(The Verge) – On Saturday Oct. 12, Habitat for Humanity of Monmouth County along with former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn will be rebuilding homes that were destroyed by Superstorm Sandy in Union Beach,N.J. This project is part of the 30th annual Carter Work project.
Volunteers will help re-build homes by using new, energy-efficient construction and critical home repair to rehabilitation, weatherization and home preservation. In Union Beach, the focus will be on Sandy recovery projects. The goal is to do major repairs on ten-12 homes and to reconstruct 2 homes.The event will last from 8 a.m. until approximately 4:30 p.m.
According to the Borough of Union Beach, approximately 270 homes were demolished after Sandy. The Governor’s Action Plan states that 67 percent of homes in the borough suffered major or severe damage.
Every year since 1984, former President Carter and his wife Rosalynn, give a week of their time to help Habitat for Humanity build homes.This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Carter Work project According to Habitat for Humanity, the project “helps raise awareness for the critical need of simple, decent, and affordable housing.”
Former President Carter and his wife have been helping to inspire many Habitat for Humanity volunteers – since their first build in NYC in 1984, the Carters have been Habitat’s most famous participants volunteering to build. The Carter Work Project attracts volunteers around the world.
This will be the first time that the Carter Work Project will work in New Jersey, according to Habitat for Humanity. Other sites that the Carter’s will work at include Oakland and San Jose, Calif., Denver, Colo. and New York.
“We are extremely pleased that the Carters are coming to Union Beach,” said Jennifer Sneed, director of Public Relations for Habitat for Humanity of Monmouth County. “It’s important for raising awareness and are committed to Sandy relief effort. We hope this will be a bright spot for a number of the families that have been pretty hard hit in Union Beach.”
Monmouth University also plans on getting involved in the Carter Work Project. Organizations such as Hawk TV, Shadow PR (Monmouth’s chapter of PRSSA), and other organizations plan on getting involved either with running the event or volunteering at the event.
Below is a highlight video from last years Carter Work Project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXSC30mNzws&feature=youtu.be
Habitat for Humanity International (a non-profit) was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. It is now a world leader in addressing poverty housing issues. In NJ, Habitat for Humanity Northeast Monmouth County has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 1993. Their mission statement is that they seek to eliminate sub-standard housing and help low-income families achieve the dream of homeownership. They work with people from all walks of life to develop communities by building and renovating houses so that there are decent communities where people can live and raise their families.
The Verge will continue to have coverage of the Carter Work Project in Union Beach. Check back on Monday for more coverage.
