FARMVILLE – The Farmville area's religious community has found a new way to break bread together:

By breaking ground, instead, and blessing and dedicating it to a new Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity home.

Which they will build together.

Christians, members of the Jewish faith, and Muslims.

The “Apostle Build” will see two dozen churches, which includes the Islamic Center and members of the Jewish community, construct the home on Hylawn Avenue.

But other churches and faith communities are welcome, organizers say, to join in.

The dedication and blessing of the site will be held this Saturday at 10 a.m.

The local Habitat chapter has built 20 homes since 1990 and will dedicate its 21st home this month.

The need for decent and affordable housing far exceeds the supply, according to Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity executive director Jayne Johnson. “There are over 1,000 families in Prince Edward alone that live in substandard housing or pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing” and are cost-burdened, she told The Herald earlier this year.

“That is why,” she explained, “we are wanting to increase the number of homes we build annually.”

The local Habitat chapter has been building two homes a year but beginning in July it will beging building three homes a year.

The Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity's website declares, “We believe that all our neighbors deserve safe, comfortable homes they can afford-and there's no better way to build our communities,” the local chapter's website states, “than to all lend a hand. Because when we all donate what we can-whether it be time or talent or money-we can build more decent, affordable homes for those in need.”

Habitat for Humanity International has constructed more than 225,000 homes in over 3,000 communities world-wide since its founding in 1976.

In addition to paying a down payment and making monthly mortgage payments, those moving into Habitat homes also invest “sweat equity,” helping to construct their own home and volunteering to help build Habitat homes for others.

Seven more homes in Farmville are on the way.