These are links to pdf files that contain safety information for the build.  All volunteers attending the build are required to read and review these documents.

Safety Memo
Construction Safety Manual

Hotel:
Fairfield Inn & Suites, 1115 Woodland Springs Ct., Columbia, MO.
After you check in at the hotel front desk and get your room keys, come to the hospitality room to pick up your welcome bag with your event tickets, name badge and shirt(s).  You will also receive your house assignment and be asked to fill out the event waivers.
You are responsible for any incidentals that are charged to your room.  Please pay any incidental charges when you check out.
Breakfast service at the hotel will begin at 6:00 am.
In the hospitality room in the hotel after the workday, beverages and light snacks will be available.  Freewill donations are expected from those consuming beverages and snacks.
 
General:
During the first week, we will building 4 houses to dry in.  In the second week, we will be finishing a second set of 4 houses that have already been completed through drywall.
The build site is located across the street from Faith Baptist Church, 3909 Brown Station Rd, Columbia, MO.  Permission has been granted from the church for general
parking in their lot.
Travel time between the hotel and build site is about 10 minutes.
Temperatures in Columbia should have daily highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the upper 50’s.  Keep your fingers crossed, it may be warmer.  It’s been a strange weather year.
Daily schedule:
7:00 am House and crew leads meet with Columbia construction team at job site
7:15 am All volunteers assemble at job site hospitality tent for opening remarks
7:30 am Teams disperse to houses for individual assignments from house leads
11:30 am to 12:30 pm Lunch break
12:30 pm Resume construction; end of day will vary
4:00 pm    Worksite clean-up and tools returned to storage


Annual Meeting Event:
The Annual Meeting this year will take place on Saturday, 9/23 starting at 4:30 pm.  You may arrive as early as 4:00.
The location of the event is Warm Springs Ranch, 25270 Highway 98, Boonville, MO 65233. Warm Springs Ranch is the official breeding facility of the Budweiser Clydesdales. Resting on 300-plus acres of rolling hills in the heart of Missouri, our state-of-the-art establishment will take your breath away. Built in 2008, the property features a mare/stallion and foaling barn, veterinary lab, and 10 pastures: each with a customized walk-in shelter. Warm Springs Ranch is home to more than 70 Clydesdales ranging from foals to stallions. Tours will be available prior to dinner.  No need to sign up for the tours.
Travel time from the hotel is about 25 minutes.
Each event ticket includes 2 alcoholic beverages.
Schedule:
4:30 – Start of social time.
5:00 – First group tour.
5:30 – Second group tour.
6:15 – Gather for dinner and opening remarks.
6:30 – Dinner served.
6:45 – General Meeting.
 
Pre-build:
There will be a pre-build workday on Monday, 9/18 at the job site.  We will be completing any tasks necessary to be ready to start the build on Tuesday.  Tasks include cutting and laying out the plates and building header and trimmer assemblies.  All volunteers that are available, are encouraged to attend.
 
Safety:
We support and encourage a safe work site.  To this end, we want everyone to watch out for each other, and correct or report any unsafe practices.
We will be sending additional safety information that everyone should read soon. 
 
Dedication:
The dedication will be held on Friday, 9/29, at the jobsite tent starting at 11:00 am.  Please park at the Faith Baptist Church parking lot across the street and ride the shuttle over to the event. Celebrate the completion of the 4 family homes build during the Blitz Build. Come together with the families, Blitz Home Builders, volunteers, sponsors and community members to celebrate the achievement of making a place for these homeowners to call HOME! Shakespeare’s Pizza will be celebrating their 50th anniversary with us and providing pizza for the attendees. Pizza is the moving-in food of America and Shakespeare’s is a local legend
 
Meet & Greet:
There is a Meet & Greet gathering on Monday, 9/18, starting at 7:00 pm at Selfie Love in downtown Columbia at 804 Locust St. Street.  Selfie Love is a studio of interactive selfie sets to pose and mingle.  Set up your phone or have a friend take pictures with cute props and backgrounds.  CoMo 411 entertainment will be live broadcasting during the event.  Habitat staff, Blitz Home Builders, Habitat Partner Families, Sponsors and community supporters will be there to get to know each other at this fun event.
Event space and drink tickets are provided by Selfie Love and dessert is provided by Sugar, Butter, Flour Bakery.
Parking is available at the Sixth & Cherry Garage at 555 Locust St or street parking. Meters do not require money after 7pm.
 
Transportation:
We encourage people to contact Barb Wicker to let her know if they need a ride to or from the airport, to the job site, meeting site, etc., as well if anyone has extra seats and is willing to transport so she will have a list of those needing rides and those that have seats available to help with transportation.
Barb Wicker, (269) 449-3180, [email protected]
​

The dates have been set and registration is now open for the 2023 blitz build in Columbia, Missouri.

Planning these events takes a lot of time and effort by the Planning Committee. One of the first things we need to know is how many volunteers will be attending in order for us to arrange for lodging, meals, venues, caterers, and, yes, even the construction materials and tools. Your early registration is an important part of this effort.

• Build days are Tuesday, September 19 through Thursday, September 28, 2023.
• There is an orientation meeting for house and crew leads at the job site on Monday, September 18. 
• The home dedications will be Friday, September 29.
• There is a $90 non-refundable registration fee that includes a T-shirt and entry for one to the Annual Dinner Meeting.
• We are finalizing hotel arrangements, but you can budget approximately $65 per person/night based on double occupancy ($130 per room).  These hotel rates apply to Sept 18 through Sept 28.  The rate for nights outside these dates will be approximately $15 higher per room.
• Hot breakfast at the hotel will be included in your room rate.
• To register for the build, click the Register Now button, fill out the registration form, and pay the registration fee using PayPal.
• 
  

The local Habitat staff has been working hard to plan this event.   The lots have been identified and purchased. Families have been chosen.  The construction plans are in process. 
 The high temperature during the build should be in the low 80’s with the low temperature around 60 degrees.  Columbia Regional Airport is served by American Airlines.

Remember, you must specifically register for the Columbia build and pay the registration fee in order to guarantee lodging and have a spot at the build.  If you want to register for someone else (e.g., spouse, friend, partner, etc.), you MUST have a different email address for them.  You will need to go to the Blitz Home Builders website, register them separately in their name using the different email address, and pay the registration fee.  You will be sent an invoice from PayPal for lodging in early June.

 We must receive your build registration by May 25, and lodging must be paid by July 7.

 Past experience has shown you should plan on approximately $25-$30 per person per day for food. Breakfast will be provided at the hotel, and lunches and snacks at the construction site will be provided at no charge.

 The Habitat Affiliate does not allow persons under the age of 16 to participate in the build. Persons 16 and 17 years of age will require a parent’s/guardian’s signature on the waiver form and will be restricted in the type of tasks they are permitted to perform (e.g., no power tools, ladders, or roof access).

This year, harnesses and safety tie-offs will be required for all people working on the roof.  There is a very limited supply and we strongly suggest that you bring your own.  Also, please bring a hard hat as well.

If you have questions or encounter problems with our website, please contact us immediately at [email protected].
​
   Please help us by completing your registration as early as possible.

Thank you in advance for your continued interest and participation. We look forward to being together with you in September to build houses, renew old friendships and make some new ones, and have fun doing so in beautiful Columbia.

 
Thank you

 
BHB Planning Committee