Jun 20 2006
The "Hammerin' Irish" -- 50 alumni from the University of Notre Dame -- are joining forces in Shreveport, La., to build a house in less than a week for a hurricane evacuee family.
Part of the "Building on Higher Ground" project launched by Habitat for Humanity Founder Millard Fuller, construction on the house started today and will be completed Friday, June 23.
"Higher Ground" is a nonprofit partnership between The Fuller Center for Housing, Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal and others. The Fuller Center has committed to build 60 houses in Shreveport for hurricane evacuees and local residents in need of quality, affordable housing. Volunteers are coming from across the country to help build.
"We have a glorious opportunity in Shreveport to be a light on a hill, a light of restored hope and faith. There is a great desire here to do something significant," said Millard Fuller, now founder and president of The Fuller Center for Housing.
Notre Dame alumni are coming from 15 states for the annual "Hammerin' Irish" build -- taking place this year for the first time outside of South Bend, Ind.
"We come to give of ourselves and our talents and always end up receiving so much more than we give. The love and appreciation that we take away from a build is impossible to express in words," said co-project leader Bob Hyneckeal of Reisterstown, Md.
This house will be built for and with Charles and Dorothy Wiley, hurricane evacuees from New Orleans who were trapped at the Superdome form four days after Katrina flooded the city. Their three-bedroom apartment was flooded after the levees protecting the city broke.
"When I heard about the Building on Higher Ground program I said I needed to apply for one of those houses. When we got approved, there was quite a celebration. This was like starting our whole life all over again," Mrs. Wiley said.
Sean O'Brien, director of the Alumni Community Service Program, said the group didn't hesitate to head South for their annual build. "The Hammerin' Irish Blitz Build offers another opportunity to restore hope and rebuild lives for those who have lost everything," he said.