More Spotlights Contact: Corporate Development Officer Sabrina Pourmand (650) 568-7337 spourmand@peninsula habitat.org Home Partnerships Spotlight St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church St. Bart's Builds Habitat Homes from a Foundation of Faith It's early. Most people would still be sleeping. However, on this Saturday, a small band of people gathers in the courtyard of St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church in San Mateo. They grab a cup of coffee and chat amongst themselves. Nervous energy fills the air. They're not sure what the day will bring. Many of them have no experience. Someone leads the group in a prayer. Then it's time to embark on the day's journey. Their mission is clear. Help build a home for a family. For the past 6 years, parishioners of St. Bart's have come together two Saturdays a year to build homes for low-income families with Peninsula Habitat for Humanity. "We were looking for ways to help our parishioners grow in their faith and get more involved in community outreach," said St. Bart's Minister of Faith Formation Barbara Regan. "We wanted to work with ministries that allowed us to fulfill God's call to clothe the poor, feed the hungry and provide mercy to those in need. Although Peninsula Habitat for Humanity is not a Catholic ministry, its mission is to serve others and help make the community a better place." Designated as an official Parish Ministry, 20 to 25 volunteers regularly donate their time to Habitat twice a year. Regan said working with Habitat provides parishioners with on-going, hands-on experiences where they feel like they're making a real contribution. "You go through an amazing transition between the time you arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon," Regan said. "You're unskilled in the beginning and by 4:30 p.m. you've been trained to do whatever your assigned task was for the day. It's so encouraging to leave feeling like you've accomplished so much and because of your work a family will have a better future." This past year St. Bart's volunteers had the opportunity to participate in two special projects - the All Faiths House and a mini home makeover for Habitat's AmeriCorps members. "The All Faiths House was a great project," Barbara said. "It was nice to see several different church groups working together to build a home from a foundation of faith. It was really moving." The group's most recent project with Habitat was the mini home makeover. About twenty volunteers spent the day pruning, cleaning, painting and fixing up the home where Habitat's 2006-2007 AmeriCorps team will live. Although an unusual assignment, it was a chance for St. Bart's to do something special to welcome this group of people they will come to know well over the next year. "The volunteers had a great time," said Don Varney, Peninsula Habitat for Humanity's Manager of Volunteer Services and Faith/Community Outreach. "They had fun getting to know each other, and by the end of the day were really able to see the results of their work. With their help, the AmeriCorps now have a comfortable little place to call home." In total, St. Bart's has donated more than 2,000 volunteer hours and $1,000 to help build affordable, ownership homes for working, low-income families. Moving forward the parish hopes to continue growing its relationship with Habitat and attracting new volunteers to work on its annual build days. "It's always touching when you hear the families' stories and how Habitat's homes affect their lives," Regan said. "It's very humbling, and we're grateful that we can play a small part in improving the living conditions of families in our community."