The Project

We did it. In just 18 days a team of over 70 volunteers from the Frederic Wisconsin area built an entire home from the ground up 1,400 miles away in Biloxi, Mississippi.

The Butterknife name comes from the only personal possession homeowners Chuck and Kathy were able to salvage from their house after Hurricane Katrina, a single silver butterknife. What was left of their house was so badly damaged it would have to be torn down to a bare cement slab.

Like millions of others, they were left hopeless, not knowing what to do or where to go.

In November, they met a couple from Frederic working in Biloxi with Samaritan’s Purse relief. After hearing Chuck’s story and praying with him, they wanted to change Chuck and Kathy's circumstances, by God’s leading and with His help.

A plan was formed to rebuild Check and Kathy’s home using volunteer labor, donated materials and financial support from Frederic, 1,400 miles away in northwestern Wisconsin. The plan was presented to the Frederic area ministers, who endorsed it wholeheartedly. Word quickly spread and many came forward with a desire to help with the project.

Construction started January 17, 2005 and, after a brisk construction schedule, Chuck and Kathy were able to spend the night in their new home just 18 days later on February 3, 2006. The crew consisted of laborers skilled in everything from plumbing and HVAC to painting and finishing and laying tile, along with many others who simply wanted to help wherever they could.

The new home now sits on the original slab and precisely matches the original floor space of the old one. The accessible, barrier free construction assists Kathy, who has cerebral palsy, in living as independently as possible. The house is designed to offer her new opportunities for enhanced mobility and safety and to minimize her day to day challenges.

The project’s $40,000 cost is being covered by donations from the people, civic organizations, schools and churches of the Frederic area. Even the children of the community were able to help out—the Frederic Elementary School raised over $1,000 for the stove and other appliances. (If you would like to donate please go to this page.)

We pray this project can be an example of what can be accomplished by a group of people motivated to help. If you have any questions about it or would like to do something similar in your community please call Brian Johnson at 715-327-5579 or contact us through e-mail at butterknifeproject@gmail.com.