Dear Habitat Supporter,
Welcome to the February and March 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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FEBRUARY + MARCH 2005 UPDATE
CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH,
FEBRUARY: Justin Isabell
CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH,
MARCH: Miss Porter’s School
GROUPS ON SITE: Miss
Porter’s School, West Point Child Learning Center, Episcopal
Hammers, Pennsbury National Honors Society
GROUPS PROVIDING LUNCHES: Kutz
Elementary, Blooming Glen Mennonite Church
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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WELCOMING…
A library has been born – the books have been delivered!
To help New Beginnings Community Church in Bristol set up a library
for congregation members and their children, Habitat Bucks put
out an alert to our friends for new and used books. With the help
of office members and volunteers, over 1500 books were collected
and catalogued. In addition, we received a donation of two complete
sets of encyclopedias (thanks Craig)! Thanks to all involved,
especially Sam Martin our office manager. Sam – who was
a librarian in a previous life – provided the expertise
and leadership needed to accomplish this big project. Welcome
New Beginnings Library!
ON SITE…
The Phase II pre-construction meeting has been
set for 6 April. Stay tuned for construction details!
IN PARTNERSHIP…
Ray Luszczak, Mike Fallon and Joe Morrison met
recently with a team from Ransome Rent to discuss a potential
partnership which could involve the donation of some heavy equipment.
Although we are awaiting a reply, anyone who might have a strong
contact with Ransome is encourage to contact Mike Fallon, m.fallon@habitatbucks.org.
We would appreciate your insight or influence with our proposal.
As we celebrated the completion of Phase I of Emerald Hollow
and welcomed the final four families into their homes, Habitat
recognized a group of volunteers whose continued commitment to
the Trumbauersville project has been a significant factor in seeing
it to fruition. The ‘Wednesday Boys’ donate their
time and skills every Wednesday on the construction site. They
have worked on every home in Emerald Hollow and have contributed
over 3000 hours to the project. Habitat presented Manuel Alfonso,
Dan Baird, Wayne Bishop, Ray Fluck, Nick Grant, Norm Hoffman,
Ed Hotham, Monroe Hunsberger, Ed Neff, Jack Richards, and Tom
Vogeley with engraved thermoses at the dedication ceremony The
Wednesday Boys’ hard work and dedication to the mission
of Habitat is what partnership is all about!
Joe Finney of St. John the Baptist Church and Durham Nockamixon
Elementary School spent a morning with Habitat making house cards
for volunteers who work at our construction site. Joe’s
working to fulfill his service requirement for his Confirmation
next year. Joe and his mother hope to continue to help out in
other ways.
The Young Republicans of Bucks County requested a meeting with
to learn about the different ways of helping Habitat Bucks. The
meeting went well and they plan to establish a long-term relationship,
first by providing lunches on site.
The Bridge of Hope program asked us to attend a brainstorming
meeting to discuss the problem of affordable transitional and
permanent housing in Montgomery and Bucks Counties. This Mennonite
based program provides transitional housing for single moms.
OUT + ABOUT…
AmeriCorps Community Development Projects are underway. As part
of the Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps program, members spend
8-40 hours on a project intended to address an identified need
in the community. The projects also include a citizenship component.
Laura McClellan and Pete Cataldo are coaching a Special Olympics
basketball team in Quakertown. Gina Diliberti is volunteering
time at Kasey’s Closet, a charity located in Warrington
which collects and distributes clothing and furniture to people
in need. Sarah Coppola is working with Emerald Hollow family members
Lynn Alderfer, Dorothy Chase and Lori Meirinho to start a ‘soup
kitchen’ to prepare soup and food for Habitat volunteers.
These projects will strengthen the community and raise awareness
of the work of local charitable organizations.
The 14th annual Bucks Beautiful Garden Fair was held on 19 –
20 March at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown. The Garden
Fair featured landscape and floral displays, products and services
for gardeners and homeowners, and seminars to help prepare for
spring. Habitat attended the event to distribute information and
sell products, including house pins, planters created by students
at TODAY, Inc. alternative school, Habitat fair trade coffee,
and birdhouse kits. The booth was staffed by the Stiles and Moore
partner families.
The monthly Fort Washington Elementary Town Hall Meeting is designed
and implemented by the Fort Washington Elementary students with
help from their teachers. Students perform skits, receive awards
and offer petitions to the PTA about improving their school. The
meeting always has a topic that the students cover and this month’s
theme was “caring.” Community Relations Manager, Dan,
attended the meeting to talk about Habitat to the students, faculty
and parents. On a related note, the school is having its annual
charity basketball game on 29 April at 6pm. Habitat Bucks is the
beneficiary of this year’s game, where the 5th grade class
challenges the teachers.
Shir Ami (www.ShirAmiNow.org)
hosted Tik Kum Olam, "Repairing the World,” in February.
Tikkum Olam is a concept of actively being involved in righting
wrongs, fighting injustice and helping every person to discover
and live a more fulfilling life. Habitat Bucks promoted our organization
and the work we do at the Mitzvah Mall part of the day-long Tikkum
Olam event.
Habitat did a Birdhouse Blitz Build on with the confirmation
class of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jamison. The birdhouses are
being used in two ways: The students are giving some of them to
the residents of the Neshaminy Manor Home while the rest will
be sold to raise money for Habitat Bucks.
JOIN US…
The First Habitat Bucks Bargain Barn Re-Sale will be held on Friday,
20 May and Saturday, 21 May at the red barn located in Milford
Square. We are currently looking for donations of items to be
“re-sold” to raise funds in support of our mission.
We are mainly seeking home-building and home improvement donations
(new/unused lumber carpeting, windows, doors, paint, lighting
and interior fixtures, tools, etc.) and new appliances, but we
will also accept limited quantities of new and gently used tools
and household items such as furniture and children’s items
like strollers and playpens. We will NOT be accepting smaller
items such as clothing, toys, books, or used appliances. Please
be aware that we are generally unable to pick up donations. Instead,
we will be holding 4 drop-off days leading up to the Sale. All
drop-offs must be approved and coordinated through the Habitat
office. To arrange a drop-off for your donated item or for more
information, leave a message at our office on extension 373.
The excitement of the Women Build program continues! We have
only just begun and we are already seeing how truly amazing women
can be and envisioning the tremendous impact this program will
have. Our interest meeting in March was a raging success. More
than 100 women tried to find parking and cram into our (what now
seems) tiny office, and nearly 70 signed up for planning teams.
We have recently met with the Quakertown Lowe’s who have
committed to providing training for the Women Build program. Training
clinics will begin in mid-April. Stay tuned to our website for
clinics topics, dates and times. (For more information on Lowe’s
support of the Women Build program, visit their website at http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=pg&p=womenbuild/index.html&rn=none.)
Planning team meetings began last week; dates, times and locations
are listed below: (Participating on a planning team does not prevent
you from coming out to build during the event. Conversely, even
if you do not work on a planning team, you are heartily invited
to come out and build during the event. The event week is tentatively
scheduled for the 3rd week in October.)
Volunteer Team | Wednesday, 30 March | 6:30-7:30pm | Neshaminy
Warwick Presbyterian Church
Fundraising Team | Thursday, 31 March | 6:30-7:30pm | Doylestown
Borough Hall
Training Team | Wednesday, 6 April | 6:30-7:30pm | Neshaminy Warwick
Presbyterian Church
Activities Team | Thursday, 7 April | 6:30-7:30pm | Doylestown
Borough Hall
Food Service Team | Wednesday, 13 April | 6:30-7:30pm | Neshaminy
Warwick Presbyterian Church
Public Relations Team | Thursday, 14 April | 6:30-7:30pm | Doylestown
Borough Hall
To reserve your space at a meeting, please contact Laura McClellan
at 2315.348.2204 x302; l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org.
Habitat Bucks will have an informational table at the Peddler’s
Village Strawberry Festival from 30 April – 1 May where
we will sell House Pins and other items as a fundraiser. If you're
interested in volunteering with us for the event, please contact
Laura at 215.348.2204 x302; l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org.
The Strawberry Festival is a place where craftspeople gather to
show their wares and demonstrate their skills. Strawberries served
up in various forms - dipped in chocolate, in assorted pastries
and shortcake, jams, fritters and fresh and unadorned. Live entertainment
and pie-eating contests add to the festivities of this traditional
Spring celebration!
Enjoy the spring weather and have a great time at the Second
Annual Miniature Golf Tournament for Habitat for Humanity of Bucks
County. The event will take place at the Sylvan Golf Center in
Fountainville, beginning at 9:30am. Awards will be presented during
a complimentary lunch. This is a great group event for you and
your coworkers or family! To register or to sponsor a hole, contact
Eric Detweiler at 215.688.8867 or visit www.habitatbucks.org.
Habitat Bucks will be participating in Quakertown's Arts Alive!
event this year. We will have a booth at which general Habitat
information will be available and where House Pins, cards and
birdhouses will be for sale. We will also be promoting Habitat's
Annual Holiday Card Design Contest. If you're interested in volunteering
with us for the event, please contact Laura at 215.348.2204 x302;
l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org.
GIVING THANKS…
Thanks to Quakertown National Bank’s
Loan Services Department, especially to Amy Shimp. Amy is Family
Program Department’s, Stefanie and Melissa’s, personal
champion for answering numerous questions and making sure that
all of the family mortgage accounts are in order from month to
month. Your kindness, dedication and service are well-known throughout
the office (because Stefanie and Melissa can’t stop talking
about how awesome you are!). As of the end of Phase I, QNB is
servicing 24 mortgage accounts! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
The final Phase I dedication ceremony welcoming the newest Emerald
Hollow families into their homes was a success thanks to a number
of volunteers. Members of Doylestown United Methodist Church set
up for the ceremony in the morning, with lunch provided to them
by Blooming Glen Mennonite Church. The homes were cleaned by partner
family members Dorothy Chase, Lucy Nganga, and Sherry and Jay
Stiles. Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ in Sellersville
provided refreshments for the event. To welcome the families into
their new community, Frakturs were created by Ed Neff, Bibles
were donated by Provident Bookstore in Souderton, gift baskets
were provided by Applebee’s of Quakertown, and house blessings
were presented by Doylestown United Methodist Church. Professional
photographer Evelyn Taylor donated her services to Habitat for
the ceremony. Reverend Keith Crawford-Roberts of Deep Run Presbyterian
Church was on hand to lead the Invocation, Dedication, and Benediction.
Thank you for all your help in making the dedication a truly meaningful
event for our families!
Special thanks to New Britain Baptist Church for graciously providing
assistance in an urgent situation. Habitat Bucks recently held
an interest meeting for our new Women Build program. We were literally
overwhelmed by the response! More than 100 women attempted to
attend at our New Britain office, but many were unable even to
park. For those that made it inside, however, seating was available
thanks to NBBC. We placed a call to the church on the afternoon
of the meeting, near the end of the workday, as we realized more
chairs would be needed. Without a second thought, Edy, the church
receptionist, told us to come on down. We are grateful to have
such wonderful neighbors!
Jill Talarico of Kutz Elementary worked hard to make this year’s
collegiate challenge group as comfortable as possible. Jill and
her students and colleagues provided lunch everyday for the students
at the Miss Porter’s School who gave up their spring break
to help build homes at Emerald Hollow. Jill’s group also
provided breakfast bags each day, made welcome banners and had
the college students visit Kutz to work with her students during
their visit. Thank you Jill and Kutz Elementary!
MAKING NOTE…
Application Day was the largest
it has been in three years! Over 80 interested families attended,
with over 55 families submitting applications! These applications
are being reviewed for the townhomes that will be available in
Phase II of Emerald Hollow.
The Board of Directors has chosen 8 – 9 June for the first
ever Board Leadership Build. As part of this project, board members
will be reaching out to area community, business, church and political
leaders and inviting them to support the Build by attending a
high-profile workday and by financially supporting the build with
cash and materials. Board President Steve Bauman is providing
"Leadership by Example" and has agreed to help coordinate
the build and encourage participation. If you are a leader, or
know of one that should be invited to participate, please contact
any active board member or Joe Morrison at x303; j.morrison@habitatbucks.org.
In March, Habitat Bucks attended the Central Bucks Community
Summit hosted by the Central Bucks Healthier Community Team at
the Doylestown Hospital. The 75 participants represented a variety
of backgrounds and disciplines, including non-profit, law enforcement,
schools and business. The group worked on creating a vision for
the CB community 5-7 years from now and prioritized goals to help
reach that vision. CBHCT will continue to facilitate communication
between these diverse sectors to ensure that our community vision
reaches fruition. For more information on CBHCT, please visit
their website at www.cbhct.org.
The Interfaith Group of Lower Bucks County, the Non-Violent Peace
Force and Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County have formed a group
called Batticaloa Action Project in order to bridge a relationship
with the city of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, one of the areas hit by
the Tsunami. The idea is to promote both an immediate relief to
the people of Batticaloa by helping to build core homes through
Habitat for Humanity and to a long-term partnership of learning
and helping.
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.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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. |
