Nearly 70 volunteers turned out for our 2019 Interfaith Builds, coming together for a series of service days to build homes — and community. It’s part of an annual tradition that began after September 11 terrorist attacks as an opportunity to bridge cultural divides.
At our first 2019 Interfaith Build on October 5, volunteers with Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, and Bothell United Methodist Church caulked, worked on siding, and installed windows at a home in the South King County town of Pacific.
At three other Interfaith Builds in October, we welcomed members of St. Joseph Parish, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Habitat Young Professionals of Seattle-King County, Seattle Prep, Auburn Stake – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Northlake Unitarian Universal Church.
More than 50 faith communities in Seattle and King County have volunteered with our Interfaith Builds since 2001.
“People of all faiths share a deep commitment to service — serving those in need,” says Joel Feldman, Director of Corporate Relations at Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County. At one of the builds, Joel shared apples with honey, a Jewish tradition, and spoke about the importance that so many faiths place on providing shelter to those in need.
The fourth and final Interfaith Build of 2019 drew the greatest number of volunteers, who built a retaining pond, bent rebar, and did important pre-foundational work at our Lake City project — the first new construction project inside Seattle city limits in six years.
Check out photos of from our Interfaith Builds and other projects on our flickr page.
We’ll be kicking off planning for next year’s Interfaith Builds in early 2020. If you’d like to get involved, email Joel at joel.feldman@habitatskc.org.