FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Allie Raque
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville
Marketing and Communications Manager
Office: 502.805.1665
araque@louisvillehabitat.org
Rita Barry-Corke
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
Vice President of Media Relations
Cell: 860-304-1807
rita@taps.org
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and Habitat for Humanity Give Back to the Richmont Terrace Neighborhood
On July 11th, TAPS Young Adult Program partnered with Habitat for Humanity
to complete beautification projects in the Richmont Terrace neighborhood.
LOUISVILLE, KY – On July 11th, TAPS Young Adult Program joined Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville to focus on beautification projects and neighborhood safety in the Richmont Terrace neighborhood.
The volunteers painted park benches and a swing-set, installed a little free library, landscaped around the community playground, and completed other light exterior clean-up work. The volunteer event gave the young adults the opportunity to create shared experiences and witness first-hand how their hard work will impact the Richmont Terrace residents.
“It is an honor to partner with the TAPS Young Adult Program for a day of service in the Richmont Terrace neighborhood,” said Rob Locke, Habitat CEO. “Each year, Habitat brings people together from different backgrounds, countries and cultures.” Locke added, “We discover through the process of working together and breaking bread that we turn “you” and “me” into “us” and “we”. Through this, we realize we are far more alike than we are different.”
TAPS is a national organization that provides compassionate care for the families of those grieving the loss of a military loved one. The TAPS Young Adult Program serves surviving children and siblings who are 18 – 24 years old. The organization is hosting a 4-day Retreat in Louisville from July 9 – 12. A TAPS Young Adult Retreat is designed to bring together small groups of survivors who share similar losses to further build a sense of community. Each TAPS Retreat includes physical and emotional movement, time for conversation and reflection, and unique travel experiences.
“Having this opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity offers a rich and unique experience for TAPS surviving children and siblings to serve the Louisville community,” said Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of TAPS. “Through service to others our young people honor their fallen heroes and strengthen bonds with each other. We are so proud of our young survivors who have sacrificed so much, yet are so willing to help others.”
The volunteer event was held in the same neighborhood where Habitat built a community playground as part of Mayor’s 2018 “Give A Day – Week of Service.”
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville will build twenty new homes over the next three years in the Richmont Terrace neighborhood. To date, five of the twenty homes have been dedicated. The Richmont Terrace development supports Habitat’s initiative to expand economic and racial diversity in stable, more established neighborhoods.
“Each year, Habitat brings people together from different backgrounds, countries and cultures. We discover through the process of working together and breaking bread that we turn “you” and “me” into “us” and “we”. Through this, we realize we are far more alike than we are different.”
About Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville focuses on bringing people together to build homes, community and hope through affordable housing solutions of home ownership, community development and home repair since 1985. In 2016, Habitat launched the Love Your Neighborhood Program, a holistic approach to creating change in our neighborhoods that have the greatest need for stability. The program focuses on community development and home repair in low-income, underserved neighborhoods where Habitat has an investment. The goal is to increase pride in the neighborhood and improve the entire streetscape, while creating a safer and healthier environment. For more information, visit www.louisvillehabitat.org.
About Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 80,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800. 959.TAPS (8277).