Late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Habitat took inventory on their losses from the theft. Over $20,000 in tools and building materials were stolen. All the office equipment in the office trailers was either stolen or destroyed, including fax machines, easels, white boards, office refrigerators and microwaves. All seven tractor-trailers were destroyed. Habitat has made a decision to replace them with a more secure form of storage, all-steel roll-offs, which are valued at $8,000 each ($56,000 total). Partial list of equipment to be replaced

Thanks to the St. Louis news media, the community has begun to respond to Habitat’s plight. Three area companies have stepped in with donations to help replace the tools. Home Depot, and Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse have approached Habitat for Humanity St. Louis to help replace some of the missing tools. Citigroup has offered to make a donation and is collecting donations from their employees. In addition, the organization has been receiving calls from individuals offering to help.

These generous donations will help recover some the missing items. Habitat for Humanity St. Louis is appealing to the construction community and general public to help replace the remaining stolen items to keep the “Blitz Build” on-schedule for July. Habitat is also looking for information related to the break-ins. The organization depends on donations to provide affordable housing in St. Louis City and County. Donations can be made by calling (314) 371-0400, or by visiting Habitat for Humanity’s headquarters at 3763 Forest Park Avenue in midtown. Monetary donations can also be made on Habitat for Humanity’s website, www.habitatstl.org.

The 2004 Blitz Build is Habitat for Humanity’s largest build to-date. In just one week in July, Habitat will put twenty homes “under-roof”. The interiors will be finished on a regular build schedule in August and September. The houses will make-up Habitat for Humanity’s first ever-contiguous block of homes. The area is one block east of Grand Avenue and bounded by Bacon, Coleman, St. Louis Avenue, and Montgomery.

Habitat for Humanity St. Louis is a not-for-profit, ecumenical housing ministry working in partnership with individuals and communities of all faiths to improve living conditions and provide affordable housing in the St. Louis community. Habitat for Humanity sponsors, volunteers, and partner families work side-by-side to build new homes. Each homeowner families invests 450 hours of “sweat equity” into their home and other projects. Sponsors include corporations, organizations, religious groups, and individuals. To date, Habitat for Humanity St. Louis has built 145 homes in the St. Louis area. Habitat for Humanity St. Louis regularly ranks among the top Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the country.