Dear Habitat Supporter,
Welcome to the June edition of the Habitat Update – happy
summer! 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).
The May Habitat Update is also available to view online at www.habitatbucks.org/update200705.asp.
Read up on previous news at www.habitatbucks.org/update.asp.
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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
JUNE 2007 UPDATE
GROUPS ON SITE:
Doylestown United Methodist Church, Buffini & Company,
Fox & Roach Charities
GROUPS PROVIDING LUNCHES:
Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, Buffini & Company
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED
AT EMERALD HOLLOW TO DATE: 91,472
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AT EMERALD HOLLOW
TO DATE: 10,179
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As you may have heard, Habitat needs your help now, more
than ever. As reported by the Morning Call,
Habitat has experienced a “64 percent plunge” in donations
since 2002 (Habitat scrambles to keep building, Apr.
24). Considering that over 10,000 volunteer hours have been logged
at Emerald Hollow surely this drop in donations is not an indication
of lack of support for Habitat’s work! As you know, volunteer
hours aren’t all Habitat needs to build; our homes also
require funding and the affiliate requires advocacy (we like to
call this Act! Give! Share!). Habitat does not
sustain itself on government grants, but depends strictly
on the generosity and commitment of neighbors and partner families
to provide the necessary resources to make safe, affordable housing
a matter of conscience and action in our community. It relies
on the citizens of Bucks County to take action, give funds
and spread the word about the affordable housing crisis
in our wealthy community. With an estimated 26,000 Bucks County
residents living in substandard housing, we must
rally together the money and action needed to sustain the mission
of Habitat. Please, visit our website today to make a donation
(habitatbucks.org/donate.asp), and then
tell a friend what Habitat means to you. Every dollar
and every conversation helps. Help Habitat keep building!
WELCOMING…
The Family Selection Committee recently accepted Jessica Allen
and her daughter, Lillian, currently live in Sellersville. Jessica
Allen has been selected for the Emerald Hollow Two model of homeownership,
in which families purchase their homes at cost with a low-interest
mortgage.
ON SITE…
The first home in Cluster 11 settled on June 13, and another home
is almost complete. The final two homes are ready for insulation
and drywall. Driveways and sidewalks have been installed in front
of the cluster. Framing has begun on three homes in Cluster 10,
with first and second story framing completed on one of the homes.
Foundations are nearly complete on the final two homes in the
cluster.
IN PARTNERSHIP…
From June 23-30, Habitat held a Blitz Build with Buffini &
Company and Fox & Roach Charities. The build was part of Buffini
& Company’s Hands of Hope 2007 campaign during which
they will sponsor and build 12 Habitat for Humanity homes throughout
the United States. The corporations provided Habitat Bucks with
a $75,000 sponsorship and numerous volunteers who braved the 90-degree
heat to assist with home construction. The blitz build focused
on a five-unit cluster of homes, and by the end of the week, two
foundations were complete while framing was in progress on the
other three homes. The week culminated in a closing ceremony at
which Habitat Executive Director Linda Andrews thanked all the
participants for giving hope to families in Bucks County. Partner
family Kelly Lewis and daughter Ivonna were also on hand to thank
Buffini & Company and Corporate Giving Manager Christine Wiersema,
who coordinated the entire Hands of Hope campaign.
The Bucks County Association of Realtors’ (BCAR) Neighbor
to Neighbor program has raised $41,131 to date! Check out the
newly updated Member Spotlight feature on our website, http://habitatbucks.org/neighbor.asp,
where BCAR’s Affordable Housing Committee co-chair and Neighbor
to Neighbor advocate, Maggie Pollich, is the first featured member.
JOIN US…
We encourage you to share the very best part of Habitat by bringing
a friend to the next Home Dedication at the Emerald Hollow community
on Thu., Jul. 12 at 7pm. Celebrate with staff and volunteers as
we present five families with the keys to their new homes. Following
dedication, the homes will be open to tour, and light refreshments
will be available. Entrance to Emerald Hollow is at the 1700 block
of Creamery Rd., Quakertown. Contact Sam at s.martin@habitatbucks.org
or 215.348.2204 x310 for more information. You’ve pounded
nails, now you can “pound” our families! Just bring
a pound of non-perishable goods (food, cleaning product, etc.)
for one of the new homeowners’ pantries.
Don’t forget to visit us at the ReSale this summer! We
will be holding the event on the second and fourth Saturdays of
July, August and September (Jul. 7 and 21, Aug. 4 and 18, Sep.
8 and 22). The ReSale is held from 8am until 12noon at the Big
Red Barn, 1733 Creamery Road, Quakertown. The ReSale is currently
featuring several brand new dining room tables from a premier
furniture retailer and fabulous wall-to-wall carpeting, as well
as doors, windows and other remodeling supplies. For more information,
contact Trish at t.schoor@habitatbucks.org
or 215.348.2204 x303.
Application Day will be held on Sat., Aug. 4 at Christ Lutheran
Church in Trumbauersville at 9:30am. Applications for both our
zero- and low-interest mortgage programs will be accepted at this
time. If anyone you know is interested in applying, please go
to http://habitatbucks.org/appInformation.asp
to download and submit the Prospective Applicant Questionnaire
(scroll to the bottom of the page) or call the office at 215.348.2204
x2 to request an information packet.
Let's see your swing! Once again, lunch, dinner, fabulous prizes
and a good time are all included in the Neighbor to Neighbor Golf
Outing event! The Bucks County Association of Realtors (BCAR,
http://www.bucksrealtor.com) will donate all proceeds from the
outing to the Neighbor to Neighbor program. Last year, the event
raised $13,110 for our cause. Let's plan to not only meet that
amount, but beat it this year! Download a registration form on
the Neighbor to Neighbor webpage, http://habitatbucks.org/neighbor.asp,
below the News and Notes section. For more information, please
contact Tim Udinski (Golf Outing Committee Chairman) at 215.262.0737
or Kelly Wenhold, (Director of BCAR Member Services) at 215.956.9176.
Attention Women Builders: it’s time to begin preparing
for the Build-a-thon Week 2007, being held Oct. 13-20! We invite
you to be a part of this very special week, one dedicated solely
to women, on our construction site. Women Build-a-thon Week incorporates
the three facets of our mission – volunteers, funds and
advocacy – into one very powerful and productive week. We
ask participants to gather pledges from family, friends, neighbors,
co-workers, etc., to sponsor them to build during this week. In
doing so, you are also spreading the word about the mission of
Women Build and Habitat for Humanity. Build-a-thon Week 2006 raised
nearly $16,000, and we think we can do even better in 2007! Challenge
yourself! Challenge your friends! It would be wonderful to collect
2000 hours (equivalent to one house) and $30,000 (7 days of building)
during Build-a-thon Week! For more information or to receive registration
materials, contact Laura at l.mclellan@habitatbucks.org
or 215.348.2204 x302.
GIVING THANKS…
The GE Foundation awarded Habitat Bucks $5,000 towards two build
days for GE employees. Habitat Bucks is looking forward to hosting
GE Water & Process Technologies, Trevose, PA this fall for
their second year in a row!
Special thanks to everyone who has responded so far to our appeal.
We are grateful for your gifts of financial support and glad to
have so many people in our Habitat family. Please share our message
and your commitment with others!
MAKING NOTE…
On Sat., Jun. 2, Women Builder Holli Sirianni and friends participated
in the SHARE Build-a-thon at Emerald Hollow. This small but lively
group epitomized Act! Give! Share! by spreading the word about
Habitat, collecting donations and coming out to build for a day
on site. We are grateful for their efforts and especially to Holli
for her dedication to the Habitat mission. New to Women Build
this year, Holli has already become very active in training, building,
fundraising and advocacy for the program.
Mark your calendars for the Second Annual Americal Idol REALTOR®
Talet Show and Affiliate Expo will be held on Thu., Oct. 11 at
the Radisson Hotel in Trevose. The schedule includes the Affiliate
Expo (and pasta station) from 4-6pm, dinner from 6-7:30pm and
the American REALTOR® Talent Show and prize drawing from 7:30-9:30pm.
Tickets are $40; buy ten tickets and we’ll reserve a table
for you! All proceeds benefit Neighbor to Neighbor. Download the
American REALTOR® event ticket form at http://habitatbucks.org/neighbor.asp.
For more information, please contact Kelly Wenhold, (Director
of BCAR Member Services) at 215.956.9176.
We need trees and shrubs! Are you a landscaper? Work at a nursery?
We need your help! As our building project winds down at Emerald
Hollow, we need to start planting to make the outdoor space feel
as good as the indoor space. Contact Trish Schoor for more details
and how you can help at t.schoor@habitatbucks.org
or 215.348.2204 x303.
OUT AND ABOUT…
This year, the Women Build crew leaders are constructing flower
pot stepstools ($25) and folding barbecue tables ($60) for sale.
Some of this building took place in the public view at the recent
Penn’s Purchase tent sale. The Makefield Women’s Association
also displayed their fabulous raffle baskets and sold tickets
at this event. Stools and tables went like hotcakes, but orders
are being taken throughout the summer. You can take a look at
these hand-constructed items at www.habitatbucks.org/womenbuild.asp.
Contact Kelly at k.hile@habitatbucks.org
or 215.348.2204 x305 to place an order.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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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