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Habitat Headlines A Monthly E-Newsletter
February 2013
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| Quick Links |
Join over 1,400 fans on Facebook!
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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
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Habitat's Impact as of February 2013
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Families in homes: 337
New applicants accepted into the program: 114
Families in the Homebuyer Academy: 146
Homes under construction: 48
Homes in planning: 67
Communities under construction / in planning: 7
Volunteers scheduled for February: 207
Pounds of building materials ReStores
saved from the landfill this year: 1,069,048
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Carver Vo-Tech on ABC News
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On January 18, Sherrie Johnson of ABC2 News interviewed students from Carver Vocational Technical High School in their workshop to learn about the school's Carpentry for a Cause program with Build-A-Block. They were celebrating the grand opening of their Laser Club so the atmosphere was especially festive. Now Carver can "carve" (engrave) cutting boards or other materials in a variety of shapes with any design, logo, or set of text desired. The club is now featuring lovely heart-shaped custom engraved cutting boards, so consider a gift for Valentine's Day or order ahead for Mother's Day!
If you would like to contact the Laser Club to place an order
call 410-396-0553.
ABC News Coverage
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| Protect This House! |
Our Baltimore Ravens headed down to New Orleans to battle against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII and brought home the victory! This epic match pit coast against coast, brother against brother, and yes even Habitat affiliate against Habitat affiliate. Habitat Chesapeake wagered against Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco and now the 49ers must send a gift basket of their city's most prized items to one of Habitat Chesapeake's homeowners! But that's not all. Habitat SanFran's CEO will have to show his support for the Ravens by wearing a Joe Flacco jersey for a day.
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| Think Spring! Third Annual Garden Preview Party |
Thank you to
our generous
sponsors to date!
Presented by
Title Sponsor
Lead Sponsors
COPT
Severn Savings Bank
Friend Sponsors
Miles & Stockbridge
Arris, a Design Studio
Sponsorships are available at a variety of levels.
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| ReStore |
 
 Habitat Chesapeake ReStore thanks Randy and Cindy Matthai of Matthai Material Handling for their recent generosity. Their equipment assistance has helped the ReStore in its efforts to set up a new store in Columbia, Maryland. Details to follow on the Columbia ReStore's grand opening!
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| 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. Contact Eric today!
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| Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service | |
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Habitat Chesapeake staff came out in force for a Day of Service to honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. At the end of a long day, the McElderry Park community--including the Community Association's Resource Center--practically sparkled. It was a great day for everyone--despite the cold.
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| 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.
"You guys did a great job with my car donation. The process took less time than getting my morning coffee!
Helping a charity felt great and the tax deduction ended up being bigger than I expected." - Jan
If you have questions or would like to donate your vehicle, please email
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Faith in Action
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 A reflection from Faith and Coalition Engagement Manager Matt Herzberg"For a recent staff meeting, I was asked to talk about 'how to put faith into action.' I nervously laughed at this request, as this was clearly the first 'test' in my new role at Habitat. But I was also nervous because I didn't necessarily have an immediate answer - at least not one that wasn't an already nicely packaged 30-second response that highlighted our main mission points. I was going to be talking to my coworkers and peers this time - the group of people who know when there is a hold up in the settlement, when there is a problem with a house, or when a volunteer's expectations were not met. And so I had some thinking to do..."
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Call for Photographers and Filmsters
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It's no secret that we have many newsworthy events and activities here at Habitat. From our groundbreaking events and homeowner dedications, to fundraising events, faith-based activities, and Youth Service Saturdays, we are always busy.
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 Hopper, lhopper@habitatchesapeake.org or 443-297-5218.
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Volunteering with Family Services
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As always, we enjoyed the season of giving - giving thanks and giving gifts. Our ways of giving are as many and varied as we are, and how we give and what we give expresses who we are and what we value.
Every day at Habitat Chesapeake, we witness the countless meaningful ways that you express yourselves through giving. Recently, on a build site, a volunteer remarked, "This must be what heaven is like; everyone working together!" She may have been the first person to compare a Habitat construction site with heaven - but you get the idea!
Building homes is certainly one way--probably the best known way--to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. We love our build volunteers ,but our Family Services department also invites you to take a look at some of the other things you can do to help Habitat families become successful homeowners:
Family Selection
We rely on volunteers to help Family Services decide when families are ready to enter Habitat's Homeownership program. Members of our Family Selection Committee work together to review program applications, interview families, and recommend next steps for families who have applied to Habitat's Homeownership program.
Family Action
 Once families have been accepted into the Homeownership program, they need encouragement, and guidance from volunteers who take an active interest in their progress through the program. Members of the Family Action committee work one-on-one with families to ensure the successful completion of their 200 hours of sweat equity. They also help families apply the skills they learn during 50 hours of Homebuyer Education that Habitat provides. Family Success Each family works hard and dreams of the day they will receive the keys to their new home. At Habitat, homeownership is one step in a continuing journey to economic stability. Members of the Family Success committee hold regularly scheduled meetings with Habitat homeowners to answer questions, update skills, and provide families with access to information and other resources that help them to remain confident and successful homeowners. 
Volunteers in each of these positions are provided with the training and support they need to feel confident in their roles as they work with Habitat family partners.
We invite you to learn more about working with us to change lives and empower families. Please contact Anne Rouse, director of Family Services, at 443-297-5235 or by e-mail at arouse@habitatchesapeake.org.
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Thank you for your continued support of Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake!
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