Volunteers Start Home Build For Veteran On Sept. 11

From Habitat For Humanity: Capping a three-year effort, on Tuesday, Sept. 11, employees from Delta Air Lines will kick off construction on the final blitz-built home in a development dedicated to military Veterans and their families. State and local representatives will speak between a Junior ROTC flag-raising and words from the future homeowner.

Over the following weeks, more than 400 volunteer Delta employees—from baggage handlers to flight attendants to Delta’s Vice President in Seattle—will roll up their sleeves to build a brand new home. Delta volunteers who will raise the first wall on kickoff day are U.S. military Veterans themselves.

Future homeowner Jean-Jacques is a U.S. Army Veteran, medically discharged due to an injury sustained while serving on active duty. He served as an OB/GYN in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before emigrating with his wife, Albertine, and their six children, to escape violence. As a disabled person, securing his current work as a nursing assistant and medical interpreter was not easy, and finding affordable housing appropriate for their family size had seemed “an impossible dream in our current situation.”

This Pacific home will be Delta’s third full-home build in the nine-home Veterans project, their sixth annual local Habitat home and Delta’s 262nd home built in partnership with Habitat for Humanity worldwide. This year, more than 2,400 Delta employees will build or renovate homes in four cities across the U.S., as well as China, and Mexico—leading the way among companies dedicated with Habitat to creating a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

WHAT:Habitat for Humanity and Delta Air Lines raise the first wall to kick off a Blitz Build on a Veteran’s home in Pacific, Wash.

WHO: Interview/ Photo Opportunities

Brett D’Antonio, Interim CEO, Habitat SKC

Jean-Jacques Kayembe, Future Homeowner

Commander Leingang, Executive Director, USO Northwest

Representative Kristine Reeves, WA House of Representatives, District 30

Mayor Leanne Guier, City of Pacific

Barry Matthews, Program Manager - Community Engagement, Delta Air Lines

David Bertis and Kelly Bishop, project coordinators, Delta Air Lines

Flag Raising, Auburn High School Junior ROTC

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018

9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Run of Show:

9:30 a.m. – Call to order/National Anthem/Flag-Raising

9:35 a.m. – Remarks from VIPs & elected officials

10:15 a.m. – Wall raising, group photos, interviews

11:00 a.m. – Lunch served for all

WHERE: 759 1st Ave E, Pacific, WA, 98047

RSVP: Habitat Seattle-King County: Andy Varyu, andy.varyu@habitatskc.org, (206) 866-7599

Delta Air Lines: Liz Savadelis: liz.savadelis@delta.com, (404) 764-9194

Image via Habitat for Humanity