If you've watched the "Today" show or MSNBC-TV this week, you know all about Humanity Plaza, a joint effort by NBC Universal, Habitat for Humanity and Warner Music Group to build modular home frames for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.  Thousands of volunteers showed up to build homes that would then be transported to places like Slidell, Louisiana.

I can't help but be moved that the outpouring of generosity and effort to make all those homes.  But as wonderful as the effort is, it is only a bare beginning.  I find it staggering to imagine just how many people have lost their homes completely.  Someone estimated that 300,000 homes were destroyed in the two hurricanes.  The scale of the tragedy is hard to fathom.

I think it is wonderful that such a public effort is being made in New York.  And I am glad that Habitat for Humanity is getting such high profile exposure.  Habitat is a great organization.  In the past 30 years, Habitat for Humanity International has built over 200,000 homes and housed a million people.

I noted on the Today Show web site that all these Habitat homes are being built to withstand hurricane force winds.  Habitat has that reputation.  When Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida, some of the few homes that remained standing were Habitat homes. 

I think Habitat homes are strong homes because they are built by volunteers, and volunteers love to drive nails.  Where one nail would probably serve the purpose, Habitat volunteers often put two or three. 

Someone asked our local Habitat President Blake Robinson if he would bring his power nail drivers to the build site.  He immediately replied, "No way!  Those folks are there to drive nails.  They love it.  I would never take that joy away from them."

Did you see Katie Couric trying to dive a nail last week?  With her hand near the head of the hammer, she tapped and tapped.  What a waste of effort!  A strong man nearby could drive that nail in three or four mighty hits.  And a power nail driver could do it in one. 

But Katie Couric and the thousands of other volunteers will never forget the opportunity they had to pound on a nail, and thus to make a little bit of difference in the world.  There is something immensely satisfying about driving a nail.  It is a wonderful physical activity that is so much more satisfying that merely writing a check, though checks are needed too.

Habitat for Humanity is already gearing up to build thousands of homes in the Gulf Coast area.  I suspect that most of the mission trips taken by church groups in the next several years will be to that area, and rightly so.  The need is immense. 

But one local person made an astute observation to me the other day.  He pointed out that the need in the Gulf Coast does not diminish the need in other places.    His point, of course, is that we certainly should support efforts to rebuild the Gulf, but we need to also continue our work for those in need all around us.

Our local chapter of Habitat for Humanity plans to build six houses in 2006.  The need for those houses here is no less than it was back in August before the hurricanes.  And, in fact, the local Habitat chapter is beginning their next house on October 8 at Brushy.

I assume that many folks from around here would love help like all those people did with the "Today" show project.  But like me, they don't have the time or ability to travel that far.  And very few of those places are ready for volunteers to start building.

We may not be able to go there, but we can help here.  And we can do it this month!  Habitat is looking for volunteers to help with the house at Brushy.  If you would like to drive a few nails yourself, call Habitat Executive Director Andrew Dinsmore at (606) 437-4011.  You, too, can make a difference!