BOCA RATON — Linda D Jones of Boca Raton along with nine others
— part of a volunteer group from Habitat for Humanity Broward –
recently joined forces with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter to help build
houses in Haiti for Habitat for Humanity’s 28th annual Jimmy and
Rosalynn Carter Work project
During the week-long build, 500 volunteers from around the world
helped to construct 100 homes in partnership with earthquake-
affected families in Léogâne, a city 18 miles west of Port-au-
Prince and near the epicenter of the Jan. 12, 2010 7.0-magnitude
earthquake.
“It was a remarkable journey and build,” said Jones, volunteer
house leader for Houses 116 and 117. “To have the opportunity to
share in this experience with other volunteers and friends from South
Florida was most satisfying.”
“Working along side the Haitian Home Partners, knowing we
were making such a tremendous difference in their lives was both
emotional and rewarding at the same time. There is still so much to
do in Haiti; yet I felt that what we were able to accomplish in that one
week was inspirational. I welcome others to become involved, if they
have an opportunity, you’ll be a different person afterward.”
The build took place in the Santo community where Habitat built a
total of 150 core houses in 2011. An additional 100 houses will be
built on the site in 2012. The community will ultimately house 500
families displaced by the 2010 earthquake.
“Habitat for Humanity has made a five-year commitment to serve
50,000 Haitian families, and the Carter Work Project will help us to
build homes and raise awareness to meet that goal,” said Jonathan
Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “We are
incredibly appreciative of the Carters and all the volunteers, sponsors
and partners who are joining with us to help families in Haiti rebuild
their lives.”
The Carters are Habitat for Humanity’s most famous volunteers and
give a week of their time each year to help Habitat build, renovate
or repair homes, and raise awareness about the need for affordable
and decent housing. They joined Habitat for Humanity in 1984 to help
renovate a decaying building in New York City’s Lower East Side.
Today, the building is part of a thriving, reinvigorated and dynamic
community.
Since that first build, the Carters and thousands of volunteers have
worked with Habitat for Humanity across the United States and in
Mexico, Canada, Hungary, South Africa, South Korea, India, the
Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam.
Jones has also participated in builds across the United States,
including Detroit, Los Angeles, The Gulf Coast and overseas in
Mexico, India, and Thailand.
Habitat’s Carter Work Project was the culmination of a month-long
observance of the need for safe, decent and affordable shelter that
began on World Habitat Day, Oct. 3.
Observed annually on the first Monday of October, World Habitat Day
is designated by the United Nations as a time to reflect on the dire
need for adequate shelter around the globe. Habitat will kick-off the
World Habitat Day observance in Washington, D.C., with a focus on
rebuilding hope after disasters, highlighting the work in Haiti as an
exemplary response to the need for recovery.