Business, faith groups unite to rebuild homes

Courtesy photo MARK BEAN (center) supervised the pour for the foundation of a Rita-recovery home in Newton County. Others are in the works in Jasper and Newton counties, with the help of several faith-based organizations and local businesses.

Mark Bean Construction Company poured the foundation for another Ritarecovery home last week, one of several in Jasper and Newton counties.

The projects are progressing more than two years after Hurricane Rita only with the help of a coalition of The Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church Permanent Endowment Fund in Galveston, the Mennonite Disaster Service, the Rita Recovery program of the United Methodist Church, Church World Service, Bean Construction and Self-Help Housing of East Texas.

"This project typifies what we all know: most of the work in Rita Recovery has been accomplished by various faith based organizations and businessmen like Mark Bean who are willing to donate resources to the cause," said Joe Miller, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Newton.