More Spotlights Contact: Corporate Development Officer Sabrina Pourmand (650) 568-7337 spourmand@peninsula habitat.org Home Partnerships Spotlight Menlo Park Presbyterian Church Compassion Weekend Takes Peninsula Habitat for Humanity by Storm Hundreds of Volunteers Descend onto De Long Street to Build Homes for Low-Income Families Three bus loads of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church parishioners converged on Peninsula Habitat for Humanity's De Long Street construction site to participate in Compassion Weekend, April 1 and 2. One of the first programs of its kind and scale for churches in the United States, Compassion Weekend is part of MPPC's congregation-wide effort to serve those in need in the areas of education, AIDS and humanitarian assistance. To help address humanitarian needs on the Peninsula, nearly 200 MPPC volunteers worked with Peninsula Habitat for Humanity to construct the last four new homes of an eleven-home project for low-income families in Daly City, California. "The response from the MPPC Community during Compassion Weekend was incredible," said Jennifer Fagerstrom, development director for Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. "A huge amount of work was completed on the Daly City site, and we now have a number of volunteers willing to work with us again at other Bay Area build sites." MPPC volunteers started each day at a different Habitat site in Brisbane where Peninsula Habitat for Humanity will build seven homes, one of which will be its 100th home. After registration and a light breakfast, the group was welcomed by Peninsula Habitat for Humanity board member, Margaret Costello and an MPPC Pastor, Frank VanderZwan before being bussed to De Long Street. At lunchtime, the construction volunteers returned to Brisbane for a heart-warming program about Peninsula Habitat for Humanity that included testimony from a Daly City, Habitat Way family on Saturday. On Sunday, volunteers heard from a regular volunteer whose aunt is also a Habitat Way homeowner. Following the lunch program, volunteers returned to De Long Street to continue their rewarding work. "I had no idea about the quality of work that people just like us put into Peninsula Habitat for Humanity homes," said one MPPC volunteer. "It's just amazing." The recent rains held off just long enough for volunteer crews to paint, build fences, install counter tops and baseboards, trim wood and dismantle scaffolding. MPPC parishioners also provided support by preparing breakfast and lunch, and handling volunteer registration. "To witness so many people joyfully giving up their time to help others was simply unforgettable," said Don Varney, community outreach and volunteer services manager for Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. "We were able to do wonderful work with Menlo Park Presbyterian Church during Compassion Weekend and look forward to working with them for years to come."