PORT TOWNSEND — Two families broke ground for new homes Saturday, and two more will follow suit as Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County inaugurated its 20th Street building project with the help of church and business partners.
“We don’t know each other, but we’ll be working side by side,” said Wendell Ankeny, a Habitat board member.
“Here’s something six different faiths can agree on. We might not agree on baptism, communion or theology, but we can agree on this.”
The 20th Street project, between Sheridan and Hendricks, will eventually consist of eight houses, four facing south and four facing north.
Ankeny, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, recruited five other churches to help build the first — First Baptist, First Presbyterian, Grace Lutheran, Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and St. Mary Star of the Sea.
Each congregation has pledged $5,000 toward construction costs, Ankeny said.