A group of volunteer workers from the Arborlawn United Methodist Church and First United Methodist of Hurst continued the framing of a local Habitat for Humanity house on Friday September 17, 2010. Both churches are sponsoring the project for future homeowner Belinda Miller, her son Willie, and future foster children. Belinda has been a licensed foster mother for 13 years.

“Owning a home will give me hope for a better future, and a sense of security in a strong and growing community,” said Belinda Miller.

With four out of the ten work days almost complete, the volunteers from Arborlawn United Methodist and First United Methodist of Hurst are well on their way to giving a house to a family that truly deserves it. Not only does this program benefit a local family in need, but it also profits the whole community.

Trinity Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that benefits Tarrant County with the ideal that all people deserve decent, safe, and affordable places to live. In the Trinity Habitat for Humanity program, homeowners buy their house and invest in 250 hours of sweat equity labor. This means that the future homeowner not only puts

in their own time to help build their house, but also to help build other Habitat houses in the community.“I don’t think there’s anyone out here who doesn’t enjoy it,” Mike Bowen, a volunteer from First United, said. Working with the future homeowners “makes it part of theirs.”

The future homeowners are not the only ones who benefit from the project; the voluteers also acquire some of the advantages. A networking group of volunteers who are unemployed heard of the project from First United, and are now dedicating their time between job hunting and volunteering.

Some volunteers have even added college courses to their schedule.

“I’m having a great time,” said first-time volunteer Richard Eder.