St. Peter

St. Peter Partnering Community

Getting ready to move into their new home!

Ameyla proudly displays her drawing of her family. She drew her family because she, "likes them a lot". She said, "I give my mom and dad kisses a lot but my brother doesn't like kisses or hugs". Ameyla said that she will help clean her room by vacuuming with her mini vacuum. She is excited because she has always had to share a room.

She colored in purple because that is one of her favorite colors. She is excited for her new house because her room is going to have pink and purple in it- her 2 most favorite colors of all. Amelya is excited that her two cats, Lola and Lucy will have a bigger place to play and sleep. She says that her cats sleep a lot.           

Home on Wheels!

Amanda and her daughter Amelya look on as their home is loaded and ready for the big move! The home was built at the St. Peter high school in the school's parking lot. The home was built by their Building Trades class at the high school. The home will be completed on site on Church Street. The family is expected to move in December 2011. 

Amelya described the house being moved as, "fun"!

The January 2012 Spotlight is on…

Don Glimsdal

Don Glimsdal is the epitome of the term “go-getter.” This proud husband and loving grandfather retired several years ago from a long, fruitful career in the agricultural seed industry and upon receiving newfound free-time he set out to give back to the community. When one ponders the work conducted by the St. Peter Partnering Community, constructing twenty homes, one cannot do so without visualizing Don Glimsdal. He is a staple and figurehead regularly volunteering his time as the St. Peter Construction Crew Leader and Site Supervisor.  Habitat is beyond grateful for all the help Don has provided for our organization, words do not serve our appreciation for him justice.

When asked what drew Don to volunteering at Habitat he commented, “I always appreciated what was being done at Habitat. ” In reflecting upon his long career of volunteering for Habitat, his most rewarding and proud moment is always the same. “My proudest moment is seeing tears of joy on people’s faces once they see the house. They have no way of visualizing they would become a homeowner before this program. ”

Don’s motivated attitude keeps him giving back to the community. As a St. Peter resident for about 25 years, Don likes staying active. Habitat for Humanity is just one of many organizations Don lends his time to. In addition to volunteering for Habitat for Humanity Don volunteers for Nicollet Nursing Services as a cab driver. He also used to deliver for Meals on Wheels. Don says he is “always doing something. ” “I’m not a person who can sit in a rocking chair. Woodworking has been my hobby all my life and I want to put my carpentry skills to good use. ”

Don encourages other people to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. He says it’s an extremely rewarding experience. Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN is honored to have worked and continue to work with such an amazing and inspiring person. If you are interested in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN, like Don, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Kelli Hanson at 507-388-2081 or habitatsc@hickorytech.net.

The Partnering Community of St. Peter joined the Affiliate in 1993. The home moved to Church Street will mark the 21st home in St. Peter. A single mother and her children have been approved for the spring 2012 building season.

The committees from St. Peter typically meet the first Monday of the month at 5 pm at the Union Presbyterian Church. The church is located at 730 South Third Street in St. Peter.

To learn more about how you can help support the St. Peter area, please call (507) 388-2081.

ThriventBuilds!

Julie Schmillen, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN, 507.388.2081, email: hfhscmn@hickorytech.net

Gary Irmiter, Financial Representative for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, (507) 354-6466, email: gary.irmiter@thrivent.com

Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN joins $9.2 million national home-building effort in 2012

Mankato/St. Peter, Minn. (Dec. 5, 2011) – Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN learned recently that it has been awarded two $65,000 grants to build one home in St. Peter and one home in Mankato.

This grant, providing 55 percent of the cost of construction, comes from Minneapolis-based Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ unique partnership with Habitat for Humanity International: Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN is celebrating their award in conjunction with an international announcement made Dec. 5, 2011, in Minneapolis, Minn., when the partnership’s $160 million mark was surpassed with a $9.2 million commitment for 2012, the seventh year of a strong alliance between the two organizations. 

Habitat for Humanity’s relationship with Thrivent Financial brings the financial, volunteer and advocacy resources of Thrivent Financial together with the affordable housing construction leadership of hundreds of local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. To date, more than 480,000 volunteers have donated more than three million hours to construct 1,600 homes in the U.S.

The 2012 commitment will fund the construction and rehabilitation of 142 Habitat for Humanity homes in 32 U.S. states, including the home built by Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN in St. Peter and Mankato. Locally, the Southern MN regional field office of Thrivent Financial will supply 100 member and employee volunteers.

“The Thrivent Builds alliance is helping Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN increase the number of families served in our community,” said Julie Schmillen, Executive Director. “We are so grateful for Thrivent’s support of our efforts to provide decent, affordable homes in partnership with families in need”.

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International. Thrivent Builds is designed to involve Thrivent members and Lutherans in helping provide a “hand up” to people in need of affordable housing, offering them a path to greater economic independence. Excluding government funding, Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is Habitat's largest single source of funding, constructing more than 2,700 homes in the U.S. and around the world since 2005. For more information, visit ThriventBuilds.com.

About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit, Fortune 500 financial services membership organization helping approximately 2.5 million members achieve financial security and give back to their communities. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a broad range of financial products and services.  As a not-for-profit organization, Thrivent Financial creates and supports national outreach programs and activities that help congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. For more information, visit Thrivent.com. Also, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog.