GAUTIER, Miss. — Mark Seifel from the Salisbury area helped build three Habitat for Humanity homes in Gautier, Miss., this week.

Seifel, along with more than 200 Square D/Schneider Electric co-workers from across the country, grabbed hammers, saws and nails to help build the homes.

“It was a wonderful experience working alongside fellow Square D /Schneider Electric business leaders who gathered to build these homes,” said Seifel, who works for Square D in Salisbury. “Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to help low-income families in the Gulf Coast and around the world is making a real difference in communities.”

The Habitat for Humanity neighborhood will consist of new homes, a playground and a pavilion that will help families who were affected by Hurricane Katrina improve their living conditions. To date, Habitat has begun construction or completed more than 600 homes in its Operation Home Delivery program to help low-income families throughout the Gulf Coast affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Square D/Schneider Electric and Habitat build on Jan. 30 was the kickoff of a new four-and-a-half year, $7 million partnership. The funding will provide 22,500 Habitat homes across North America with a Square D brand load center, circuit breakers and other related electrical equipment.

Square D is the flagship brand of Schneider Electric in the United States for electrical distribution and industrial control products, systems and services.

Since 2001, Square D/ Schneider Electric has already contributed approximately $6 million in residential electrical equipment for use in homes built in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In addition, the company donated labor, supplies and more than $1 million to eight separate initiatives in the Gulf Region last year, helping to rebuild cherished community locations such as athletic facilities, museums and a medical clinic damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

“We are grateful to Square D and Schneider Electric for their work in helping Habitat for Humanity on a national scale,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. “The generous donation of time, money and equipment from the company and its employees help us to improve and enrich lives with simple, decent and affordable housing.”