Spring 2014 - Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity
Transcrição
Spring 2014 - Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity
Habitat Family Photo Album Thanks to friends like you, these families were able to move into their new Habitat for Humanity homes in 2013! The Nededog Family A safe shelter for a young family to raise their new son. I n 2012 the neighborhoods in the US territory of Guam, where Noel and Randilyne lived were being rocked with violent crime. The couple decided to move to West Virginia, to live with Randilyne’s parents. Soon after their move their son Nolin was born. They were excited about providing him all the opportunities that living on the main land in the US. Noel quickly picked up work as a chef. The old farmhouse they called home, however, was less than ideal for raising a newborn. Living with Randilyne’s mother, father, and younger brother made for cramped living quarters, while the structure of the house itself was infested with mold. After months of hard work the Nededog’s were officially handed the keys and moved into their new townhouse in River Bend Gardens. Every day they put their key on their rearview mirror to remind themselves that they have the power and courage to make a better life for their son. The Anderson Family From paycheck-to-paycheck and house-to-house, no longer. D avid and Maggie, along with their kids, moved back and forth from Virginia to West Virginia nearly a dozen times in hopes of finding affordable housing. Each time increasing housing costs would force them to move. Already living paycheck-to-paycheck and with each move costing them more time, money, and headache. The Andersons had to make difficult and, for most of us, impossible choices: do I buy food for my family this week, or do I pay the heating bill so we can stay warm? When it seemed that all hope was lost, Maggie’s sister, a Habitat Homeowner, encouraged the family to apply for a Habitat for Humanity house. After months of hard work and hundreds of hours of Sweat Equity, The Andersons moved into their new home two days before Christmas. Overjoyed that this was the last time they’d ever have to move Maggie said, “This is the most amazing Christmas gift I have ever received.” The Thompson Family A stable home for a child to thrive. A horrific car accident in 1997 changed Michele’s life forever, leaving her disabled. Since then she has struggled to raise her two sons, one of whom is now married. Two years ago, however, times got especially hard and Michele and her youngest son, Patrick, were forced to move from one couch to another living with other families. The constant moving and unstable living conditions made it difficult for Patrick to both attend school or make any real academic progress. Michele applied and was approved shortly thereafter. The Thompsons moved into their new home just a few days before Christmas. Patrick now has a stable home and a room of his own. He can make friends and not worry about having to move away from them. Michele wants to say to all the volunteers and donors, “Thank you for all you do, giving of yourself to help others in need. You are making dreams come true for families that need your help.” Board of Directors: Julian Arbuckle Chairman Jason Bauserman Vice-Chairman Mario Claro Secretary Bob Davis Treasurer Paul Jacoby Bob Richardson Laura Jane Walls Staff: Michelle Connor Executive Director Phil Rolleston Special Projects Manager Randy Brandt Business Manager LaVonne Hammett Bookkeeper Holly Champ Family Selection Specialist LeeAnn Shreve Development Director David Burgoyne IT Specialist Rose McFarlane Work Camp Registrar Tim Whetzel Warehouse & Inventory Mark Peiffer Volunteer Center Host Judy Fuller, Traci Mallow Volunteer Coordinators Danielle Findley, Tina Reel, Kathie Holland Family Support Specialists Jerry Walls, Saprina Souza Construction Supervisors Donnie Delp, Perry Propst, David Fuller, Aaron Pugh Construction Crew Leaders Mission Statement Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Vision Statement A world where everyone has a decent place to live. Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity P.O. Box 913 • Franklin, WV 26807 304-358-7642 www.almostheavenhabitat.org Spring 2014 Letter from the Director Building Homes and Hope for 25 Years Calendar of Events: Wednesday, February 5th Spring Financial Peace University Classes This fun, dynamic, nine week class makes learning about money fun. All of the Habitat for Humanity Partner Families attend the class series, but these classes are also open to the public. This course presents biblical, common sense, and practical steps to get out of debt and more toward a more solid financial future. Sunday, February 9th Collegiate Challenge Begins We are expecting over 400 collegiate challenge volunteers this Spring. Are you going to be among them? Visit www. habitat.org/youthprograms/colchal for more information and how to register. Saturday, May 10th National Women Build Day What can a group of women do to address the poverty housing crisis in Eastern West Virginia? Join us for our annual Women Build event. A fun ladies day out and no construction experience is required! Saturday, June 14 Father’s Day Build What are your Father’s Day weekend plans? We are inviting all families to make the Saturday before Father’s Day, a new tradition of volunteering as a family on a Habitat for Humanity job site. This is a great opportunity for fathers to share their building skills with their children and help a family in need all in one day. Monday, June 16th Summer Build-A-Thon Did you know that June is National Homeownership Month? Help us to celebrate in style; starting the week of June 15th we will begin Blitz Building five houses during our Summer Build-A-Thon. Sign-up to volunteer today! Monday, June 30th Camp Wood Renovations Begin Come help to renovate history! Camp Wood is a former Civilian Conservation Camp and the new future Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Center. When fully renovated Camp Wood will host nearly 100 Workcamp volunteers each week. Come Help Build it! Happy New Year! It is time to both celebrate and to reflect. With Spring just around the corner we are actively planning our construction projects, readying job sites for 2014, and we are celebrating a special milestone: Our 25th Anniversary. A lmost Heaven Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1989 by a group of local concerned citizens who saw their neighbors suffering from run-down poverty housing. Since then 150 families have achieved the dream of sustainable, affordable homeownership and more than 500 additional families have had repairs made to their existing homes. I am thankful to our Founders for the courage and vision to take on such an audacious challenge — creating communities where everyone has a decent place to live. I am also thankful for the many gifts of time, talent, and treasure of those who have faithfully supported the Habitat for Humanity mission over the past 25 years. We could not have done this without you! Over the years we have been blessed with the partnership of more than 20,000 volunteers, nearly 1,000 churches, and hundreds of businesses who share our passion for providing shelter for people in need. You have played a vital role and we are counting on your continued support in 2014. Each year we are faced with the sobering statistics that show how many of our neighbors here in Appalachia live in sub-standard housing. We see time and time again how many people fall through the cracks of government housing programs and how little help is available for those with this one dire need. Still it is good and necessary to pause and reflect upon our 25th anniversary milestone, because there is much to celebrate — lives have been changed and hope has been restored to many. By learning from the past and building upon this success, we are inspired to share our gifts and reach out to more families in need. Over the next 12 months we will be celebrating and serving 62 families through new home construction and critical home repair. Everyone’s support is necessary to help the families in our community that are still suffering the debilitating effects of sub-standard and poverty housing. Please continue to remember those in need and to continue to support our lifeaffirming work, as we look toward the realization of our Founders’ vision — creating communities where everyone has a decent place to live. In Partnership, Michelle L. Connor Executive Director Maple Street Celebration! On January 17th, nine months after the initial groundbreaking at our Maple Street subdivision in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, three completed homes were dedicated and the keys were handed over to three very excited Partner Families. Willie and Helen Hendrick together put in more than 900 hours and the Hendrick family – Ray, Jennifer, Justin, Dalton and Wyatt – put in more than 1,300 sweat equity hours on their home and the homes of their two new neighbors. Each of these families has learned to work hand-in-hand to lift each other up. What were three separate families is now one small and loving community. he house keys we gave to each of our Partner Families Through their unity each of these families will now be were entirely ordinary, but to a family that has never able to spread that love, that cohesive feeling, amongst owned a house before, those keys are precious metal. The the larger community in Pocahontas County. Their story dedication and love that all of our donors and volunteers is a triumph of have for our new the spirit that we homeowners, can all share in, combined we all worked with their own together to make courage and it possible. hard work, is Jessica Snelson what made all of shared her this possible. appreciation to The reason the crowd that that Habitat had shown up for Humanity to celebrate the is so successful house blessings, is because of “I want to thank individuals everybody for like you who coming and dedicate your helping us,” she time, your effort, said through your energy and tears. “Me and your money, and my kids went this give of your life, winter without to other families heat, without who are in The three families and new Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity homeowners water and now need. Each of our take part in a ribbon cutting at their home dedication. From left, the Hendrick that’s something Partner Families, family: Ray, Jennifer, Wyatt, Justin and Dalton; Willie and Helen Hendrick; and I don’t ever have on Maple Street the Snelson family, Jessica, Cordell and Shan. S. Stewart to worry about and beyond, are again. I really hardworking and appreciate it. Everybody in this family has helped me a lot. dedicated to providing their families with a better life. [Habitat] is a family to me.” They lovingly sacrifice significant portions of their time Thanks to the financial support of generous volunteers and energies not only to improve their own situation, but and donors like you, all three of these families moved into also to give their children a brighter future, to empower their new, affordable, energy-efficient homes the last week their friends, family, and communities to rally against the in January. Your continued support is what is going to “status quo” that is unsafe and unaffordable housing. make this dream a reality for untold numbers of families in Jessica, a single mom, put in over 400 sweat equity the future, until everyone has access to safe and affordable hours to provide her two young children with a safe housing. place to lay their heads at night, a place they can now call Thanks to you those seemingly ordinary house keys “Home.” Such an act of love for her children is no small actually hold the opportunity for a bright, vibrant, safe, and task when you don’t have someone else to help care for financially sound future for each of our partner families. On your kids. Jessica’s dedication and strength is beyond behalf of the Maple Street community, we thank you. commendable, beyond admirable. T AHHFH Plans Grand Opening of ReStore Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity is opening its ReStore in White Sulphur Springs, WV, on April 3. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell donated items at a fraction of the retail price. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are proudly owned and operated by local Habitat for Humanity affiliates, and proceeds are used to build homes, community, and hope locally and around the world. Shop! Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer, homeowner, renter, landlord, contractor, interior designer, environmentalist or treasure hunter, make the ReStore your first stop when shopping for your home or next renovation project. The prices are great and you never know what you will find. Volunteer! Remodeling, cleaning out, down-sizing or just getting organized? Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity ReStore can help you declutter your home, work space or business. We put the proceeds from selling your donations to good use by building homes and hope in your community and around the world. Though each Habitat ReStore is unique, we accept donations of household goods, furniture, appliances and building materials. Your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a place to put your talents to work. From customer service to furniture repair, the Habitat ReStores offers volunteer opportunities geared toward individual interests and skills. By giving your time, you can help your Habitat ReStore do more to support local building projects for those in need in your community. If you are interested in becoming a ReStore volunteer, please email [email protected] or call 304-358-7642. The Gift of Home Habitat’s Revolving Fund As many of you already know Appalachia has experienced some of the coldest weather and heavy snowfalls in memory. Your donations today live on for years to come through our revolving Fund for Humanity! Got Stuff? We want it! F or most people, a home is a haven from the weather and a place of comfort, but for thousands of families in Appalachia, winter poses many threats – water freezing, skyrocketing propane costs, woodstove and flu fires – just to name a few. We hear new stories daily of how families are without water because their plumbing lines froze in their poorly insulated house, or how children come to school too tired to learn because they were too cold to sleep because their home is poorly insulated or without a an adequate heating system. These are the stories that keep us from resting on our accomplishments. As you are thinking about and planning your charitable contributions in 2014, please give generously to the life affirming work of Habitat for Humanity. Y our support of Habitat for Humanity builds more than houses. Quality housing and homeownership have proven to have a positive effect on healthcare, education, crime, and our economy. By helping hardworking, low-income families build and buy safe, decent, affordable homes, you are not only impacting local deserving families and their children, but you are making a difference throughout our entire community!
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