A rash of reality TV shows take a family in need away from their house and insert builders, volunteers and neighbors to transform the home. Afterwards, the overwhelmed family comes back on camera teary-eyed and shocked, creating heart-wrenching moments.
Independence Township’s Barb Deradoorian experiences that feeling more often than most people through her volunteering as a chapter specialist with the Thrivent Builds Program, an initiative aiming to build 500 new homes annually for those in need by 2008.
According to Deradoorian, Thrivent Builds is part of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a fraternal benefit organization trying to reach out to the community, not just Lutherans. As stated on their Web site, Thrivent financial is a not-for-profit organization of nearly three million members that generates resources by selling financial projects. The funds are intended to help its members make a difference in communities.
As part of the Thrivent Builds Homes program, Deradoorian’s work exemplifies the relationship between Thrivent and Habitat for Humanity, who are committed to providing decent housing for families in need across the nation. She is a key member to a new four year, $100 million initiative called Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.
‘This is one of two pilot programs for the Thrivent Builds Homes program,? said Deradoorian. ‘They looked for regions with active Habitat affiliates that were doing well and that overlapped with Thrivent chapters.?
Through the collaboration just this month two houses were dedicated in Pontiac, bringing over six months of hard work on those projects to fruition.
‘You get to work with the families and see how excited they are,? said Deradoorian. ‘The dedication is awesome because the family has worked so hard. For many of us, we’ve always been in a house of ours or our parents. For many of them, they haven’t had a home ever.?
Deradoorian’s time is spent working as a liaison with Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County. Her efforts were recognized when she appeared on the cover of the Winter 2005 ‘Thrivent: A Magazine Serving The Lutheran Community.?
‘It was humbling when they phoned to interview me and set up the photo shoot. They didn’t say exactly it would be me on the cover? We found out when my daughter pulled it from the mailbox,? Deradoorian said.
To Deradoorian, the nature of the work done through Thrivent Builds and Habitat avoid many of the pitfalls of some charitable organizations.
‘This embodies what I value in charitable organizations. It’s not just a handout,? she said. ‘You can give people stuff all you want, but until you get them to put in some effort of their own, there will be no change. It changes their whole life putting effort into the home.?
Although the family in need receives the house, Deradoorian believes the benefits stretch to all those involved.
‘It gives me a better feeling when I know I’ve done work and made that difference,? said Deradoorian. ‘This opportunity helps inexperienced people contribute and feel like it. There are a lot of people in Habitat who’ve never swung a hammer.
‘I think people (today) are looking for a purpose and a tangible way to make a difference in the lives of others,? she added.
Working as the chapter specialist takes a varying amount of time depending on the season. Deradoorian expects a busy January preparing for the three homes applied for this year.
‘I’m going to continue to act as a chapter specialist and see my role as getting churches on the fence educated about what we can do and get them to participate,? said Deradoorian.
Like many involved with Habitat or Thrivent, Deradoorian has done her share of building through which she learned skills on the table saw and other various powertools.
‘I’ve roofed a porch, hung siding and installed door knobs. I’m pretty handy, but it isn’t my love. I spend my time on organization and education because I feel I make a bigger contribution there then on site,? said Deradoorian.
Just becoming involved with the new iniative with Thrivent and Habitat for Humanity was a coincidence in itself which represented God’s work to Deradoorian.
‘When I phoned the Habitat affiliate to see how my church could be involved, they were looking for people in the Lutheran community to work with and reach out right at that time,? said Deradoorian, whose phone call came on virtually the same day the alliance was announced.
Deradoorian’s altruism dates back to college at the Unversity of Michigan when she helped build a few homes with Habitat. Her interest was ignited again after she read an article in The Clarkston News in 1997 about people trying to establish a Habitat chapter in the area. That led to her starting the North Oakland affiliate for Habitat for Humanity in 1997. Since then, the North and South Habitat affiliates have merged into one, said Deradoorian.
The Habitat experience is one Deradoorian enjoys sharing with her children, Jacob and Rachel. The youngsters help by putting stamps on envelopes, collating pages and even bringing lunch out to sites.
‘They’ve been understanding about how I need to work and have my attention away from them sometimes. I think they get it,? said Deradoorian. ‘It shows me doing what I want to teach them. This gives them a tangible thing. They see me and my husband work.?
Another lesson of taking care of possessions and charity is taught when the laundry is done. Deradoorian takes all the money left in clothing by family members and puts it into a small Habitat donation house.
Deradoorian and her husband John moved to Independence Township in 1997. They have two children: Jacob, 5, and Rachel, 8, who attend Cedar Crest Academy. The Deradoorians attend Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Orion.