Dear Habitat Supporter,
Welcome to the December 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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DECEMBER 2006 UPDATE
CONSTRUCTION VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH:
Brianne Feindt
GROUPS ON SITE: Philadelphia
and Chester County AmeriCorps, Bucks County Community College,
Doylestown United Methodist Church, Episcopal Hammers
GROUPS PROVIDING LUNCHES: Lutheran
Church of the Resurrection in Yardley, Blooming Glen Mennonite
Church
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED
AT EMERALD HOLLOW TO DATE: 87,648
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AT EMERALD
HOLLOW TO DATE: 10,010 –
We’ve passed 10,000 hours!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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!
The Family Selection Committee recently accepted James Ndungu
and Margaret Mungai of Bristol. They have two daughters and are
very excited about their upcoming homeownership opportunity. Welcome!
Henry Kaufman and Simon and Mary Ngorimo purchased their homes
in December—we are happy to officially welcome them as homeowners
to Emerald Hollow! Henry’s son, Benjamin, and Simon and
Mary’s children, Joel and Juliet, are thrilled to be able
to spend many hours outdoors playing.
On the Habitat Bucks website:
> http://habitatbucks.org/homeOwner.asp,
read about our Homeownership program and partner families.
/ON SITE…
Cluster 12 driveways and sidewalks are paved,
and the stone facades have been completed. Volunteers painted
and installed trim, cabinets, and vinyl flooring in the two completed
homes, and began installing drywall in the three that remain.
Concrete slab was poured for the first home in Cluster 11, and
foundation work is almost complete on the remainder. Framing will
begin in January.
JOIN US…
The Faith Relations Committee will meet on Tuesday
Feb. 13 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.
IN PARTNERSHIP…
Habitat Bucks is only able to accomplish our mission
through partnerships. While we have many supporters that contribute
in a variety of ways, it’s a rarity to find a partner who
is willing to contribute in all of them. Trinity Lutheran Church
of Lansdale has been just such a phenomenal partner since we began
working with them. Our connection to Trinity was forged through
the Thrivent Builds program, which began in early 2006. In addition
to a significant contribution of $10,000, Trinity has also provided
75 volunteers who have worked 844 hours at Emerald Hollow! Led
by Paul Pinther and Deb Zabrodski, their Habitat Mission Committee
has risen to gladly assist with every request made of them. The
congregation most recently played a significant role in our dedication
of the Thrivent homes. Rev. Eric Shafer dedicated the homes while
members of their mission committee presented the Ngorimo family
with their key and organized the creation of gift baskets to welcome
the families into their homes. The congregation also donated the
candles used during the candle-lighting ceremony. We are incredibly
grateful to the members of Trinity Lansdale for their tremendous
support over the past year. We very much hope to continue partnering
with them in the future!
National Association of the Remodeling Industry of Bucks and
Montgomery Counties (NARI Bucks-Mont) donated 60 gifts for Habitat
kids this holiday. Santa Wally and his elf, Jean, delivered the
gifts to the Emerald Hollow kids on Dec. 20. Selection committee
member and holiday elf, Jim Brescia, delivered gifts to the Bristol
kids the same day. HO HO HO! The Family Program Department was
completed wowed by the incredible wrapping techniques of Jim Brescia,
Susan Vincent, Chrissy DiPaolo, Phyllis Boyer, Tom and Marie Marquis,
Jen Gordon, Sue Patterson, Bev Cupo, Jessica Robinson and Connie
Yung—those 60 gifts got wrapped in such a jiffy! And they
were so pretty, too!
GIVING THANKS…
Excitement was in the air and everyone (especially Family Program
Co-Director Stefanie) was a little giddy as we dedicated four
homes, including the two sponsored through Thrivent Builds, on
Dec. 14 at Emerald Hollow. Keys for the Kaufman and Ngorimo families
were presented by volunteers from Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale
and Trinity Lutheran Church in Perkasie, while the Women Build
2006 Team Leaders and Crew Leaders presented the keys for the
Kniele and Kamel families. Rev. Eric Shafer of Trinity Lansdale
dedicated the homes and the Faith Relations Committee presented
gifts to each of the families. Following a very moving ceremony,
the Kniele and Kaufman homes were toured. Thank you to everyone
who made the evening a success and congratulation and welcome
to all four families!
On Dec. 9, Over 130 attendees were treated to a performance by
a group of local artists which raised more than $800 for Women
Build at the Artists Taking Action fundraiser. The diverse group
of performers included Collective Motion, a dance company from
Maine, the DeSales University Dance Company, White Wire, an all
female band playing original compositions and pianist Michael
Wall. The highlighted vocalists of the evening were 6-year-old
Sabrina Carpenter of Quakertown and Ryan Whitmore, a senior at
Central Bucks South High School, where the event was held. The
event was produced by and included a work choreographed by Courtney
Andrews, a senior at DeSales University. Although the event was
done as her senior project, the group is enthusiastic about doing
it annually. Thanks to Courtney for her hard work in organizing
this event and to everyone who attended and made the night a success!
Our “Wednesday Boys” are a critical component of
our volunteer workforce. This eclectic group of retired gentlemen
joins our crew nearly every Wednesday to build at Emerald Hollow,
and often accompany Ray for a round of golf afterward. We are
quite fond of them and grateful for their efforts. So we were
ecstatic to see others taking notice also! The Gloria Dei Church
of Huntingdon Valley recently sent a sizable donation to Habitat
Bucks in honor of Dan Baird, one of the longest-standing “Boys”
and a Gloria Dei member. At last count, Dan has served over 800
hours with Habitat Bucks! Thank you, Dan, for your tremendous
dedication to Habitat Bucks and an equally hearty thanks to Gloria
Dei for recognizing Dan and providing us with much-needed financial
support!
Through the Homes for the Holidays partnership with area Lowe’s
stores, Habitat volunteers have been spending Saturdays at Lowe’s
distributing information about Habitat and selling house pins
and holiday cards. Thank you to the Central Bucks West Key Club,
who worked at the Warrington Lowe’s on Dec. 2 and 9, Women
Build Crew Leaders, who worked at the Quakertown location on Dec.
2, and partner family Lee Dorn, with children James, Devon, Sydney
and Shelby, who worked at Quakertown Dec. 9.
The Family Support Committee and Family Program Department sends
out super-big thanks to Neil Hilkert of Affiance Property Management
and Larry Menkes of the Energy Advisory Committee and Mary Comtois
for their superb presentations at our recent Family Support Workshop.
Thanks also to Christ Lutheran Church for the use of their building
and for inviting the kids to attend their “Kids’ Day
Out” while their parents got very educated about the Emerald
Hollow Homeowners’ Association and energy conservation.
OUT AND ABOUT…
Tool envy runs rampant among our Women Build crew leaders. If
one gets a new tool, it’s not long before the others follow
suit (they frequently run into one another at Lowe’s). Recently,
two-year crew leader Deb Thorrick beat them to it, and brought
her fellow crew leaders up to speed with an early Christmas gift.
Having received copious praise for her fabulous new speed square
clip, Deb decided to contact the manufacturer, Swanson, to see
if she could secure a donation of additional clips for her cohorts.
Swanson sent her not only enough clips to go ‘round, but
also the speed squares to go with them! There’s not a group
that deserves them more or who would put them to better use. Congratulations,
ladies!
MAKING NOTE…
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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