2007 Earth Day Build-A-Thon -- April 19th-22nd
Earth Day Build-A-Thon 2007 began with a bang, on Thursday April 19th with nearly 150 participants pounding hammers and nails into frames of future homes for eight families on Edes Avenue in East Oakland. The event was deemed a terrific success by participants despite the rain and mud, which did not appear to dampen spirits.
Across the way, six completed Habitat homes added inspiration for participants, including development architect Gary Struthers, volunteers, AmeriCorps members and Habitat’s construction crew throughout the build. “This feat would not have been possible without volunteer labor, donated materials and event sponsors,” said Struthers, who donated his firm’s services for the design, as well as serving as house leader during the event. Event sponsors were PMI, PG&E, Shaklee, and media sponsor, CW Bay Area, in addition to house sponsors, such as Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, San Francisco Foundation, and Cal Habitat for Humanity.
The UC Berkeley Habitat for Humanity campus chapter, having surpassed their $25,000 quarter house sponsor goal, are well on their way to becoming a half house sponsor of Lot #19,which will be home to Jesus and Susan Salazar and their four children, Ryan, Sharlyn, Steven and Spierce. “I am so happy that we were chosen and given this opportunity,” said Jesus. “We are looking forward to meeting our new friends who were also lucky to have been chosen.”
True to Build-A-Thon tradition, all eight homes were framed with walls and trusses by 4 pm Sunday, moving right along the second phase of the construction of 26 homes scheduled to be completed in 2008.
