GLASSBORO – Bundled up in coats, hats and gloves, nearly 20 women from South Jersey and beyond stepped around nails and wooden beams as they entered a house under construction on the last day of February.
A chilly wind blew through the house’s frame, and a hum of excitement mixed with the sounds of hammers.
PHOTO GALLERY: Catholic Daughters of the Americas in Glassboro
“We are so pleased to be able to help build this home,” Theresa Dieterich of Mary, Mother of Mercy Parish, Glassboro, said to her fellow Catholic Daughters of the Americas and men and women from Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity.
Dieterich, N.J. state regent of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas who is from Court Blessed Katharine Drexel 2327, was among those on hand to present a $50,000 check to Habitat staff to help fund the construction of the home being built for a family in need. The State Court of New Jersey, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, give in all five (arch)dioceses of the Garden State to varied causes working with numerous organizations through its Residence Fund.
“The Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Habitat for Humanity are both faith-based organizations. Both organizations answer Christ’s call to help those most in need,” Dieterich said. “Our mission is to embrace the principle of faith working through love in promotion of justice, equality and the advancement of human rights and dignity for all.”
Ashley Griffiths, executive director of Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity, thanked the Catholic Daughters of the Americas for their contribution. In addition to Glassboro, the others courts and state officers in attendance hailed from Collings Lakes, Gloucester City, Williamstown, Woodbridge and Avon.
With $200,000 typically being the budget for each house construction, the donation will cover about a quarter of the costs, she said.
“To have this money is huge,” Griffiths said. “Construction costs, as everyone knows, have steadily increased. Yes, it’s come down a bit since COVID, but the prices have not returned to where they were pre-pandemic. That, plus rising interest rates, have negatively impacted what we do. So the more funding we get for the construction costs, the more homes we can build and, therefore, serve more families per year.”
The house is being built for a family in need – a father, mother and three children. Griffiths explained that everyone who qualifies for a home with Habitat for Humanity is required to give 350 hours to working with the organization on their own home, or another Habitat project. They are also required to fulfill financial education and literacy courses.
“They are really doing their part to set themselves up for success,” she said. As for the family designated to receive the Glassboro house, “They already have put in their hours, and they want to come back more to continue helping build their home.”
Both Dieterich and Griffiths emphasized the need for community partnerships in carrying out their organizations’ missions.
“We are here to partner with people because every single one of us has the same value as a person. To us, that partnership is rooted in God’s love,” Griffiths said. “Everyone should have the opportunity to live with dignity and in an affordable place. God loves every single person equally.”
Dieterich said the good works and partnership could be summed up in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas motto: “Unity and Charity.”
What You Can Do
For more information on the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, including how to become a member, visit catholicdaughters.org or contact Theresa Dieterich at trdieterich@yahoo.com.
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