A house is erected in Paramus at Home Depot!

Sunday, February 19 2006, 05:00 PM EST

Contributed by: Mel Fabrikant

Operation Home Delivery

The Presbytery of the Palisades (which has her office at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Paramus), under the leadership of Rev. Richard Hong, First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, joined with Habitat for Humanity and opted to build a house for a family in Lafayette, Louisiana. This would benefit a Hurricane Katrina displaced family. With Executive Director Lisa M. Hartley of HfH, 10 Banta Place- Suite 105, Hackensack at the helm, the group called for volunteers from within the Presbytery and also reached out to shoppers at Paramus Home Depot where the construction took place.

Bitter cold weather in the 20's, snow and wind gusts up to 35 mph did not daunt the determined volunteers. With thermal clothes, caps, hoods, gloves and ear muffs, these stalwart amateur builders stuck to the schedule of erecting a house in 6 hours.

Operation Home Delivery

The work was divided into 2 three hour shifts and only 20 workers were allowed in the fenced off compound during a shift. It was the job of Mr. Hong and Ms. Hartley to get the 100 volunteers assigned to working details and also to their safety. The brisk wind blew items around, but the workers managed to cope. The two most used conveniences were a portable generator and a Port-o-John ? that bitter cold weather took its toll!

Inside Home Depot, manager Steve Whitehouse allowed tables to be set up manned by the Presbytery and the Paramus High School Habitat for Humanity Club (under the leadership of Guidance Counselor and Councilwoman Connie Wagner). The groups displayed materials and asked for donations of goods and/or money. They were successful in both endeavors as the busy shoppers plied by.

The newly erected house will be collapsed to fit into a cargo container for easy shipment and on site final construction.

Anyone wishing to donate money to this worthwhile project can make out a check (payable to the Presbytery of the Palisades) and send to:

Richard Hong
First Presbyterian Church of Englewood
150 E. Palisade Ave.
Englewood, NJ 07631

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