From the home office…
Before we know it, Bridge to Biloxi (B2B) will be completing our most ambitious project to date…rebuilding the East Biloxi home of Cynthia and Dan…which was only a dream four months ago. We have developed a loyal and dedicated following and we have learned a lot along the way…now we’re asking for input from those who have helped us get to this point.
How can we best channel our energy going forward? We are beginning to think about this, considering two time frames – winter/spring 2007 and long term. Can we find the strength to rebuild another home this spring? Are there improvements to our model and how we partner with Hands On Gulf Coast that will ease the task and improve the result? Longer term, do we move to “rebuilding homes in Biloxi, one at a time” or some other goals? Should we consider other types of help we might give to our friends in East Biloxi?
Among other possibilities is to move toward a role of helping give the children of East Biloxi a better chance, overcoming the cycle of poverty.
What are your thoughts? Please add comments to this Blog, and thanks for your continued interest in helping restore the community of Biloxi.
- Peter Hilton for B2B
October 28th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
My daughter Keey and I were scheduled to go down to work this weekend (10/27-) but a prolonged illness prohibited us from following through on our plans.
The tangible, concrete nature of rebuilding a home for a family speaks so deeply us. It feels like an authentic way to partner with families whose lives have been so effected by Hurricane Katrina– This is what we do for our neighbor when their home is in disarray or destroyed– we help rebuild. It’s about sharing that connection- that we all need/value a safe solid home for our families.
Although I don’t know what it is like from a management perspective, I think the rebuilding of homes for families– one at at time– is a very good, concrete paradigm to funnel our energies, money and time. This first effort was launched with a minimum of “splash” about raising money. I think the story of the work and its mutual impact will provide a foundation for funding a next endeavor. And I know many that would like to be a part of that.
My thanks to all of you who have made this vision of interfaith work, partnering with Biloxi, a reality.
October 28th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
I couldn’t agree more, Tracey…I feel it’s so important for both the giver and the receiver of gifts of this nature to experience the effects directly. By helping as givers, we become the receivers of genuine, humble, and actual gratitude of strangers who hug us, bless us, love us for whatever we do and offer, and that’s a very powerful motivator for continued giving.
I’m sorry to hear that your trip has been dashed, and hope you can maybe participate at a later point…
In the meantime, regarding future fundraising, we’ve gotten a nice commitment from Tricon church that will help Bridge to Biloxi continue its efforts after this project is done.