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Dear Habitat Supporter,
Welcome to the February edition of the Habitat Update! The Habitat
Update functions as a way to improve communication about the goings-on
of Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County, and will be sent once
a month. 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 (m.martin@habitatbucks.org
or 215.348.2204 x306). If you prefer to have a hard copy version
sent to you or would not like to be included on this distribution
list, please respond stating your preference.
Take Care!
Mikaela
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FEBRUARY 2006 UPDATE
CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH:
Bob Wozniak
GROUPS ON SITE: Faith
Christian Academy National Honor Society, AmeriCorps, Doylestown
United Methodist Church, Pennsbury High School National Honor
Society, Women Build
GROUPS PROVIDING LUNCHES: Applebee’s,
St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Blooming Glen Mennonite Church
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED
AT EMERALD HOLLOW TO DATE: 75,334
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AT EMERALD
HOLLOW TO DATE: 9,340
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ON SITE…
Despite being short-staffed during January, lots
of progress was made on Cluster 15. Garages were framed, and roofing
is almost complete. The homes are ready for window installation
and electrical wiring. Thank you to our January volunteers and
lunch-providers!
> Construction
News Page, see photographs and read more about the progress
of our building efforts!
WELCOMING…
The family selection committee proudly welcomes the Ramos-Rugliancich
family to the Habitat Bucks homeownership partnership. Maria Ramos
and Juan Carlos Rugliancich, with their infant son, Juan Carlos,
Jr., currently live in Quakertown. This family was conditionally
accepted during the February meeting. The conditional acceptance
allows the family to make a minor adjustment to an area needing
attention before being officially accepted into the program.
This year, Habitat Bucks will host three groups that will use
their spring break to help serve others as a part of the Collegiate
Challenge program. We have a returning group from the Miss Porter’s
School in Farmington Connecticut and two new groups: one from
Avon Old Farms School, also in Connecticut and another from East
Carolina University. The students will spend the week building
homes in the Emerald Hollow Community. Three local churches will
be hosting the groups and the Upper Bucks YMCA has generously
made their facilities available for showers. Lunch will be provided
by Kutz Elementary School in Doylestown. For additional fun during
their stay, the students will visit the Doylestown Rock Gym for
an afternoon of climbing. The date of this year’s Collegiate
Challenge Week is 13 through 17 March.
JOIN US…
Habitat to Re-Conduct Our Re-Sale! Habitat Bucks will be once
again hosting a Bargain Barn Re-sale on Saturday, 8 April. We
are currently looking for new and unused building materials and
supplies, including lumber, carpeting, windows, doors, unopened
paint, lighting and interior fixtures; new appliances; new and
gently used garden, power and hand tools; extension ladders; new
and gently used furniture and children’s items such as strollers
and playpens. We are unable to accept used appliances, clothing,
toys, books or small household items. These items will then be
resold to the general public and funds raised will benefit Habitat
Bucks’ mission. For more information, email info@habitatbucks.org
with “Resale” in the subject line.
The Faith Relations Committee partners with faith groups in Bucks
County to promote Habitat’s mission. They focus on advocacy,
diversity, fellowship and fundraising through two annual events,
Building on Faith Week and Faith Youth Week. Members also assist
with dedication ceremonies, speak to congregations, and promote
Habitat’s mission at special events. Join us at our next
meeting on 27 February from 7 – 8:30pm at our office. For
more information, please contact Dan at d.oconnor@habitatbucks.org
or 215.348.2204 x312.
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> Faith
Relations Page, learn more about putting your faith into action!
GIVING THANKS…
Kyle Schwartz of Richboro recently adopted a Habitat for
Humanity of Bucks County Partner family as part of his bar mitzvah.
As well as gifts and funds for a holiday meal for the adopted
family, Kyle raised $1000, $800 of which is going to Habitat’s
Katrina relief efforts and $200 is coming to Habitat Bucks. Thanks,
Kyle – you’re an inspiration!
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> Press
Release Page, see an official press release and photograph
of Kyle.
Donna Puchino and her husband, Richard, have been staunch supports
of Habitat Bucks for many, many years. One of their projects is
collecting “HabiTabs.” Recently, the Puchinos picked
up a record-breaking amount from three local organizations: Christ
United Methodist Church of Fairless Hills Hope Lutheran School
and Church of Levittown and Neil Armstrong Middle School of Fairless
Hills. On behalf of the Puchinos and all of us at Habitat Bucks,
thank you!
Thank you to all who so quickly pledged their support to Neighbor
to Neighbor campaign! Habitat Bucks and the Bucks County Association
of Realtors, Inc. just launched the Neighbor to Neighbor campaign,
a partnership between Habitat, the association and its members
to build homes for deserving families in Bucks County. The first-year
goal of the program is to raise $100,000 and, in addition to a
financial commitment, the program encourages participants to promote
the mission of Habitat Bucks to make safe, affordable housing
a matter of conscience and action in Bucks County. For more information,
contact Joe at j.morrison@habitatbucks.org; 215.348.2204 x303.
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> Neighbor
to Neighbor Page, read more about this exciting program and
see a current list of participants.
Related articles:
> Bucks County
Herald, 19 January, headline: Bucks Realtors partner with Habitat
for Humanity
> Bucks County
Tribune, 25 January, front page headline: Neighbor to Neighbor
program launched by Habitat for Humanity, Bucks Realtors
> The Bucks County
Sunday Telegraph, 29 January, front page headline: Neighbor to
Neighbor program launched by Habitat for Humanity, Bucks Realtors
Univest Corporation (listed on NASDAQ: UVSP), and its employees
recently donated $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County
to help with Habitat International’s rebuilding efforts
in Jackson County, Mississippi. “We started collecting funds
through the Univest Foundation shortly after the hurricane,”
said K. Leon Moyer, president and chief operating officer of Univest
National Bank and Trust Co. “Our employees raised nearly
$9,000, which demonstrates our united effort to make a difference.”
The Corporation contributed the remaining sum. In 2006, Univest
will also be sending two employee teams to the region to help
with the rebuilding efforts.
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> News
Page, read all the details about UniVest’s donation.
Related articles:
> Bucks County
Tribune, January, front page headline: Univest employees donate
$20,000 to Bucks Habitat for hurricane rebuilding
> Bucks County
Courier Times, 2 January
>The Bucks County
Sunday Telegraph, 8 January, front page headline: Univest employees
donate $20,000 to Bucks Habitat for hurricane rebuilding
IN PARTNERSHIP…
Melissa Yerkov recently wrote feature article
for The Trend, a weekly publication serving the Lower Bucks County,
about Habitat Bucks partner family, the Krugers (mom is Jen, dad
is Jason, children are Michaela, Bailey, River and Jason, Jr.).
Jen Krueger has spoken many times on behalf of Habitat Bucks,
sharing her family’s personal story and captivating listeners
with her warm smile and honesty. The Trend article was no different,
as Jen gave readers insight to how the Habitat homeownership program
works, the need for affordable housing in Bucks County and how
her family’s involvement with Habitat has changed their
lives. Thank you Jen, for once again sharing your story and continuing
your priceless partnership with Habitat!
Related articles:
> The Trend, 1
February, In the Spotlight headline: Home Sweet Home
We held a successful Community Meeting at Zion Evangelical Lutheran
Church to discuss Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. More
than 35 people representing eight congregations attended the meeting
to learn more about the project, hear from Habitat partner families
and discover the many ways that their church can be involved.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lansdale has pledged to
raise $10,000 towards the $23,634 needed and have also pledged
volunteers as lunch providers, site hosts and construction workers.
Trinity’s group is being led by their Congregational Champion,
Paul Pinther. The groundbreaking for the Thrivent Builds with
Habitat for Humanity homes will take place on 1 April at the Emerald
Hollow Community. Stay tuned for details. For more information
or to become involved with Thrivent Builds, contact Dan at 215.348.2204
x312; d.oconnor@habitatbucks.org.
On the Habitat Bucks website:
>
Thrivent Builds
with Habitat for Humanity Page, read more about the Thrivent
Builds for Habitat for Humanity program.
Related articles:
> The Intelligencer,
17 February, headline: meeting scheduled
At the end of the month, Local Girl Scout Service Units convened
for ‘Thinking Day,’ an event designed to teach the
girls about ways they are able to make a difference in their community
and throughout the world. At this event, each troop selects a
different humanitarian organization to showcase with a presentation
and activities for the girls. Girl Scout Troop 1243 from Levittown
and Brownie Troop 1146 from Richboro both chose to highlight Habitat
for Humanity at their respective fairs. The girls have educated
themselves about the work Habitat does to eliminate poverty housing
worldwide, and about efforts within their community. They will
lead the other troops in constructing house-shaped thank you cards,
which will be used by Habitat partner families.
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> Youth
Involvement page, read more about what Bucks County youth
are doing for Habitat.
OUT + ABOUT…
While volunteers worked in the cold at Emerald
Hollow, construction leader Jenny Williams spent several weeks
in the sun on a Global Village trip building a home with Habitat
for Humanity Costa Rica. To learn more about international building
opportunities, visit http://www.habitat.org/gv/default.aspx.
Construction Coordinator Robin Fraser also departed for Central
America, where she will be serving two years in the Peace Corps
as a water and sanitation specialist in Honduras.
MAKING NOTE…
On 29 April, Lutheran youth of
all ages spend the morning performing various service projects
throughout the area, then meet in the afternoon for prayer and
reflection on their work. A group of youth will be planting trees
at the Emerald Hollow development.
What’s that you say? Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County
t-shirts are on sale for only $5?! You’ve got to see it
to believe it: http://habitatbucks.org/shopProducts.asp
Thank you for showing your support by collecting supermarket
register tapes or registering your supermarket cards! Would you
like to participate in this simple way to raise funds for Habitat
Bucks? Every time you shop, a percentage of your purchases will
be donated to our mission:
> Genuardi’s
Community Cash Back program is powered by eScrip, an electronic
fundraising tool. To join, simply register your Genuardi’s
club card or your credit/debit card at www.escrip.com,
or use a sign-up sheet at the Genuardi’s customer service
counter. Our Group ID Number is 149390004.
> If you shop
at Acme Markets, just mail or drop of your receipts/register
tapes to our office.
Wehrung's Lumber has announced that 2006 is their 20th Anniversary
year, and in recognition of that fact, they will be donating proceeds
from various activates they will hold throughout the year to Habitat
Bucks. Their big celebration dates are 12 and 13 May, and Habitat
Bucks volunteers and partner families are expected to be an important
part of those celebrations. Keep an eye out for more details as
they are announced.
WOMEN BUILDING A BETTER BUCKS…
The Habitat Bucks Women Build program won a much-competed for
grant (only $80,000 left to raise!), another Women Build interest
meeting is in the schedule, construction training clinics are
beginning at Bucks County Lowe’s stores and the first Women
Build day of 2006 was held. Whew! Women Build-ers have been busy
this month!
> Read the complete
WB Update from 13 February: http://habitatbucks.org/pdf/wb_update%20130feb06.pdf
> Read the complete
WB Update from 27 February: http://habitatbucks.org/pdf/wb_update%2027feb06.pdf
Stay up-to-date on the Women Build program by visiting http://habitatbucks.org/womenbuild.asp!
Related articles:
> The News Herald,
18 January, headline: Habitat plans Women Build
> Doylestown Patriot,
19 January, community calendar listing
> The Bristol
Pilot, 26 January, community calendar listing
> Doylestown Patriot,
26 January, community calendar listing
> Out + About,
26 January, community calendar listing
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
www.habitatbucks.org
From 2005-2008, Habitat for Humanity will
build 36 affordable homes in Bucks County. Each home will require
a commitment of 2000 volunteer hours and financial contributions
averaging $4,250 per day. Habitat relies strictly on the generosity
and commitment of our neighbors and partner families to provide
these resources, and to make safe, affordable housing a matter
of conscience and action in our community.
> Next
Update - www.habitatbucks.org/update200606
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- www.habitatbucks.org/update200601
> Back
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