Habitat Blitz Build Races to Finish Two Homes in Seven Days

Nearly 500 Habitat for Humanity volunteers will work to construct two homes in seven days for two low income families during Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County’s fifth annual “Blitz Build” event.

The homes will be built from Feb. 8–10 and Feb. 13-16 in the Stevens Creek subdivision in Clearwater, a dedicated Habitat Pinellas subdivision that has 20 of the planned 51 homes completed. Four more homes also are in various phases of construction.

The Blitz Build theme, “A Race to the Finish,” takes into account the task of constructing two homes from the ground up — seemingly a race against time.

The homes are for the Carriger and McComish families.

Tammie Carriger is helping to build her home to move there with her 4-year-old daughter with learning disabilities. The mother and daughter share a bedroom at Carriger's brother's house.

After helping to build other houses for Habitat applicants Melissa McComish, 45, is looking forward to working on her own.

"It’s so refreshing to see strangers come together to get a job done," McComish said in a release. "The work is not easy, but it’s so rewarding. From day to day you do different things. One day, I even learned how to install baseboards."

About 70 volunteers daily will also help to have both homes completed in time for the dedications Feb. 17.

The event is a fundraiser with all proceeds benefiting Habitat Pinellas. Volunteers pay a $25 participation fee.

Blitz Build ends at 1 p.m. Feb. 17 with the home dedication ceremonies and a picnic for the volunteers and homeowner families.

Volunteer groups involved:

• 20 service men and women from Macdill Air Force Base 
• First American Financial Corporation
• Franklin Templeton
• Framworks of Tampa Bay
• Nielsen
• Power Design Inc.
• Publix Super Markets
• Tampa Bay Times
• American Society of Home Inspectors
• Church of the Brethren
• First Unity Church
• Job Corps
• Lakewood High School Key Club
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

*updated 2:06 p.m. Feb. 4, 2013

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