Work Teams ‘Raise the Roof’ on Two More Homes
Homeowners and Future Homeowners work alongside volunteers to raise the trusses on the Alberti home.
On a warm Saturday morning in early February, volunteer work teams from HNTB, Suncoast Credit Union, University of Tampa Women’s Soccer and University of South Florida Alpha Phi Omega installed trusses to ‘raise the roof’ on two more Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County homes! Working in partnership with homeowner candidates Alina Alberti and Anna Edwards, more than 50 volunteers worked diligently to build sturdy roof framing that will provide affordable, sustainable shelter for the Alberti and Edwards families.
“This is surreal, I can’t believe that we are building my home” remarked Anna as she worked with the volunteer team. Alina, equally excited, recruited volunteers from her employer, Suncoast Credit Union, to join her in building. Even Miriam Baker, who recently puchased her home, joined the volunteer effort. Although Miriam completed the required 300 “sweat equity” hours to build her own home just months ago, she did not want to miss the opportunity to show her support for other Habitat homeowner candidates. Hammer in hand, Miriam put her recently acquired homebuilding skills into practice installing the trusses on the Alberti family home.
UT Women’s Soccer Team and Alpha Phi Omega at USF raise the trusses on the Edwards home.
The Edwards family home, the first Habitat home built in West Tampa, is one small part of the significant investment and development planned and underway in West Tampa. The Alberti family residence, under construction across town, is being sponsored with a generous donation from Publix Super Markets Charities. Alina, already a fan of the supermarket, never misses an opportunity to tell volunteers on the work site “I love Publix!”. Alina and Anna each plan to purchase their homes in late April. Home dedications will be held in late April, as well, to celebrate their life-changing accomplishments.
