Cross-country cyclists stop in St. George to renovate homes with Habitat for Humanity

Bike & Build cross-country bicyclists
Bike & Build, a group of young-adult volunteers, bicycling cross-country from Jacksonville, Fla., to raise awareness for affordable housing in America. Location and date not provided | Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – On Thursday, a group of young-adult volunteers will arrive in St. George as part of a 10-week bicycle journey from Jacksonville, Fla. In St. George, the team will help repair and renovate several homes in the Paradise Palms retirement community on North Dixie Downs Road and will host a discussion on affordable housing issues at the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Washington.

The bicyclists are part of a national nonprofit organization known as Bike & Build; they are riding across the nation and assisting in service projects along the way in order to raise awareness for affordable housing projects.

Here in St. George, Bike & Build will be working closely with local volunteers.

“We’re going to replace a roof,” Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah Executive Director Michael Gburski said, “strip it down right to its paper and start fresh with new shingles for a low-income retiree.”

In addition, the Bike & Build team will be replacing a dilapidated deck for another family in the neighborhood.

The group began their journey on May 16 in Jacksonville, Fla., and plans to arrive in Monterey, Calif., on Aug. 4; by the time they reach St. George, the riders will have pedaled nearly 3,000 miles.

As an organization, Bike & Build has volunteered over 120,000 hours and raised over $4 million to assist in affordable housing projects.

Event recap

What: Bike & Build discussion on affordable housing issues. They also welcome volunteers to help repair and renovate retiree homes at Paradise Palms.

When: Thursday – Friday, Jul. 18-19. Work project during the day; discussion meeting Thursday at 7 p.m.

Where: Work project at Paradise Palms retirement community on North Dixie Downs Road (contact Habitat to volunteer); discussion meeting at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 611 N. 2450 E., in Washington

Contact and Website: Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah at 435-674-7669.

Cost: Donations of time and money are welcome.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.

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