June when the house is expected to be completed. Twelve workers are needed each Saturday (except Holy Week), and arrangements can be made to work during the week upon request. There are liability limits for youth under 16 years old, but we are considering creative ways young people can participate.
Bishop McConnell will visit us on Saturday, March 16 to bless us, our work, the family and the home to be. All participants are urged to join us that day.
Completed commitment forms should be mailed to Nancy Lapp, Chair of the Social Justice and Outreach Committee, 4625 Fifth Avenue, Apt. 805, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 or faxed to the attention of Nancy Lapp at 412-363-3260.
Requests for parish work days should go to Sue DeWalt at sdewalt@verizon.net or 412-731-0162.
Questions about the project can be directed to Mark Rust, a board member of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh, at mrust@aol.com or 412-224-2352.
We look forward to your participation in this exciting project.
The Social Justice and Outreach Committee
of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh