(from May Newsletter)
In March of this year, two of Blueprint’s week-long youth construction camps were cancelled due to the covid-19 virus. During spring, the majority of our work is replacing roofs in anticipation of working on the interiors of the same homes during the summer. While spring camps had been cancelled, it was still our intention to move forward with summer camps. Blueprint's plan was to restore 18 homes and, with 30 church groups bringing over a thousand teens and adults, this was a reasonable goal. As our team continued to pray and plan for our summer camps, it became evident these unprecedented times would leave us no option but to cancel our overnight camps.
Through the encouragement, support, and generosity of those 30 churches, we pivoted to help meet the needs of our neighbors. We had supplies – masks, food, toilet paper, cleaning supplies – that had been ordered and ready for the now cancelled camps. We delighted in getting these resources to ministry partners working to meet the increased demands of families in need.
Since many of our homeowners are elderly and live alone, Blueprint’s team began calling all our homeowners to let them know we were thinking of them and to assess any immediate needs. Our mission is "Restoring homes. Restoring hope.” so sharing hope was our main priority during the first weeks of the shelter-in-place orders. Our staff and volunteers called families and sent cards of encouragement. Blueprint volunteers shopped and delivered groceries and meals. A local pharmacy volunteered by making baskets filled with health and wellness items – items much needed by our homeowners.
Two weeks ago, our construction team began replacing the roof at the home of the Peña family. These hard working men finished that roof in six days! Two friends of Blueprint, who served as summer staff in 2019, have come on to help us meet our goal of roofing 18 homes in the greatest need. We are working on a plan to bring in local volunteers to assist in the work of completing these roofs before the summer ends.
So we are moving forward, not in our plans, but faithfully trusting in the perfect plan of our God. We have been blessed watching God’s faithfulness be revealed. We have been blessed by our family of homeowners who are so grateful for our presence and who have been checking on us! We have been blessed by the churches offering encouragement, writing letters, and delivering food. We have been blessed by the generosity of so many to ensure the restoration of substandard homes in San Antonio. Local churches and volunteers calling and expressing their readiness to “get this done” have blessed us.
With a grateful heart, the Blueprint Team and I thank you.
- Dee Dee Sedgwick,
Executive Director
