Dear Habitat Supporter,
Welcome to the August 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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AUGUST 2005 UPDATE
CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OF
THE MONTH: Beverly Cupo
GROUPS ON SITE: Women
Build Crew Leaders, Doylestown United Methodist Church, GE Infrastructure,
H&R Block Mortgage, Lowe’s, North Penn Mosque, Old Navy
GROUPS PROVIDING LUNCHES: Girl
Scout Troop, Yardley, Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, Lowe’s
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED
AT EMERALD HOLLOW TO DATE: 68,421
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AT HABITAT
BUCKS IN 2005: 575
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WELCOMING…
Jenny Williams will be joining our site crew beginning 6 September
through the AmeriCorps program. Jenny is a second year AC member,
having already served a year in Austin. She will join Laura McClellan,
who has also signed on for a second year as our volunteer associate.
ON SITE...
H&R/Option One showed
their values at Emerald Hollow! A team from H&R Block Mortgage
chose a Saturday in mid-August to help provide volunteer support
at our Emerald Hollow development. Under the leadership of Todd
Gross, employees spent the day swinging hammers and building up
a sweat. “Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely, and had
a great time. Now that we’ve returned to the office, our
excitement has captured the attention of some higher-level mangers
in the company, and it looks like they may want to come out and
have a go at it, too” Todd remarked recently. H&R Block
and Option One Mortgage have previously sponsored a home in phase
I of Emerald Hollow, and are considering a similar request for
support in phase II. Our thanks go out to Todd and his team for
showing that it takes a combination of time, talent and treasure
to help fulfill our mission effectively.
Phase Two Progress
Cluster 14: Rough framing is 90% complete, roofing is under way,
HVAC rough-in complete in three units, plumbing rough-in complete
in four units, electrical rough-in and windows and doors have
started and siding will begin this week!
Cluster 15: F ootings are complete and foundations are underway.
Site work: Ssanitary sewer is 60% complete and storm sewer in
75 % complete.
OUT + ABOUT…
The Family Support Committee
is hosting a Partner Family Workshop at Christ Lutheran Church
on Broad Street in Trumbauersville on Saturday, 24 September from
9:30am – 12noon. The first part of the morning will be presented
by Neil Hilkert of Affiance Property Management, who will be sharing
information about the Emerald Hollow Home Owners’ Association
(HOA). The second presentation is being given by Diana Stockwell
of Interior Harmony, who is also a member of the Family Selection
Committee. She will be instructing attendees on the concepts and
practices of Feng Shui in interior decorating. Babysitting is
being provided (volunteers needed), as are refreshments.
GIVING THANKS…
Employees of the Donaldson
Company, based in Ivyland, PA recently decided to make a gift
of $2,000 to Habitat Bucks. Habitat was one of several organizations
chosen to receive funding from the company this year. “Everybody
knows Habitat, and the work you do is extremely important”
said Greg Boynton, HR Manager for the company. We appreciate all
levels of support, and especially enjoyed the visit to our New
Britain office by Mr. Boynton to personally present the check.
We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship
with the Donaldson Company.
In addition to donating new equipment and tools to Habitat, Lowe's
also donated all the fire extinguishers and one-half of the smoke
detectors for the Emerald Hollow Phase Two homes. Thanks, Lowes!
Many thanks to Marvic Supply donated the boom truck to load shingles
for Cluster 14 and also all the tar paper and ice shield. The
mission of Habitat Bucks couldn’t be fulfilled without the
generosity of local companies and organizations live Marvic!
JOIN US…
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.
This year’s Hoedown will take place on Saturday, 5 November
at our red barn in Milford Square from 3 – 9pm. We appreciate
the support of Quakertown National Bank and First Savings Community
Foundation, who have both stepped up to the plate as the first
Hoedown Sponsors. The emphasis now is on Auction Items and Vendors.
Items for the live auction (valued at $500 and above) are now
being accepted. Craft and other vendors are also being sought.
Tickets are now available online at http://www.habitatbucks.org/shopProducts.asp;
kids under 12 are free and tickets are only $25! For more information,
please contact Joe at j.morrison@habitatbucks.org; extension 303.
MAKING NOTE…
Start training for the Third Annual
Habitat for Humanity 5K! The Quakertown Rotary Club and Quakertown
United Methodist Church are hosting the Third Annual Habitat for
Humanity 5K Race at the Quakertown United Methodist Church, 1875
Frier Road, on Saturday, November 27. Details will follow! For
sponsorship information, email Bill (the race super-organizer!)
at wtuszynski@comcast.net.
Make plans to visit Elizabethan Christmas’ Open House and
see the company’s old stone farmhouse located in Bedminster
on Saturday, 5 November and Sunday, 6 November. The rooms in the
farmhouse and cottage house will be photographed for the Winter
2006 issue of Bucks County Magazine and Elizabethan Christmas
products will be showcased, including classic Christmas stockings,
new pretty glass icicles and stained glass snowflakes. Come take
in the beauty of the holidays, nibble on a Christmas cookie, and
listen to live piano. All $5 ticket proceeds will benefit area
community agencies, including Habitat for Humanity, the Network
of Victim Assistance, and Child, Home and Community. A beautifully
decorated Christmas Dollhouse will be up for auction, with proceeds
from the highest bidder donated to Child, Home and Community of
Doylestown, PA. For more information, visit the Elizabethan Christmas
website at www.elizabethanchristmas.com.
WOMEN BUILDING A BETTER BUCKS…
Fundraising Campaign | Funds rose to date: $45,840
Keep track of our fundraising progress on the women build webpage
(www.habitatbucks.org/womenbuild.asp)!
Women Build Week 2005
Women Build Week 2005 will be held from Sunday October 16th-Saturday
October 22nd. The week will kick off with an opening ceremony
on October 16th, from 2-3pm. Builders, team member, family, friends-all
are invited to attend. Building will take place at Emerald Hollow
Monday thru Saturday. See below for details on registering to
build. The week will close with a celebration on the Saturday,
the 22nd from 3-4pm. Again, all are invited to attend.
Build Week Registration
Registration for the Women Build week in October has begun! Building
will occur Monday, October 17th-Saturday, October 22nd. The day
will run from 8:30am-4pm. Please note that 15 is the minimum age
to participate in construction.
Tuesday, August 2nd: Registration begins for crew leaders, active
planning team members, and sponsors
Tuesday, August 23rd: Registration begins for Women Build members
(women who have previously expressed interest in the event and
are in our database)
Tuesday, September 6th: Open registration begins
To register, contact Laura at l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org or
(215) 348-2204 x302. You can register for one day, the whole week,
whatever your schedule will permit. We can accommodate 40-50 people
per day, and scheduling will be first-come first-served based
on the timetable above. Child care will be provided at Christ’s
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Trumbauersville (about a mile from
the building site). Please let us know if you will require child
care when you register.
Orientation
An orientation for Women Build week participants will be held
on Sunday, October 16th at 1pm, prior to the opening ceremony.
Anyone participating in building throughout the week is strongly
encouraged to attend.
Advisory Chair
We are pleased to announce the addition of Jeanne Mantell to our
Women Build Advisory Board! Jeanne is the board president of the
Bucks County Women’s Fund, a non-profit doing great work
in Bucks County.
Training Highlights
Crew Leader on Site Day: On Saturday, August 6th, a dedicated
group of women met at the Habitat construction site for a day
of building and camaraderie. These twelve women, all in the process
of training to become crew leaders, further refined their skills
and got to know one another better while working side-by-side
with Habitat staff.
Graduation Ceremony: A graduation ceremony for participants who
have completed all their basic training classes was held on Tuesday,
August 16th at the Warrington Lowe’s. More than 20 women
were recognized with free tools and big congratulations from Lowe’s
staff. Rob Beck, the instructor for these clinics, in turn received
a shirt signed by all of the participants, expressing their deep
thanks for all of his help.
Shed Build: The First Annual Women Build Shed Project has begun!
Women Build Crew Leaders-in-Training initiated this project to
provide themselves with additional hands-on training prior to
Women Build Week as well as to raise funds for the program. The
completed shed will be raffled during the closing ceremony of
Women Build Week. For more information on where to purchase your
raffle tickets ($5/chance or 5/$20), contact Kelly at 215.348.2204
ext. 305.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mikaela D. Martin
Marketing + Public Relations
Director
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County
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. |
