A marathon is normally a footrace with runners competing against one another all racing to the finish line. For two weeks at the end of May, a marathon in Edmonton wasn’t about running or winning – it was about building and giving.
Beginning May 31, 2008, more than 100 volunteers came together in Fort Saskatchewan to being their mission of building a new home in 14 days. The construction was part of Habitat for Humanity’s first ever “Blitz Build” – a two week marathon where volunteers built a duplex for two well-deserving families.
“The REALTORS® Community Foundation understands the importance of giving back,” said Executive Director Jill Didow. “Habitat for Humanity has said that many organizations who undertake a Team Build find it helps bond their staff in a meaningful way, not to mention the feeling they get knowing they are helping a low income family toward a better way of life.”
Starting at 8 a.m. sharp on May 31, workers and volunteers began measuring, sawing, drilling and painting – tasks that would last throughout the day and continue for the next two weeks. On June 14, the keys to the duplex were handed over to two appreciative families ready to move in to their new three-bedroom home.
The REALTORS® Community Foundation provides support to those in need by working with charities involved in shelter, homelessness, crime prevention, and special projects.Thanks go out to all who helped work on this project and to Realty Executives and Re/Max for supplying the tents for this project. Because of their generosity the volunteers were able to help build this house undercover.
Pictured above: Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Alfred Nikolai (left) stands in front of one of the new homes being built with the help of the REALTORS® Community Foundation. The five members of the partner family who will live in the house and Melanie Boles, President of the REALTORS® Community Foundation (right) are also shown.
