Next Sunday marks the kick-off of the 25th Annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity.

The Lauderdale County chapter of Habitat celebrated the start of another Carter build with a luncheon and press conference held Friday at Citizens National Bank’s downtown Banking Centre in Meridian.

Fonda Rush, executive director of the Lauderdale County chapter, said this is the second year the Carter project will build homes on the Gulf Coast and New Orleans to help the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

“Katrina changed who we were,” Rush told the crowd that included bank representatives, local Habitat board members, realty board members, volunteers and media representatives. “We still have about 3,000 evacuees in Meridian.”

Tim Allred, former Lauderdale County Habitat for Humanity board president, helped build a home in New Orleans last June with the Carters and country music artists Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

“What amazed me about the Carters is at their age they not only support Habitat for Humanity, they still actually work on the houses,” Allred said. “There is still so much to be done in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.”

Former President Jimmy Carter, now 83, began his long standing relationship with Habitat for Humanity in 1984. The Carters have volunteered one week of their time each year since then to help build Habitat homes and raise awareness about the need for simple, decent housing.

The annual Carter build is expected to construct 300-400 houses by the end of the year, Rush said.

Locally a home for Tiffany Dellsperger’s family will be built near the town of Lauderdale. Dellsperger is a 25-year-old single mother whose home near Chalmette, La., was destroyed by Katrina.

Rush said Dellsperger’s children, Hailee, age 5, and Hayden, age 2, are looking forward to having a new home.

Lauderdale County Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers to help build the family’s 1,100 square-foot, three bedroom, two-bath home.

“You don’t have to be a professionally skilled carpenter to work on a Habitat home,” Rush said. “All you need is a willingness to help those in need. We can help show you what you need to know. If you do not have time to volunteer, we welcome donations of meals for those working on site.”

During the week May 11-16 more than 1,700 volunteers are expected to join the Carters to help build and renovate Habitat homes in Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula and other areas in Louisiana, Alabama and Texas.

The Dellsperger family will be the 14th family Lauderdale County Habitat for Humanity has placed into a home as part of the hurricane recovery.

Habitat for Humanity’s Gulf Coast Recovery Program has completed or begun construction on more than 1,300 houses. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed or damaged more than half a million homes on the Gulf Coast.

To volunteer with Lauderdale County Habitat for Humanity, call Rush at (601) 485-4992 or (601) 479-0515.