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Habitat Headlines A Monthly E-Newsletter 

November 2012  
In This Issue
Another Way to Give
Habitat's Impact
WYPR Spot
Dine to Donate- Brio
Danny Evans
Cars for Homes
Cars for Homes
Volunteer Spotlight
Red Hats
Jemicy Students
Hurricane Sandy Relief
New Markets Tax Credits
Call for Photographers
30 Years, 30 Memories
WomanTalk Live
Looking for Creative Tax Relief?
L&S Business Networking Event
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Volunteer
Donate Button

 
Another way to give is through 
a workplace campaign.
 
See the designation numbers 
for our Habitat below...     
  

Combined Charity
Campaign: # 3275

Maryland Charity 
Campaign: # 3275

 
Combined Federal 
Campaign of the 
Chesapeake Bay Area: # 62187



Join Our Mailing List!

Habitat's Impact as of November 2012

 

Families in homes: 335

New applicants accepted into the program: 114

Families in the Homebuyer Academy: 146

Homes under construction: 59

Homes in planning: 67

Communities under construction / in planning: 7

Volunteers scheduled for October: 381

Pounds of building materials ReStores 

         saved from the landfill this year: 617,600

 

WYPR Spot


Did you hear Habitat's spot on WYPR?


Dine to Donate- Brio Tuscan Grille
  


Danny Evans

 

 

Danny Evans, recent Morgan State graduate and former intern for Senator Ben Cardin and Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake's marketing department, is teaching English at Changjun Middle School in Changsha City, China through WorldTeach. Above is a photo of Danny (center) with his students.   

 

We are proud to have had the opportunity to work with Danny during his internship at Habitat where he helped coordinate media relations for our Veterans Build. He is truly an extraordinary person.

 

Best of luck to you, Danny, and thank you for your continued dedication to serving others. We miss you!

McCabe Groundbreaking
   
Cars for Homes
Habitat for Humanity Cars for Homes  
Shift your giving into a different gear this year!

Donate your car, truck, RV, boat or motorcycle to our Cars for Homes program. Your generous vehicle donation helps us provide more families in Central Maryland with safe, decent and affordable housing. Revenue from the vehicle sale goes directly back into our affiliate to help us build more homes. 
 
  
 
If you have questions or would like to donate your vehicle, please email Aleah Rawls at
  
Volunteer Spotlight - Staci Summers

By Olga Maltseva

 

India. Zambia. Kenya. What do these countries have in common? Among other things, an overwhelming dearth of decent, affordable homes for the millions who live on less than $2 a day.

 

Staci Summers, Women Build advisory board member, understands this need intimately. In her own words, Staci loves to "dive head-first into unfamiliar worlds," and this is especially evidenced by her involvement in the Global Village program. In fact, she's traveled to all three places - spending weeks at a time building homes for the world's poorest citizens - during nearly two decades of volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity.

 

In addition to Global Village volunteer trips abroad, Staci has worked with local Habitat for Humanity chapters in every city she's called home. No matter where her life has taken her - growing up in Pittsburgh, Washington, DC for graduate school, Baltimore to raise a family - Staci has stayed connected to the Habitat family.

 

After first getting involved in high school, Staci joined a Habitat chapter during her undergraduate studies at Allegheny College, served as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at the Pittsburgh Habitat for Humanity chapter after graduation, and today, serves on the Women Build advisory board for Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. Local or global, Staci keeps Habitat for Humanity close to her heart.

 

In her spare time, Staci loves to travel and entertain, right here in Baltimore.  As for her next adventure? Another Global Village trip, of course - this one, to Nepal, in September of this year. To keep up with Staci, visit her website at globalstaci.com. And, to get involved yourself, visit our website

 

 

Red Hats
  
Want to become a Red Hat volunteer? 
 
Training Manager
Eric Bernhardt
Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake is currently growing our base of Red Hat volunteers. Red Hats are a team of skilled and semi-skilled volunteers with construction experience, personality galore and leadership skills. They are capable of leading both small and large groups of volunteer teams to construct healthy, stable and energy-efficient homes for our partner families.

Prior construction experience is not required. We are delighted to train you!

Red Hats are asked to commit to a regular volunteer schedule of at least ten days per year. Volunteers are often assigned to specific projects so that they can enjoy continuous progress together with their team and the Habitat partner family.

Regular training sessions are now underway for new Red Hat volunteers.
Please get involved today by contacting Eric Bernhardt at ebernhardt@habitatchesapeake.org or 410-366-1250 x118. 
 
Contact Eric today. You'll be glad you did--and so will we!

 

Jemicy Students Build Picnic Table to Benefit Build-A-Block
 


Jemicy students are led by 20-year Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake volunteer, Bob Goodman, to build a picnic table in our wood shop. Proceeds from the sale of this table will benefit the Habitat Build-A-Block program.
 
Top left: Students from Jemicy School arrive ready to learn from Habitat volunteer, Bob Goodman.
 
Top right: Bob Goodman instructs a Jemicy School student on using the correct tools and technique to build a picnic table.
 
Left: The completed table!
Hurricane Sandy Relief Collection

 
After Sandy struck so close to home recently, we've all been affected in one way or another. Jessica Sweeney, an AmeriCorps member serving with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia, and friend of Habitat Chesapeake AmeriCorps member Maggie Johnson, is from an area heavily affected by the storm--the Toms River area, near Seaside. 
 
Jessica and Maggie are working to collect supplies for the local shelters in that area and will be taking a truck full of items to New Jersey the weekend of November 9. Many shelters have been established but have run out of supplies to support all the people in need. 
 
If you would like to contribute, supplies will be collected in the Habitat office now through Friday, November 9. 

The most necessary are listed below. Any basic essentials that you would not want to go without for days or weeks at a time will be collected and greatly appreciated.

- Non perishable food
- Water
- Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, washcloths, toothbrushes, personal feminine       products,and more)  
- Baby supplies (diapers, formula, etc.)
- Pet food
- Pillows
- Blankets and socks

Thank you for any support you are able to provide during this time of recovery. It will be greatly appreciated!

New Markets Tax Credits
The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program was established by Congress in 2000 to spur new or increased investments into operating businesses and real estate projects located in low-income communities. 

The program attracts investment capital to low-income communities by 
permitting individual and corporate investors to receive a tax credit against their Federal income tax return in exchange for making equity investments in specialized financial institutions called Community Development Entities. 

In September, Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, Inc., Sandtown Habitat for Humanity and 
St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, Inc. shared over $10 million of New Markets Tax Credit financing to build and rehabilitate 158 homes across the Baltimore area. Financing includes more than $3 million of NMTC equity from U.S. Bank in partnership with Harbor Community Fund VI, LLC and Smith NMTC Associates, LLC (Smith NMTC) and sponsorship dollars provided by the Habitat affiliates and various corporate and faith-based organizations and individuals.

Call for Photographers and Filmsters


Welcome and thank you to our newest photography volunteer, Jack Miller, freelance photographer and former Channel 2 News Chief Photographer! 
   
It's no secret that we have many newsworthy events and activities here at Habitat. From our ground breaking events and homeowner dedications, to fundraising events, faith-based activities, and Youth Service Saturdays, we are always busy.
 
 

Perhaps one of our best kept secrets is that we are highly fortunate to have a group of professional photographers on call to volunteer their amazing talent. Some of these remarkable photographers include Chuck Weiss, Nicole & BaileyAlina Costabile-Mcelroy, and Artemas Mott.

If you are a professional or professional-quality photographer or videographer and would like to donate your time and talent to capture some of the amazing people involved with our Habitat affiliate - volunteers, donors, sponsors and partner families - please contact Laura Nace, lnace@habitatchesapeake.org or 443-297-5218.

30 Years, 30 Memories

30 years past with a bright future ahead, Habitat Chesapeake continues to celebrate moments of laughter, joy and community. By working with families, volunteers, and donors, Habitat Chesapeake has built a scrapbook of memories that encompass the heart of the organization. Reflecting on the last 30 years, we asked our Habitat family to share some their most memorable moments. Here are their responses:

I remember... 

1. The dedication, energy, and personal time given by staff, board members, volunteers, families, and partners.
2. When we only had one construction truck with brakes that didn't work very well.
3. Millard Fuller (Habitat International founder) coming to Baltimore to celebrate our Youth United house on 
    E. 35th St. in Waverly.
4. When volunteers Bud and Bob came out to the site each week. They were quite a pair!
5. Moving to Baltimore to start my AmeriCorps year with Habitat Chesapeake and I lived at the Volunteer Center with the other     new AmeriCorps members.
6. Framing a window for the very first time. 
7. Accompanying some Habitat homeowners to the White House for the Annual Easter Egg Roll. What an amazing      
    opportunity it was for their family and for mine!
8. Building with the ladies during Women Build 2009.
9. Redecorating my first apartment with the furniture I found at the Habitat ReStore.
10. Being surprised by Muhammad Ali at the Ravens stadium--an opportunity I will never forget.
11. Attending a build site for the first time. I forgot to bring sneakers, so I walked in the mud with my heels on. Whoops.
12. Working alongside a homeowner to frame the walls of her new home.
13. Attending the Build-a-Block dedication in Pigtown, knowing the hard work invested by participating high school students.  
      It's amazing what they have accomplished at such a young age. 
14. The 300th home dedication that was sponsored by PayPal. I can't believe how far we have come since the 
       organization began.
15. Building on Faith Week. It was great working alongside our partners in faith to make a difference in the community.
16. ReStore cookout! Need I say more?
17. When AmeriCorps members worked on a house with former President Jimmy Carter and former 
       First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
18. Watching as new homeowner Ronald Moulden received a Bible with a signed letter from former President Jimmy Carter.
19. Working with children of all religions to develop a book that incorporated beautifully drawn images of their faith.
20. Tree planting on Fayette Street!
21. Dancing with the Orioles bird as I toured through the Women Build home.
22. Watching as everybody worked together during Veterans Build 2011.
23. Café Hon's fabulously flourished construction hats as they volunteered on the build site. What a great crew!
24. The completion and dedication of the Shady Side house. To have the opportunity to work on that house and to see it come        full circle for such a deserving family was wonderful.
25. Talking to volunteer Bob Goodman for the first time. The stories he shared of his 20 years of service 
       was a true inspiration.
26. Welcoming new CEO, Mike Posko, to the Habitat family.
27. After building all day, Flying Dog happy hour at Langermann's. A perfect combination.
28. Our old construction storage located in the basement of a row house in Better Waverly. The basement was so short;        
       many of us couldn't even stand up all the way.
29. Building on Faith in Brooklyn and the great energy from homeowners, staff, and volunteers.
30. The 30th anniversary celebration at Patterson Park, reminiscing about past memories and anticipating the future. 
 
Thanks again, Habitat family, for making these memories possible. We can't wait for the next 30 years of growing as a community. Please share your favorite Habitat moment with us and let's see how long this list can grow!

WomanTalk Live

 

   

Ronnette Owens, 2012 Habitat Chesapeake Women Build homebuyer, was a guest on WomanTalk Live with Ann Quasman on Talkradio 680 WCBM. She was joined by Monica Mitchell, who serves as Membership Chair of Women Build along with WomanTalk Live's own ToolBox TomGirlJo Ellen Soesbee

                 

Listen to the segment!

 

Left: Ronnette Owens, Ann Quasman and Monica Mitchell as they wrapped up the October 27 segment of WomenTalk Live.

 

Bottom Left: Ronnette was a natural on the radio!

 

Bottom Right: Monica talks about her passion for the Women Build project that began at the Orchard Ridge ground breaking event.

  

 

 

   

Looking for Creative Tax Relief?

Save on current year taxes and simultaneously make your donation to Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake go further. You and/or your business can earn a tax credit equal to half of your donation. Thanks to the state of Maryland's Community Investment Tax Credit program, cash contributions of at least $500 are eligible for 50% credit. 
 
When this credit is combined with State and Federal deductions, the net cost of your contribution may be as low as 27 cents on the dollar. 
 
Call Brian Barker at 443-297-5219 today to discuss this opportunity. 

 Lorraine & Sharon's (L & S) Business Networking Event 

 

Join us for a fun event on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, 5:00 - 8:00 P.M.

 

EVENT SPONSOR

  Horiz 2 Color Crop

Putting faith into action, Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake brings people together 

to change lives, empower families and strengthen communities through homeownership.

 

Event Location and Gracious Host

Bo Brooks Restaurant and Catering

2780 Lighthouse Point (on 2700 block Boston Street), Baltimore, MD 21224

Tracey Newman, Owner/Manager, (410) 558-0202

 

Parking Validation for two hours

 

* Heavy hors d'oeuvres, complements of Bo Brooks  * Cash bar

 

Organized by Sharon Justice, Justice Construction Group (443) 682-2577 
 "Specializing in Select Demolition"
Lorraine Jacobs, Chase Street Properties (410) 935-4848
"Executive furnished properties"

 

Please do not RSVP--just show-up and bring plenty of business cards to exchange.

 

 

Thank you for your continued support of Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake!