Local faith communities start Aurora Habitat for Humanity home; Nicor Gas employees pitch in
About 35 volunteers from Grace United Methodist Church in Naperville started a Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity house for an Aurora family from Friday, May 19, through Sunday, May 21, at 1555 Solfisburg Ave. in Aurora.
Fox Valley Habitat, an Aurora-based nonprofit, launched Faith Build 2017.
The Rev. Jeff Barrett, Habitat executive director and pastor of Genesis Community Church in Montgomery, prayed for volunteers at the site before they went to work.
The project will mobilize hundreds of volunteers from 27 faith communities in Kane, DuPage and Kendall counties.
Participating congregations represent Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, Naperville, Oswego, Montgomery, Sugar Grove and Yorkville churches.
Church teams will work Saturdays to complete the four-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom project by November.
Joining Grace United Methodist Church volunteers Saturday were 25 employees of Naperville-based Nicor Gas and volunteers from Community United Methodist Church in Naperville, who served volunteers lunches on the site.
On Sunday, volunteers from Fourth Street United Methodist Church in Aurora were scheduled to serve lunches.
Among volunteers pounding nails was Aurora resident Rubi Mata, and her two daughters, who were selected for the house by Fox Valley Habitat.
Chris Schindler, Fox Valley Habitat executive coordinator, and Al Green, construction supervisor, led volunteers at the Solfisburg site.
Donations include lumber, shingles, siding, windows, garage door, garage door opener, electrical work, landscaping, air conditioning, insulation, drywall and plumbing products.
Faith Build 2017 churches are:
• Aurora: Advent Christian, First Baptist, Fourth Street United Methodist, Iglesia Bautista Misonera Shalom, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic, Progressive Baptist, St. John United Church of Christ, and St. Peter's Catholic.
• Batavia: Bethany Lutheran, Immanuel Lutheran, and Sanctuary.
• Geneva: Rejoice Lutheran.
• Montgomery: Genesis Community.
• Naperville: Community Christian Yellow Box, Community UMC, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Bethany Lutheran, Grace UMC, Trinity Church of the Nazarene, and Wesley UMC.
• Oswego: Church of the Good Shepherd Methodist, and Oswego Presbyterian.
• Yorkville: AuSable Grove Presbyterian, Community Christian, Cross Lutheran, and Trinity United Methodist.
Founded in 1989, Fox Valley Habitat, 250 S. Highland Ave. in Aurora, is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Volunteers and donations are needed to continue the affordable-housing ministry. Call (630) 859-3333 for more information. Visit www.foxvalleyhabitat.org or follow www.facebook.com/HabitatNFV/ or twitter.com/habitatnfv or