The Beginning

In December of 2007, while clearing a job site in Moss Point, Mississippi, Tony, Ken and Sharon met the woman who owned the house. She was living in a trailer at the time. Needing a saw to cut some of the debris they asked if she had one. She rummaged through an abandoned car and came up with a skill saw. They asked if she had an extension cord. She looked through another car and her trailer, but could not find one.

They asked how long she had been living in the trailer, "two months" she replied."Where did you live before that?" they asked. She just gazed into the backyard at a four person tent. She had in fact been living in that tent for the two years since hurricane Katrina. Her house was later finished in the spring of 2008.

It is difficult to know how to respond to that kind of suffering. Tony, Ken and Sharon decided they neeed to build a house.


They contacted Charlie, who was experienced in building Habitat Houses and he agreed to lead the construction. He suggest 20 workers for two weeks. Larry suggested we call it the Vermont House.

The response has been overwhelming. We now have 75 volunteer and have raised almost $45,000. We plan to arrive in Vancleave Mississippi the week of October 19, 2008 to begin construction.

We will be working with the United Methodist Disaster Response team of Mississippi to find a family to build for.