BCBS, Habitat for Humanity partner to build third home

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s Team Blue employees are providing all the volunteer labor to build a home on Smith Robinson Street in Jackson.

Mississippi Link Newswire

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s Team Blue employees are providing all the volunteer labor to build a home on Smith Robinson Street in Jackson.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s Team Blue employees are providing all the volunteer labor to build a home on Smith Robinson Street in Jackson.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is building its third Habitat home in as many years as part of a Covenant Build project with Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area. The home is under construction at 2916 Smith Robinson St. in Jackson and will provide a home for Bonita Johnson and her three sons.

The Covenant Build project for the family began April 16, and will extend into June.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s Team Blue employees are providing 100 percent of the volunteer labor for the project for up to eight days in April and May, and HFHMCA is leading volunteers through the build process with support from experienced construction professionals. The family is working alongside the Team Blue volunteers throughout the building process, which promotes pride and opportunity of home ownership.

“It was a great day to be Blue. As employees, we had the opportunity to not only work alongside our peers, but also Ms. Johnson, who will soon reside in the home we were helping build. We were able to see the direct impact of our work. It is truly an honor to work for a company that supports good citizenship, stewardship and that values the community in which it resides,” said Daniel Mortimer, a Team Blue volunteer.

“I thoroughly enjoy participating in Habitat for Humanity. It is such a rewarding experience helping a new homeowner watch their dream turn into reality. It is amazing to see a group of people with very little construction experience build a house from start to finish, learn new skills and have fun while doing it. Habitat is a great organization, and I would highly recommend it to others who are looking for volunteer opportunities in the community,” said Sarah Prisock, another Team Blue volunteer.

As an extension of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s efforts to support tobacco-free communities and workplaces across the state, this home and future homes built with the support of the company will be designated tobacco-free homes. Johnson has committed to maintaining a tobacco-free home.

“Our continued support of Habitat for Humanity is rooted in our desire to not only build homes for families that need a healthier environment, but create neighborhoods and communities that support our vision of a healthier Mississippi,” said Carol Pigott, president and CEO of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. “We are proud to provide our support to Bonita as she builds a healthy new home for her family.”

Cindy Griffin, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area, wholeheartedly agrees. “A healthy home is vital for the entire family’s physical and emotional well-being,” she said. “We are grateful to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi and its employees for helping move another local family out of substandard housing and into a decent, affordable home.”

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s Team Blue community service program provides opportunities for employees to work together on a variety of community service projects throughout the year. Employees collectively volunteered more than 3,000 hours of donated time in 2015 to a number of organizations and events in the metro area and across Mississippi.

“Our Team Blue employee volunteers are regularly called upon for their skill, enthusiasm and dedication to numerous community projects,” said Meredith Bailess, director of corporate communications with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. “They prove time and again they have the commitment, drive and dedication to excellence that’s an extension of our culture at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi.”

To learn more about Team Blue and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi’s community involvement, visit www.bcbsms.com.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area, call (601) 353-6060 or visit www.habitatmca.org.

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