Although the local effects of Tropical Storm Ida were mild, the rain did cause havoc for Covington County Habitat for Humanity.

The Christian building ministry had planned to begin work on its first house in Andalusia this weekend, but that build has now been postponed until Fri., Nov. 20, CCHFH president Dale Pancake said Tuesday.

“We were about a half day away from finishing up the foundation work,” he said. “The rain came just a little too early, and now we’re behind — if it had come one day later, we might still have been able to salvage this weekend. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to push the starting date back to Nov. 20.”

The build will take place on a lot along Bagley Street, across from Northside Baptist Church. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house will be built for the Marshall family, which contains a mother and her daughter, and the daughter’s children — a 16-year-old boy and two 9-year-old twins, one boy and one girl. Parking and registration will be available at another HFHCC-owned lot along nearby Mock Street.

HFHCC’s first “building blitz” in Andalusia will take place over two weekends. Pancake said the first weekend would start Fri., Nov. 20, and Sat., Nov. 21, but would then skip a weekend before re-starting on Fri., Dec. 4, and Sat., Dec. 5.

“We decided it wouldn’t work very well to work Thanksgiving weekend,” he said. “Plus, there’s Auburn-Alabama that Saturday, and it’s a big hunting weekend. We just decided it would be better to move it ahead to the first weekend in December.”

HFHCC completed its first build earlier this year, when more than 150 volunteers worked over a span of two and a half months to construct a home for the Hanlin family of Opp.

Pancake said there has already been excellent support for the building blitz, including groups who participated in the Opp build, as well as organizations that are helping for the first time.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience this causes,” he said. “Fingers crossed, the weather will cooperate as we go forward, and we’ll have a successful first build in Andalusia.”

Habitat for Humanity is a Christian building ministry in which volunteers help construct a home for a “partner family,” who then pays a no-interest low mortgage to live there. Partner families are also asked to contribute “sweat equity” by participating in other construction projects.

Those who wish to bring a volunteer group or church group to help with the build are asked to call John Croft, volunteer coordinator, at 222-3523.

Pancake said anyone is welcome to contribute to the build through either donations or in-kind services or materials. HFHCC can be reached at 222-0827 or by writing to P.O. Box 1034, Andalusia, AL 36420. All donations are tax-deductible and checks should be made out to “Habitat for Humanity of Covington County.”