Dear Habitat Supporter,
Welcome to the January edition of the Habitat Update!
The Habitat Update functions as a way to improve intra-organizational
communication, and will be sent once a month. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact me!
As committee members, board members and other important volunteers,
it helps to know what is going on throughout the organization.
If you have information to send to others as part of the update,
or would like to make a suggestion in regard to the content or
style of the update, please contact me. If you prefer to have
a hard copy version sent to you or would not like to be included
on the list, please respond, stating your preference.
Take Care!
Mikaela
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JANUARY 2005 UPDATE
CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH:
John Oliver, Frank Branca, and Steve Montagino
from H&R Block
GROUPS ON SITE: H&R
Block Mortgage Company, Doylestown United Methodist Church, Prudential
Fox & Roach Realtors
GROUPS PROVIDING LUNCHES: Blooming
Glen Mennonite Church, Warrington Women’s Club, Becky Markowitz
from Prudential Fox & Roach, Emerald Hollow Families- Lynn
Alderfer, Dorothy Chase, and Lori Meirinho
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED
AT EMERALD HOLLOW TO DATE: 64,244
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AT EMERALD
HOLLOW TO DATE: 8,671
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ON SITE…
Cluster Eight is winding
down – dedication is this Saturday! See “Join Us..”below
for more details.
Phase II site bids are very close to being
awarded, the competition is very fierce. We hope to award the
contract this week. Tentative schedules for the start of Phase
II are in the works. Ground breaking details to follow.
WELCOMING…
Welcome, Emerald Hollow’s newest little bundle of joy! Kelly
Rebecca Remick, born to partner family Betty and Kile Remick,
arrived 6 February at 1:10pm weighing 7pounds, 14 ounces and 20
inches. Yay, babies!
IN PARTNERSHIP…
Habitat Bucks partnered with the Central Bucks
Healthier Community Team for an overwhelmingly successful Martin
Luther King Jr. Day of Service on 17 January, held this year at
First Baptist Church in Doylestown. This “Day-on, not a
Day-off” encourages families and individuals of all ages
to get active in serving their community, in remembrance and practice
of the teachings of Dr. King. The day began with an interfaith
service presented by Pastor Steve McComas of Rolling Hills Methodist
Church and Rabbi Gary Pokras of Temple Judea. From there, participants,
nearly 1,000 in all, fanned out to 18 service projects in the
central Bucks area. Habitat offered two volunteer options this
year, a Birdhouse Blitz Build and a Library Project. The blitz
build, hosted by Pebble Hill Church, allowed more than 30 young
people and their families to build and decorate birdhouses that
were then auctioned to raise funds for Habitat. Participants in
the library project came to the New Britain office to sort and
label donated books for the New Beginnings Church in Bristol.
Community Relations Manager, Dan O’Connor, spoke at to
the third grade classe at the Walt Disney Elementary School in
lower Bucks County this month. The students are collecting and
donating 50 paintbrushes to Habitat Bucks, in honor of their school’s
50th anniversary.
Also this month, Dan and Trish met with a lower Bucks County
group of the North American Interfaith Network to speak about
Habitat’s presence in the Tsunami relief.
REACHING OUT…
Like the rest of the world, the Board of Directors
and staff of Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County have been feeling
an overwhelming desire to help those affected by what is quickly
becoming known as “the world’s most devastating natural
disaster in memory.” On Monday, 10 January, the executive
committee of Habitat Bucks voted unanimously to designate the
affiliate’s 4th quarter 2004 tithe of $10,664 to the victims
of the tsunami-struck region of southern Asia. The tithe will
be sent to Habitat International, a presidential-approved tsunami
aid agency, who will then disperse the funds to the Habitat affiliates
in most need. Habitat has a presence in Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
India, Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh.
As part of a tithe commitment, Habitat Bucks donates ten percent
of its unrestricted funds to affiliates of poverty-stricken areas
around the world. So far, Habitat Bucks’ executive committee
has also pledged the 1st quarter 2005 tithe to the Asia Tsunami
response efforts of Habitat International.
As of last week, Habitat International has put together comprehensive
plans for reconstruction in four tsunami-affected countries. Building
on established regional networks, and extensive experience in
each of the areas, Habitat has been able to rapidly determine
immediate and longer-term local requirements. Aid is now being
channeled to meet these needs. Habitat is ready to commence reconstruction
in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Thailand.
To learn more about Habitat’s rebuilding efforts or to
make a donation, please visit the Bucks website at www.habitatbucks.org
and the International website at www.habitat.org.
JOIN US…
Habitat Bucks will welcome more members of the community at the
Dedication of the last cluster in Phase I on Saturday, 12 February
at 1 p.m. We hope you can all join us for this very special occasion!
Need more information? Contact Sam at extension 310 or s.martin@habitatbucks.org.
Application Day is coming! The Family Selection Committee is
hosting its next Application/Information Day on Saturday, 5 March
at Christ Lutheran Church in Trumbauersville. Persons wishing
to submit an application must come to this event. If you or someone
you know is interested in purchasing a home through Habitat, please
call or email Melissa Trainor: extension 304 or m.trainor@habitatbucks.org.
The session will run from 9am to 12pm. We are also looking for
a few great volunteers to help the babysitting crew that morning—it’s
a guaranteed good time! By the way, if anyone is interested in
joining the Family Selection Committee—this is a great time
to jump on board! Call or e-mail Stefanie Clark for more information:
extension 307, s.clark@habitatbucks.org.
A Habitat for Humanity Yard Sale will be held on Friday, 20 May
and Saturday, 21 May at our big red barn located in Milford Square,
PA. Donated items will be sold to raise funds in support of our
mission. Items now being accepted include building materials and
supplies, new and gently used tools, furniture, new appliances,
children's furniture and yard toys. To arrange for a delivery
of your donated item or for more information, Joe at extension
303; j.morrison@habitatbucks.org.
GIVING THANKS…
Valentine’s Day is always special for the amorous;
but this year, it’s even more precious as the last of Emerald
Hollow’s originally planned houses will be purchased and
instantly transformed into the loving homes of the Johnson, Kelsh
and Schwartz families! Congratulations to these Cluster Eight
families and to all of the families, volunteers, staff and board
members whose kind munificence of time and energy made Emerald
Hollow what it is….and what it will be as we look forward
to the second phase of this beautiful community!
A special thank you goes out to Donna Pachino for her untiring
work in promoting the Habitat mission while continuing to sell
many Habitat products, including house pins and holiday cards.
We appreciate her on-going, behind-the-scenes work in support
of our cause. Thank you kindly!
When Jim Leech participated as a volunteer at Emerald Hollow
and discovered that some equipment, including a generator, were
recently stolen by unknown theives, he was so appalled, he decided
to do something about it. He went and purchased a new generator,
and donated it to Habitat to replace the one stolen! That kind
of generosity is truly what Habitat for Humanity is all about.
We salute, and graciously thank Jim for his caring spirit. What
a great gesture!
MAKING NOTE…
Looking for a unique and memorable
Valentine’s Day gift? Give a gift from the heart: Show friends
and family you care by honoring them with a donation to Habitat
for Humanity of Bucks County – you’re sure to make
a sweet impression! Each gift card is $5 and helps families in
need build a home of their own. Gift cards are available by contacting
Sam at extension 310; s.martin@habitatbucks.org.
Faith Youth Week, 11 – 17 July: Partner with youth groups
and Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County and put your faith into
action by supporting the work of Habitat for Humanity. Make new
friends and help build a stronger community by praying, enjoying
fellowship, landscaping the grounds of the Emerald Hollow Community,
building homes, preparing and sharing meals and raising money.
Come one day or for the whole week. Help to provide safe, simple,
affordable homes for all people. For more information, please
contact Dan O’Connor at extension 312 or d.oconnor@habitatbucks.org.
Building On Faith Week, 11 – 18 September: This weeklong
event is a true celebration of faith in action. Join and partner
with Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County and other congregations
as we express our faith through prayer, fellowship, advocacy of
Habitat’s mission, building homes, preparing and sharing
meals and raising money to help provide safe, simple, affordable
homes for those who need them. Come one day or for the whole week.
For more information, please contact Dan extension 312 or d.oconnor@habitatbucks.org.
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Mikaela D. Martin
Marketing + Public Relations
Director
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County
new address:
215 Matthews Avenue
New Britain, PA 18901
215.348.2204 x306
fax: 215.348.7988
It is the mission of Habitat for Humanity
of Bucks County to build affordable homes, better lives stronger
families and safer communities through partnerships with people
and organizations throughout Bucks County. |
