Downtown church lays frames for West Side homes

Every Sunday, the downtown congregation of First Presbyterian Church gets together to talk about one of the more famous carpenters in history.

On March 1, as part of an annual partnership with Habitat for Humanity called Project 240, church members gave the old trade a try. The project turned the First Presbyterian parking lot into a construction site as about 300 volunteers worked to build the frames of five Habitat houses within the span of 240 minutes.

Interim Pastor Ron Scates made his way through the crowd of volunteers as music blasted overhead.

This is absolutely awesome, he said. Just to see all these folks, Id like to say, 'walking the walk instead of 'talking the talk. Its easy to go to church then go home but these folks are sacrificing their time, their energy. Theres a lot of other things to do on a Sunday afternoon.

Habitat for Humanity official Stephanie Wiese said Project 240 has been going strong for four years. Habitat works with about 15,000 volunteers each year to build apprximately 55 homes throughout San Antonio.

Habitat needs lots of supporters, so we cant do it without the help of churches like First Presbyterian, Wiese said. The more the merrier.

Ruth Bixcul, 34, and her son, John Saenz, 11, will live in one of the homes assembled at the event. Bixcul, who came to San Antonio from Houston about a decade ago, will live with Saenz near JT Brackenridge Elementary school on the near West Side.

Its really exciting, especially bringing our kids so they can see what its like to be part of building homes for people like us people who need a home, an affordable home, said Bixcul, whos already logged about 300 sweat equity hours with Habitat, where future homeowners also work alongside volunteers.

Saenz has been with his mom every step of the way.

It feels good to be working on this house, he said. (We) have an opportunity here.

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Downtown church lays frames for West Side homes