OKCPD Volunteers to Help Frame a Habitat Home Tomorrow, Oct. 10, as Part of ‘National Faith and Blue’ Initiative

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK —For the sixth year in a row, more than 50 Faith & Blue Weekend volunteers from the Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) will help frame a Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity (COHFH) house beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Oct. 10, in Cornerstone Creek at the Cornerstone Creek affordable-housing development in northwest Oklahoma City.

Capt. Michelle Henderson said OKCPD volunteers enjoy participating in the National Faith & Blue Weekend and are excited to return to see the progress at COHFH’s Cornerstone Creek neighborhood.

Cornerstone Creek is Habitat’s largest and most ambitious affordable housing development, and approximately 35 families have already purchased homes and moved in.

“National Faith & Blue Weekend is special because it is a faith-based initiative where law enforcement joins local clergy to help communities nationwide by promoting faith, fellowship, resolution and reconciliation,” Henderson said. “We believe Cornerstone Creek is also special because we love the idea of an affordable housing community where hardworking homeowners are invested and proud of their homes and community. These communities pull on our heartstrings because we often see ourselves in the hard-working families at Habitat.”

The house that OKCPD volunteers will frame is being bought by a young married couple, Raudel J.V. and LisaMary M.A., who left behind lives of hardship and limited opportunities in Cuba more than three years ago to start new lives in the U.S.

In his Habitat New Home Build application, Raudel wrote that he and his wife’s greatest goal is to build a solid foundation where they can continue to grow, finish their education and contribute to their community.

“It still feels incredible to us that something so good could happen, but we are ready to work with heart and determination to make it happen,” Raudel said.

Part of tomorrow’s frame day will include a light breakfast for OKCPD volunteers, a burrito lunch and music by Sgt. Travis Hinton, who will bring his talents as a DJ to the worksite.

OKCPD Considering Expanding Volunteering for Habitat Throughout the Year

Henderson said OKCPD is in talks with COHFH about expanding its volunteering efforts throughout the year with Habitat’s Critical Home Repair program – a repair and weatherization initiative designed to help low-income homeowners in Central Oklahoma who struggle to maintain their homes due to income, age, disability and other limitations.

“Everyone at OKCPD loves volunteering with Habitat so much that we’d like to help on projects from start to finish,” Henderson said. “We believe it is important to volunteer because it helps to break down barriers and allows our officers to interact with residents in the communities we serve. Helping Habitat is such a fun and rewarding experience; we want to be able to help on a continuous basis.”

To get involved, visit: www.cohfh.org. To volunteer, visit: www.helpmyhabitat.com. To donate, visit: www.cohfh.org/make-a-donation/, or text makehomehappen to 50155 to give now.