
February was Habitat for Humanity month at United Church of Marco Island. Habitat month is an annual occurrence at UCMI. The history of the partnership between United Church and Habitat goes all the way back to 1977. Dr. Richard T. Disseler, the Senior Minister at UCMI at the time, was in the process of putting an addition on to the Administration building and enlarging the Chancel. During that process, United Church thought they have been blessed as a church, why not give a blessing to someone else, a Habitat home for a migrant family in Immokalee. Reverend Disseler took the idea to the Board of Trustees, and before too long, thanks to a generous benefactor, the amount needed at the time, was raised to build a home. Soon the excitement in the congregation caught on, and enough funds were raised for a second home. Before long, UCMI challenged other churches on the island who accepted the challenge and were successful, again and again. Thus started the relationship with Habitat, UCMI and Collier County. Since then, UCMI has been directly responsible for 24 homes and $1.1m. In the last of the 19 homes are 34 adults and 45 children. These folks are working at local businesses on and off the island,

Pastor Mark Williams, presenting a check of $100,000 to Reverend Lisa Lefkow, of Habitat of Collier County. Pictured left to right, Curt Gillespie, Chairman of UCMI Habitat Campaign, Reverend Lisa Lefkow, and Reverend Dr. Mark Williams, Senior minster of United Church.
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