Building Blitz Event Kids kick-off of Habitat for Humanity Annual “Act, Speak, Build” Week

WHAT: Building Block Blitz using Lego blocks To benefit Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County Teams of youth create fun houses out of building blocks

WHO: Youth, ages 6-14, can register as teams at www.habitat-mc.org $25 to register, Free and open to the public to watch & booth events.

WHEN: Sunday, September 26, 1010 Check-in: noon Event: 1pm – 3pm

WHERE: Westfield Montgomery 1701 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, Maryland 20817

PUBLIC CONTACT: Jessica at 301-990-0014 ext. 15

For the fourth year, Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, Maryland Inc’s (HFH-MC) biggest local youth event – the “Building Block Blitz,” kicks off the celebration of “Act! Speak! Build! Week” Habitat for Humanity International’s youth advocacy campaign. On Sunday, Sept. 26 approximately 30 teams of children, ages 6-18 will build homes out of building blocks to benefit HFH-MC. The event is being held at Westfield’s Montgomery, which is a sponsor of the event. Onlookers from across Montgomery County will cheer on the registered teams of two or three children wearing plastic hardhats and armed with 400 building blocks. That’s over 12,000 building blocks in busy hands, each team building a creative building block home during one hour.

The event emulates Habitat for Humanity’s celebrated ‘Blitz Builds” where numerous homes are built quickly, by round-the-clock volunteer efforts. Participants are asked for a minimum donation of $25. They will receive free t-shirts and gift bags from sponsors. Member of the community can enjoy other activities including booths such as a Habitat information table, a cookie decorating station, and a “Creativity Table” for builders of all ages. Habitat for Humanity volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and sign kids up for free membership in HFH-MC’s Youth Group. The event is open to the public, and seeks to educate youth about poverty and the need for affordable housing.

The first Building Block Blitz, held in the spring of 2006, was the idea of a local student Ben Lewis who, with the help of some friends, launched the event. HFH-MC and local students have risen over $15,000 though the Building Block Blitz since 2006 and over 300 students have been engaged in the work of HFH-MC though the event. Lewis and HFH-MC received a “Community Service Grant” from the Washington Redskins Foundation in 2006 for the inaugural event. The “Building Block Blitz Build” is sponsored by the Westfield Montgomery. Participant registrations will be accepted the day of the event, but pre-registration is encouraged. Registration and event information can be found online at www.habitat-mc.org

HFH-MC is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and is dedicated to reducing substandard housing by providing a hand up rather than a hand out to help low-income families realize the dream of homeownership.