The Mercer Chapter of Habitat for Humanity recently held a luncheon on Feb. 26 from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in Connell Student Center Conference Room I on the Macon campus to raise funds for its 2009 Mercer Build.   The luncheon was corporately sponsored Five Star Travels and Scarbrough Insurance Agency.  The delicious meal was catered MAHFH parther Bethel CME Church.

Since the late 1990s, Mercer and its campus chapter have partnered with Macon's First Baptist Church and Highland Hills Baptist Church to jointly construct eight decent and affordable homes with and for deserving families. Faculty and staff gifts given to the chapter went  towards the cost of constructing this year's house, which got under way on Feb. 3 and is being completed the week of May 25th.

Chapter President, Colleen Johnson along with chapter members organized this event that hosted 50 faculty and staff its first year.  Since returning from Christmas break, the chapter met weekly on Tuesday nights to process the event plan involving officers and members in such logistical areas as marketing, catering, event program and personal invitations.  The event was covered by two local TV stations.

The Mercer luncheon for the Priceless Gifts Campaign featured a surprise guest, ZACH BONNER who walked from Tallahassee to Atlanta last fall raising awareness and money for homeless children and specifically Macon Habitat for Humanity during his walk in Bibb County. Zach useshis Little Red Wagon Foundation, Inc. to benefit kids in many ways. Zach walked in with a big check for $10,460 to present to Harold Tessendorf, Executive Director and Jim Lidstone, MAHFH Board President. Zach's gift went toward the Mercer build, appropriately a home for five children. Zach, age 11 year addressed the audience stating "When you combine the experience and wisdom of an adult with the spirit of a kid great things can be accomplished."?  Please check out http://www.littleredwagonfoundation.com/ and follow Zach's walk to Washington, DC beginning in May and ending in July. Thanks, Zach, you're an inspiration to all of us and motivation to get out there and get it done.

Funding is complete for the Mercer Build covering the balance of construction budget that will total $75,000 for a five bedroom home.  Those interested in helping financially can go to www.maconhabitat.org, click on the "make your donation here!" link. Contributions can also be mailed to Macon Area Habitat for Humanity, 3225-A Rice Mill Road, Macon, Ga. 31206.