ATLANTA (March 16, 2020) — Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford issued the following statement regarding the COVID-19 pandemic:

In recent days and weeks, a wave of closures, cancellations and postponements has unfurled as the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged. Those decisions — taken individually, totaled in the aggregate — have been stunning acts of solidarity, expressions of concern and collective responsibility for the health and well-being of our communities and our neighbors.

That sense of connectedness and a willingness to actively help shape the world around us for the better have always been a hallmark of Habitat and supporters like you. They are deep in our DNA. They are what have sustained our work with families for more than 40 years, they are what will ensure we weather this unprecedented challenge, and they are what will be needed — more than ever — when we all emerge from this current crisis.

We have always believed that we will only find our way forward together. It’s true every day — and will be even truer now. The need we work so hard every day to meet will only grow.

When any disaster hits — a storm, a disease, a financial crisis — it is always those who struggle most who suddenly find themselves struggling even more. They are our neighbors. Families already living in conditions that aren’t conducive to good health, those whose finances have long been taxed beyond measure because housing eats up too large a portion of their income, those newly vulnerable because of the economic shock waves that something like this so often sets off.

As this disease has spread, we have implemented many changes ourselves, and we continue to monitor and wrestle with the uncharted territory we all find ourselves in now. Our utmost priority at all times is protecting the people and communities we serve, and that has meant pausing some activities. When the time is right, Habitat for Humanity stands ready to once again accelerate our efforts with renewed energy and commitment. We are so desperately needed. Because this should be a world where everyone has a decent place to live. It should be a world where we care for each other, where we recognize that we are all connected, and where we come together in times of crisis — and stay together when the urgency has lifted but the need remains.

As much as we wish there might be a playbook for the situation we all find ourselves in, it has not been written yet. What has been written is the command to love our neighbors and to act with kindness wherever we can. We thank you for the close and loving global community that you continue to help us build, and we appreciate your unwavering support.

• We are connecting with all of our Partner Families.  We know that they may be dramatically impacted by the economics of this situation.  We are gathering information about their specific circumstances and we may come back to you, our supporters, to ask for your support for them in the months ahead.
• We are still accepting applications to apply to our program, but not doing in person interviews.  If you're interested in applying, contact Cheri Johnson HERE.
• All events and meetings for March and April have been canceled.
• All volunteer activities for March and April have been canceled.
• We have some sub contractors doing some work right now.  Those subs are monitoring the environments closely and are able to maintain social distance.
• We are a small, but mighty, staff.  We have the ability to socially distance ourselves at work.  We ask that if you need to meet with staff, you call or e-mail.  You can find contact information on our website:  www.habitatricecounty.org

• Sara Abukaff (Partner Family in Morristown from 2011).  Sara works for Rice County Public Health and her job is going into peoples homes.  Her husband, Jason, has used up vacation and sick days due to several back surgeries over the last year so his hours going forward are in question.  Their son, Brody, has severe respiratory issues and is vulnerable.  They cannot risk getting germs into their home.
• The Benson Family (Partner Family in Dundas from 2014).  Many of you have been praying for Baby Iris who has been a champion fighting many health issues.  This virus is now more of a reason for this family to "shelter in place" and not risk any germs to come into their house.  Even though they have a large family, this can feel very isolating.
• Khara Huffstutter (Partner Family in Nerstrand from 2005) and Tamitha Olson (Partner Family in Dundas from 2008) both work in the health field.  The health industry is being leaned upon extensively in these days.
• Nick Dominick (Partner Family in Morristown from 2014) and his wife both work in restaurants and now have a much lower cash flow. 
• Becky -Zoubek (Partner Family in Faribault from 2010) is doing fine with her employment at the Work Force Center but she's just trying to keep up with the demands at the Work Force Center because there are so many people in a panic about their employment.

Lent is a season of 40 days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, and ends the Saturday before Easter. 

It is a time of preparation, of self-examination and of reflection as we journey toward the cross.

The seven devotions in this collection, designed so that you can use one for each week of Lent, focus on ways we can honor Jesus by caring for others.

You may wish to use the positive actions to focus on ways you can draw nearer to Jesus during this holy season.