The Habitat Ecumenical Build Update – A New Owner and Summer 2026 Work Dates
We are happy to introduce you to the Noah-Barrett family, who will be receiving their new Habitat home this fall, thanks in a large part to the generosity of Saint Brigid parishioners.
Growing up, Robert says his family wasn’t wealthy, though they were rich in love. He lost his father at the age of 15, which was one of the lowest points in his life. He recently went through the heartache of losing his mother. As a young girl, Jessica’s family lost their home and moved around a lot, forced to live with family or friends. The couple said these experiences were very challenging, but taught them resilience, gratitude, and the value of family. Now their toddler Raelynn will finally have a home – and a neighborhood!
Jessica says Robert is a hardworking, God-fearing man who always puts family first. Robert says Jessica is one of the most caring and thoughtful people you will ever meet. One of their favorite sayings guides the way they live: “Don’t tell God how big your problems are; tell your problems how big your God is. ”
Volunteer Information
The Saint Brigid Habitat Ministry has been assigned to work on the Noah-Barrett family’s Gainesville home site for three Saturdays this summer. We have a limited number of volunteer openings, so please register “today” if you wish to join Team Saint Brigid on one of these dates.
| Saturday, July 11th | Install exterior siding |
| Saturday, July 25th | Interior painting |
| Saturday, August 29th | Landscaping |
Please consider lending a hand one Saturday – no experience necessary. Young adults ages 16-17 can participate with a parent on-site and complete a parental approval form. Anyone over 18 simply needs to complete an online form.
Our ministry philosophy is to reserve volunteer time on Saturdays to help create a “team spirit” among Saint Brigid parishioners. By volunteering your time on one (or two) Saturdays, you are contributing your time and talent as a team to achieve a worthy goal.
Once you sign up for a Saturday workday, please watch your email the day before (and on the morning of) for weather updates. If the event registration is full and you would like to participate, contact Mike Ostien at mgostien@gmail.com to see if any openings are available. In your email, please advise which weekend you would like to volunteer to attend and your cell phone number for a text reply.
Thanks to our Caring Ministry for providing lunch for our volunteers!
Register via website: https://cerv.is/0251rStBrigid
How Your Habitat for Humanity Donation Changes Lives
Each year, the parishioners of Saint Brigid come together to support our Habitat for Humanity Ministry by donating their time, talent, and/or treasure. To donate your treasure online, please visit:
Who Qualifies for a Habitat Home? It is not easy!
Families and individuals in need of decent, affordable housing apply for homeownership with their local Habitat for Humanity. As part of their willingness to partner, Habitat’s home buyers invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, called sweat equity, working alongside volunteers and other Habitat homeowners. Habitat for Humanity follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. v Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat’s homeowners.
The recipient families are typically parents who struggle financially to find decent, affordable housing in a good school district for their children. A move into a Habitat home provides these kids with better opportunities to succeed in life.
In addition, homeowners commit to a 25-year mortgage (with a 0% interest rate). They DO pay a monthly mortgage for the value of the home – which then “pays it forward” to fund additional homeownership opportunities.
Each local Habitat family selection committee selects homeowners based on three criteria:
- The applicant’s level of need.
- Their willingness to partner with Habitat.
- Their ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan.
How do I donate to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore?
Habitat for Humanity ReStores is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials, and appliances to the public at a fraction of the retail price. Local ReStores are in Atlanta, Smyrna, Lawrenceville, and Gainesville. Use the following link to find out everything you need to know and the location closest to you, www.habitat.org/restores.
The ReStores are proudly owned and operated by local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. Proceeds are used to build homes and improve communities locally and around the world. ReStores sells reusable and surplus building materials, furniture, and appliances to the public.