August 2009
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Vol 2, Issue 6
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The World's Biggest House Party
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Who doesn't enjoy a party?
What about a party for a good cause?
Do you want to know
more about it?
Looking for the perfect excuse to throw a party?
If you answered yes
to any of these questions, then we have the event for you! We invite you to give families in need
a hand up, not a handout, during the World's Biggest House Party, a fundraising
event to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley. This isn't some one-hour
wallet-tugging event; this is you and scores of other people holding parties at
their homes and businesses during the weekend of October 3 and 4, educating your colleagues, friends and family about Habitat and
collecting donations while everyone has a great time.
It is simple. Sign-up today
to be a host at www.worldsbiggesthouseparty.org
and we will supply everything you need including e-invites, save-the-date cards, a DVD to show at your party, a yard sign to adorn your home or business, party
planning tips, coupons and more.
You can hold a
back-yard barbecue, a dinner party, a brunch with the girls or a bowling party. Whatever you do will
help build and renovate decent and affordable homes for families in need in
our community. Now that's worth celebrating!
Pick your theme,
sign-up online, send out your invites and put on your party hat!
Visit www.worldsbiggesthouseparty.org
or contact Megan Rodgers at 734-677-1558, ext. 121 for additional information
or with questions.
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2009 Women Build is Official
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Did you know that more than 1500 homes
have now been built world-wide by Habitat women?
 We want to add to that number!
Calling all women to our Women Build Kick-Off Rally!
Wednesday, September 9 at 6pm
Washtenaw Intermediate School District Offices
1819 S. Wagner Road, Ann Arbor (48106)
All are welcome to attend and find out about our 2009 Women Build renovation project at 2128 Champagne in Ann Arbor. Women Build is not about excluding men, it is about including women so we will also schedule a coed day or two allowing spouses, partners and friends alike to work alongside a partner family to renovate another home. We will work some Fridays as well as Saturdays and even a few Sundays and expect the project to run through the fall and be completed by the holidays. We will introduce our leaders at the rally (yes we still need help), roll out the build schedule, provide a fundraising update and begin planning right now for our 2010 Women Build, which is expected to be another renovation project. |
Community Garden Promotes Healthy Eating
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Our Habitat Homeowner's'
Association has partnered with the well-know Ypsilanti community gardening
organization Growing Hope and Cultivation
Community, a community gardening project from the University of Michigan School
of Natural Resources, to establish a community gardening project on Firwood
Street in Ypsilanti.The community garden is
an endeavor to provide fresh produce to Habitat
families, reducing their overall food expenses and supporting healthy living and eating. For
more information about the community garden and many other ways families are
involved after they move into their homes, contact Floyd Robinson.
 Before the group's work began. Updates to come.
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Habitat Accepting Homeowner Applications Year-Round
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Here at your Huron Valley affiliate, we welcome applications for
homeownership year-round and invite anyone interested to attend one of our
scheduled orientation sessions. Please spread the word that we welcome applicants
for our 0% interest mortgage program.
In order to qualify, the family must be able to demonstrate:
- A need for simple, decent housing
- A willingness to partner with Habitat
- The ability to pay their mortgage
Applicants
must also:
- Be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency
status (green card).
- Not have gone through a bankruptcy in the past 3 yrs
- Not have any legal judgments of more than $2,000
- Have lived or worked in Washtenaw County for
the past 12 months.
- Have 30-60% of the median
income for Washtenaw County (based on family size).
- Be willing to fulfill a minimum of 300 sweat-equity hours per adult family
member
Upcoming
Orientations at 10:00am
September 12 at Habitat Office, Ann Arbor
October 10 at Brown AME Church, Ypsilanti
To
attend one of the scheduled orientations
Call 734-677-1558 | |
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Our Mission
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Enriching our whole community through a legacy of affordable home ownership for low-income families
Thank
you for joining with us in this work of eliminating poverty housing and making
safe, decent housing a matter of conscience and
action!
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| Board of Directors |
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John Ford, President Donald J. Hawkins, Vice President Brock Hastie, Treasurer Susie Cannell, Secretary Bill Ager Robert Andrus Alan Barr Nick Collins Paul Dannels
Mike
Folk
R.
James Gorenflo Rick Jarzembowski Nancy Merdzinski Susan Moeller Ron Thomas
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| Staff |
- Sarah Stanton
Executive Director
- Crystal Stevens
Family Services Director
- Theresa Finney Dumais
Development Director
- Megan Rodgers
Development Associate
- Rob Nissly,Director
Neighborhood Redevelopment
- John McNiff
Finance Director
- Bill Dunphy
Construction Manager
- Ervin Miller
Field Supervisor
- Doug Towner
Director, Business Development
- Lynne Punnett
Faith Relations &
Volunteer Coordinator
- Jacquelyn Mally-Hermann
ReStore Manager
- Adam Metzger
ReStore Assistant - Floyd Robinson
Family Support Coordinator - Sarah Teare
Housing Grants Manager
- Stephanie Schmoldt
Administrative Assistant - Erin Sullivan
E-Newsletter Editor | |
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Homeowner Yard Sale Great Success
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The Second Annual Habitat Yard Sale was
a great success! The money has been counted, and we raised over $1300
for the Habitat Homeowners Association Food Buyer's Program, which
is a coordinated effort between the Habitat Homeowners Association,
this affiliate (HHHV), and Food Gatherers of Washtenaw
County. The program assists Habitat families in lowering their food expenses.
Thank you to everyone who helped out
with the sale - the Food Buyer's Leadership Committee, the
ReStore crew, the amazing volunteers
who helped move, sort through, clean, and price the mounds of donated
items, tote it all out at 6am and take care of the leftovers at the end of the day.
And, of course, thank you to all the donors and shoppers!! We look forward to next year's
sale and will welcome donations beginning in mid-July. |
Good News House Dedication of Hamdan Home
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On Sunday August 9 over 50 people braved the hot weather and joined Naser & Nisreen Hamdan and their five daughters as
they welcomed friends, family, and volunteers into their newly rehabbed home
on Aveline Street
in Ypsilanti.
This home is one of two homes being rehabbed this year by the Good News
consortium of churches - the 13th home that this group has built or rehabbed
with Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley. We celebrated with
welcome-home gifts for the family, a blessing for the home, its occupants and
visitors, and delicious food prepared by Nisreen and others. The quilt shown here was made with love, by hand, by members of the Western Wayne County Quilters. Congratulations
to the Hamdan family!
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Catholic House Dedication of Niemeyer Home
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In contrast, the cool August 30 afternoon was welcomed by all as Krystle Neimeyer and her daughters celebrated the dedication of their home on
Garland Street in Ypsilanti. Fr. Brendan Walsh of St
Joseph's Catholic Church in Dexter lead the more than 50 people present in
blessing the 2009 Catholic House. 
Congratulations
to the Niemeyer family!
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Builds Update
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956 Watling, Ypsilanti - 2009 Thrivent Builds Dedication Scheduled
With the help of over 400 volunteers including local Lutherans who raised funds and provided countless lunches this year for volunteer workcrews, we have completed the 2009 Thrivent Builds home for the
Burrell family and will dedicate it Sunday, September 20 at 2:00pm. Please join
Dayo and her family to celebrate this wonderful occasion.
1226 S. Congress, Ypsilanti - Good News House
Open House Scheduled - Public Invited
The outpouring of excitement and gratitude from the community about
the transformation taking place on S. Congress in Ypsilanti has been overwhelming so we have scheduled a public open house Thursday,
September 10 from 5:30-7:00pm. If you are interested in touring the home while it
is still under construction, please come. A formal dedication for the Yates family is
expected upon completion of construction toward the end of the year.
Thanks to Toyota and their generous sponsorship of $17,500 as
well as their employees who volunteered five Saturdays to do roofing, siding and put new windows in the home. The home will now be completed by 2009 Women Build volunteers and sponsors. Women
Build fundraising has been underway for some time and this is the perfect opportunity to come alongside Toyota to complete this home before the holidays. This is a "before" picture. Watch for Women Build updates to come. 
Interior demolition began on the Miller family home
Saturday, August 15 with employee volunteers from Nu-Step and was completed the following Saturday by employees from Infor. The UM Campus Chapter will begin their renovation work in mid-September.
This home sits waiting for a sponsor and a family.
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Welcome to Matt's Bachelor Party!
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Most people don't invite their wedding party to a day of service, but that's just what Matt Witt did. Originally from this area, Matt now serves as an officer in the Army and had just returned from active duty. Rather than just party, Matt said to his friends, "Why not do something to serve?" So Matt's dad and 12 friends from Michigan, Texas, California and as far away as Germany all thought it was a great idea and arrived at 8am and worked a day on our 2009 Thrivent Builds home. Thank you Matt and your amazing friends and family for celebrating your very special day in a way that will be remembered by many. Matt was married in Grand Rapids on August 1. Congratulations!
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