Habitat to host second meeting to invite churches to help build home

The second of two information meetings for "Faith Build 2017," a Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity initiative to build home by 50 Kane and Kendall county churches, will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at Genesis Community Church, 1300 S. Broadway in Montgomery.

Local church clergy and laity and the public are invited. Presentations, a question session and refreshments are planned.

Yorkville resident Ron Kelso, vice chairman of Habitat's board of directors, and the Rev. Jeff Barrett, Genesis Church pastor and Habitat executive director, will moderate the meeting.

In addition to Kelso and Rev. Barrett, speakers will include Habitat homeowners and staff members.

Kelso is coordinating "Faith Build 2017." He said the new Habitat home will be built in Aurora at a location to be chosen. Cost is estimated at $150,000.

According to Kelso, churches are invited to contribute volunteers, in-kind materials or services and some financial support.

He said, "Fox Valley Habitat is a Christian nonprofit that builds or rehabs housing in partnership with low-income, working families in need of affordable shelter.

"Partner families pay back no-interest mortgages held by Habitat. Recipient families contribute up to 500 hours of sweat equity, volunteer labor, on their home and other Habitat homes.

"We offer a hand up, not a handout, to qualified people," Kelso said.

An initial information meeting about the project on June 11 at Genesis drew 50 people. They represented congregations in Oswego, Yorkville, Aurora, Naperville, Sugar Grove and Oswego.

Founded in 1989, Fox Valley Habitat volunteers have built or rehabbed 54 homes in Aurora, Montgomery and North Aurora. For information, call (630) 859-3333, email info@foxvalleyhabitat.org or visit foxvalleyhabitat.org.