Dear Habitat Supporter,
Welcome to the November 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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOVEMBER 2006 UPDATE
CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH:
Mark Hillman
GROUPS ON SITE:Ascension
Lutheran Church in Yardley, DeSales University, Doylestown United
Methodist Church, Pennsbury High School National Honor Society,
Gilmore & Associates, Inc, Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale
GROUPS PROVIDING LUNCHES: CBHCT
Volunteers, Upper Buck Vocational Technical School We Cater, Blooming
Glen Mennonite Church
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED
AT EMERALD HOLLOW TO DATE: 86,828
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AT EMERALD
HOLLOW TO DATE: 9,988
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WELCOMING…
Kelly Lewis and daughter Ivonna have recently
been accepted into our homeownership program. They’ve begun
working toward the purchase of an EH1 home, in which families
purchase their homes with a zero-percent mortgage. Welcome!
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> http://habitatbucks.org/homeOwner.asp,
read about our Homeownership program and partner families.
ON SITE…
Framing and roofing is complete on Cluster 12,
and siding and windows have been installed. Several homes have
been insulated, and volunteers have begun hanging drywall. Two
homes from the cluster will be completed in December. Foundation
work has progressed on Cluster 11. Block is nearly complete, and
volunteers will begin framing next month.
JOIN US…
It’s not too late! There will be one more
opportunity to raise funds for Women Build 2006: on Saturday,
Dec. 9 at the Artists taking Action – Building Hope with
Habitat event. Organized by Courtney Andrews, a performing arts
major at DeSales University, Artists Taking Action will bring
performing artists together in a show to benefit Women Build.
Performers include the DeSales Dance Company, a pianist, a soloist/guitarist,
a contemporary dance company (coming in from Maine!), a percussion
group and more! Artists taking Action will be held at Central
Bucks South High School (1100 Folly Road, Warrington) at 7:30pm.
Tickets are just $10 for adults or $8 for students/seniors, and
can be purchased online at http://habitatbucks.org/shopProducts.asp
or by contacting Linda at l.andrews@habitatbucks.org or x308.
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> http://habitatbucks.org/calendar.php?display=event&id=396&date=2006-Dec-09&returnto=month,
get more details about the event, follow links to buy your tickets,
and download a copy of the flier for this great event!
The Third Annual Palisades Film Festival will be held on Saturday,
Dec. 9 from 6 – 9pm at the Palisades High School. About
ten student-made films will be shown, and votes cast for a winner
– fun will be had by all! Tickets are $3 and will be sold
at the door of the auditorium. All proceeds benefit Habitat Bucks.
The school’s address is 35 Church Hill Road, Kintnersville;
the school sits at the intersection of Church Hill Road and Rte
412. Hope to see you there!
Carnivals are fun in the summer, but nothing beats a Christmas
Carnival! Free games, crafts, prizes and lunch for kids of all
ages are in store for Upper Bucks families on Saturday, Dec. 9
from 11:30am – 2pm at the Quakertown United Methodist Church.
The Quakertown Ministerium, HUBBUB (Helping Upper Bucks Be Universally
Better—a group of area agencies and ministries) and Toys
for Tots are hosting this third annual event. Habitat Bucks will
be helping kids create delicious “gingerbread” houses
again—volunteers are welcome for this fun, tasty and messy
activity! Contact Stefanie at s.clark@habitatbucks.org or x 307
if you would like to participate.
This is what Habitat for Humanity is all about: please, join
us at the next home dedication! On Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7pm, we
will welcome the newest members of the Emerald Hollow community
during a brief dedication ceremony; immediately following, the
homes will be open to tour and light refreshments will be available.
The event is open to the public – friends and neighbors
are encouraged to attend! Attendees of the event may “pound”
our families by bringing a pound of non-perishable goods, such
as food or a cleaning product, to give to the new families. Come
celebrate with us! Please note that the entrance to the Emerald
Hollow community is on the 1700 block of Creamery Road, Quakertown.
For more information, contact Sam at s.martin@habitatbucks.org
x310.
REACHING OUT…
The Faith Relations Committee will meet on Tuesday Dec. 12 at
the Habitat office at 6:30pm. We’d love to see you there!
Committee members partner with faith groups in Bucks County to
promote Habitat’s mission. They focus on advocacy, diversity,
fellowship and fundraising and organize the annual Building on
Faith Week. Members also assist with dedication ceremonies, speak
to congregations, and promote Habitat’s mission at special
events. For more information, contact Laura at l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org
or x302.
It’s Wrapping Time! The Family Support Committee is hosting
its annual Wrapping Party, during which we wrap gifts for Habitat
children. It’s a fun time of food, holiday music, sticky
tape and colorful paper (plus, we get to check out all the fun
toys!). Please join us on Monday, Dec. 18 at 6 pm. Contact Stefanie
at s.clark@habitatbucks.org or x 307 if you would like to participate.
IN PARTNERSHIP…
The Thrivent Builds program is hitting the home
stretch! Less than a month to go before the two Thrivent homes
are completed and dedicated! Fifteen congregations have participated
in this program throughout the year, providing volunteers, funds,
lunches and other assorted help. Due to their efforts, we have
easily reached our commitment to Thrivent of involving 300 Lutheran
volunteers in the program. We remain approximately $6000 short
of our fundraising commitment, however, and so we are calling
on local Lutheran congregations that have not contributed to consider
doing so before the end of the year. This capacity-building program
has allowed us to house two additional families this year while
strengthening our relationships with the Lutheran community. Thank
you to everyone that has participated and see you at dedication
on Dec. 14!
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> http://habitatbucks.org/thriventbuilds.asp,
learn more Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat Bucks and local Lowe's (lowes.com) stores will be teaming
up this holiday season to fundraise and advocate for the Habitat
mission. Homes for Holidays is a national partnership between
Habitat for Humanity and Lowe's through which Lowe’s customers
have the opportunity to make a donation to Habitat Bucks as they
go through the Lowe’s check-out counter. Our affiliate will
receive 100 percent of the donations raised from our local stores:
· Bensalem - 3421 Horizon Blvd, Trevose
· Langhorne - 1400 E. Lincoln Hwy
· Quakertown - 1001 S. West End Blvd
· Warrington - 425 Easton Rd
Get your lists ready now to shop for Habitat Nov. 13 through
Dec. 11 and stay tuned for special events surrounding the program!
For more information, contact Trish at t.schoor@habitatbucks.org
or x303.
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> http://habitatbucks.org/partnership.asp,
learn more about the partnership between Habitat and Lowe’s,
read an official press release and get directions to your local
store.
GIVING THANKS…
Thank you to day sponsor Gilmore & Associates,
Inc! Employees spent a Saturday at Emerald Hollow framing, laying
block, and installing shaft wall; and the company made a $1,600
donation to help fund Habitat building projects.
Hughes Relocation Services employees were responsible for moving
the Habitat office nearly two years ago. This month, they put
the boxes down to pick up a hammer on site and make a financial
contribution as a day sponsor. It’s been great to see Hughes
and Habitat still working together!
Enterprise Rent-A-Car also zoomed in recently to sponsor a day
on site. The company sent out 15 employees and made a $1,500 donation.
Pleasantville United Church of Christ held a Habitat Month this
fall, during which they made a special collection for Habitat
Bucks every week. Members of the congregation raised over $1,000!
Pleasantville UCC also holds an alternative Christmas each year
to benefit Habitat.
Doylestown United Methodist Church recently donated $5,000 raised
at their annual Peach Festival to Habitat Bucks. How peachy –
thank you!
Also from Doylestown United Methodist Church this month, we received
a check for $1,700. Recently-elected Habitat board member and
DUMC member, Paul Peyton, and some Habitat volunteer friends built
a wheelchair ramp for a fellow member of their congregation. When
the cost of the ramp’s construction was reimbursed to the
church by the homeowner’s insurance, DUMC-ers decided to
donate the funds to Habitat!
Thanks to Finland Mennonite Church for renewing their annual
commitment to Habitat Bucks with a $1,500 contribution.
Thank you to all who pledged their support to Neighbor to Neighbor
campaign this month! Since February, the Bucks County Association
of Realtors, Inc. (bucksrealtor.com) has raised almost $35,000
– $13,000 of which came from November’s Neighbor to
Neighbor golf outing. The goal of the program is to raise $100,000
for a full house sponsorship and advocate the mission of Habitat
Bucks to make safe, affordable housing a matter of conscience
and action in Bucks County. For more information, contact Trish
at t.schoor@habitatbucks.org or x303.
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> http://habitatbucks.org/neighbor.asp,
read more about this exciting program, see a current list of participants
and join the campaign!
MAKING NOTE…
Haven’t sent your holiday cards yet? Habitat
Bucks can help! This year we are offering a 12-card variety pack
including contest-winning designs from the past few years for
the bargain price of $5 each. You can purchase cards by stopping
in at our office, through our website or at various retailers
around the area (see our website for a listing of stores carrying
our products). For more information, contact Kelly at k.hile@habitatbucks.org
or x305.
A newly formed committee of 12 had their first meeting in November
to discuss the opening of a ReStore. Habitat affiliates nationwide
have had great success with running these home improvement thrift
stores, upon which our Bargain Barn ReSale events are based. Success
of our barn sales has led to investigate opening a full time retail
store. The committee is currently reviewing the initial business
plan and beginning the search for a location. And remember, we
are still holding Bargain Barn Re-Sale events on a regular basis!
That means we’ll happily accept the following donations:
· New and unused building materials and supplies, including
lumber, carpeting, windows, doors, unopened paint, lighting and
interior fixtures, etc.
· 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
For more information, contact Trish at t.schoor@habitatbucks.org
or x303.
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 (http://www.escrip.com/merchants/identity/genuardis/index.jsp)
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 (https://www.acmemarkets.com/eCommerceWeb/LandingPageAction.do?action=begin),
just mail or drop of your receipts/register tapes to our office.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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.
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