<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2UFH5t_0uF1vn6m00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2UFH5t_0uF1vn6m00" width="650" height="488" ><figcaption>This year, 45 construction team members worked on 12 sites in Benzie and northern Manistee counties the week of June 17 as part of the annual &nbsp;St. Andrews Mission Project. (Courtesy photo/Leah Dankert) </figcaption></figure> For the 16th year dozens of volunteers came together to help make&nbsp;Benzie area homes “safer, drier and warmer.” That’s the goal of Stamp, the St. Andrews Mission Project. It is led by St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beulah, but the project includes volunteers from across the community and relies on the partnership with Benzie Area Christian Neighbors to identify the neighbors who are most in need. Donations have come from several churches and individuals totaling over $10,000 annually. “This community is very generous. I’ve written 42 thank you notes to donors and that’s just the people I could identify,” said project co-chair Sally Bobek. This year, 45 construction team members worked on 12 sites in Benzie and northern Manistee counties the week of June 17. They replaced leaking windows and doors and built ramps at homes with handicapped family members. Originally envisioned by mission-minded church members like Jeannine Chapman and the Rev. Pam and Jim&nbsp;Pendexter, Stamp has worked on almost 200 homes over the years. Craftsmen like Eldon Miller, Eric Neilson, Dennis Keeney, Fred Kamper, Ken Waldrad&nbsp;and Claude Vander Ploeg led the construction teams, while Marti Alexander, Bonnie Garbrecht, Pam and Jim Pendexter organized 40 volunteers in the kitchen preparing meals. Chris&nbsp;Jahr made sure meals and building materials were delivered to the work sites. Co-chair Chris&nbsp;Bobek spoke for all the volunteers when he said, “It’s really pretty simple. We just like to help people.” The project is overseen by the church’s Mission Ministry Team, led by chairperson Bonnie Garbrecht. “It is just so exciting and rewarding to see it all come together every year, making a difference in the lives of our neighbors,” she said. The project is an example of the the community's "commitment to serve our neighbors in the spirit of Jesus who cared for the hurting, fed the hungry and brought healing to the sick," said The Rev. Dr. Anne&nbsp;Hebert, pastor of St. Andrews Church. "We are simply following in the footsteps of Jesus, the carpenter’s son, using our God-given talents to serve others.” </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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St. Andrews Mission Project aims to make area homes 'safer, drier and warmer'

For the 16th year dozens of volunteers came together to help make Benzie area homes “safer, drier and warmer” through the St. Andrews Mission Project.