Transform Chattanooga

Its a busy Monday on the jobsite at the Riverbend House build …

Right now a group of 10 volunteers from Bethel Bible Village are painting trim for the house. Meanwhile, other volunteers are putting siding on the home. Inside the dry wall is up, finish has been applied, and is curing – looks like priming and painting inside will begin later today.

At this point, work is rolling along on scheduled according to Linda Sneary, our volunteer coordinator who is at the site.

By this point in the process, the house looks like a house from the outside, but the focus now is on the interior and the systems of the house.

If you are going to Riverbend tonight, be sure to stop by and check out the house – its open for you to tour from 8-9 p.m.

Here is a shot of what was taking place on Saturday – a volunteer is putting on foam insulation on the outside of the home – as you can see the windows are in! The roof trusses are in place, as are the roof decking.

Check out this link for story on the house build, photos and video thanks to the Chattanooga Times-Free Press -

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/jun/08/riverbends-habitat-home-be-sold-native-chattanooga/

One key ingredient was missing at the kick-off to the 2008 Riverbend House – our homeowner, Alexia Taylor. Alexia is one of the managers at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts here in Chattanooga. The company sent her to training at their corporate headquarters and she did not get back home until Friday evening. A noteworthy fact – Friday was National Doughnut Day – what an appropriate day to start Alexia’s new home!! “Mommy, mommy – I heard my name on TV,” squealed Milton, Alexia’s son. Alexia rrelayed how he ran up with a hug and rush of words when she returned home Friday evening. The children -Brittni, Brianna and Milton had seen the kickoff on the evening news and what is actually happening for their family started sinking in.

Saturday was the first day Alexia had been to the site. “As I walked up the hill, the house came more and more into view. It had walls, it had a roof!” What really surprised Alexia the most was the fact that the house even had windows – thanks to Matt Hullander and the wonderful group at Hullco. Besides donating the vinyl siding and windows, a group came to do the window installation.

Alexia and her sister were with us all day Saturday putting in ‘sweat equity hours’ – a requirement for Habitat clients. Sweat equity was a great understatement in this 90+ degree heat. Not only did she work all day, but she was the last worker to leave the site. “We practically had to take tools out of her hands and push her off the job site – she just didn’t want to leave her house,” noted Dennis Neal, Director of Construction for Habitat.

Will the house be finished on time and ready to move Monday, June 16^th ?. We can guarantee it – it is safe to say that if it were left up to Alexia she would see to it single handedly!

Point your browser over to http://www.newschannel9.com/news/house_969241___article.html/says_barnes.html

for a print version of their coverage from this morning!

We held a press conference this morning to help get the word out about the build, the Make a Difference Village, and the Tennessee Valley Credit Union’s Stage. Front row from the left – Chip Baker from the Friends of the Festival, John Atherton with Habitat, Renee Lasalle from WDEF News 12, Blake Strickland with Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, and Tammy Zumbrun shared their thoughts with those assembled and the media – the support from all of these organzations and America’s Home Place our Covenant Partner have helped make this effort a reality.

Thanks as well to all the local media who came out – Channel 9, the Times Free Press, Brewer Broadcasting, and WDEF News 12.