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Loveland Habitat for Humanity is proud to present its Summer 2013 newsletter. Enjoy all our latest news, features and opportunities! Since 1987, Loveland Habitat for Humanity has helped more than 110 families afford safe and decent homes. We provide a hand up, not a hand out. These families, along with countless volunteers, spend hundreds of hours building their homes as they become a member of the Habitat family.
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Summer 2013
Loveland Habitat Volunteers Help Rebuild After Hurricane Sandy
Loveland Habitat for Humanity:
ibuild Loveland … will you?
A group from the Loveland Habitat for Humanity based in Loveland, Colorado spent time in the southern
portion of Little Ferry in June helping repair homes that sustained damage in the storm. "A lot of people from
Colorado love the east coast," said Gwen Stephenson, executive director of Loveland Habitat for Humanity.
"There’s a real connection here."
Stephenson said that the group takes a mission trip every year and they normally go outside of the country to
help people, but after all of the recent disasters that have occurred here, they decided to stay close to home. "We
decided we’d like to come to New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy hit," Stephenson said. "We had heard there was a
lot of need here and Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County was well-organized and could accommodate a lot of
volunteers, so we decided to come to Little Ferry."
The group stayed at the Little Moon Volunteer Hostel on Lafayette Street and
spent the week in the basement and garages of homes on Velock Drive and
Gertz Avenue in the borough. Their main task was fixing and solidifying the
walls of homes that suffered water damage. They also particularly focused on
the homes of the older population in Little Ferry who might have a harder time
fixing the damage done by the storm.
"This is something that we could never do on our own," said Velock Drive
resident Jim Coyle. "These people are amazing."
"We believe that the people of Loveland truly reflect the name," said
Stephenson. "We live in such a great place, we want to give back and help make
our country great. I believe very strongly in the people of the United States
helping one another. We’re always looking outside the country, but I think we
should stay here and help take care of one another. That’s the biggest reason we’re here in Little Ferry."
On their final day in the borough, the group from Loveland presented Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County
with an additional donation to help with the recovery effort. "We are truly appreciative to have a fellow
Colorado affiliate reach out and assist us in our efforts of restoring Hurricane Sandy victims' homes in Little Fer-
ry," said Jaicey Raimondo, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County. "Loveland Habitat for
Humanity’s group of volunteers made a substantial impact in and contributed to the progress during their week
in New Jersey. We are thankful for their support!"
Education Sets Tone of Success for Loveland Habitat Homeowners
Loveland Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Shari received a number of “tools”
while helping to build her Habitat home. In addition to using hammers, saws and
tape measures, she received the tools that education provides; tools that have
helped her become a successful homeowner.
Shari and all other Loveland Habitat Homeowners are required to participate in a
number of free classes as part of their partnership and sweat equity with the
affiliate. These classes provide information about finances, home maintenance,
landscaping and much more. And even after the required classes are complete,
many homeowners enroll in optional classes, furthering their knowledge and
bonding even more with their other Habitat neighbors.
“The best one for me was Financial Peace University, a 12-week class. That class really makes you want to hold your money
tight and save. It empowers you to think more about what you want and what you really need. It gives you tools to eventually
have quite a nice future. The rest is up to you, of course,” said Shari.
For more than 10 years, Susan Briggs, Loveland Habitat for Humanity Program Director, has been coordinating a multitude of
how-to classes that set Loveland Habitat homeowners up for success. “The classes help to prepare people for the realities and
responsibilities of homeownership,” said Briggs. “A home does not fix things and it is only good if people are prepared for
what come with it.”
Briggs started the program with just the financial class after seeing families struggling with budget issues. Reaching out to
Consumer Credit Counseling – now Green Path – she brought in experts that would help support families prior to being
approved for a Loveland Habitat home. Families were, and still are, given the expertise to understand their credit scores, learn
how to handle bad debt and how to move forward on the path to potential homeownership.
The classes take place every month and are open to current and future Habitat homeowners,
those who have inquired about the homeowner program and if appropriate, others working
with social agencies like House of Neighborly Service (HNS). Loveland Habitat also opens
classes to Berthoud Habitat for Humanity and its homeowners. Classes include Financial
Peace University, Wills Workshop, Landscaping 101, Healthy Cooking, Parenting, Credit
Classes, Energy Smart Living, Home Maintenance and many more. Area experts donate their
time to teach the classes, which are all free.
“As a home builder and mortgage lender, Loveland Habitat is proud to offer this wonderful
set of tools to ensure people have the necessary information to help make them successful in
their new status as a homeowner,” said Loveland Habitat Executive Director Gwen
Stephenson. “If all lenders did this, I believe we would see less foreclosures and more
productive families in all communities.”
Save the Date for
Loveland Habitat for Humanity’s Family Holiday Extravaganza, December 7, 1-4 pm at
the Embassy Suites Loveland. Children of all ages will enjoy a day of Old Fashioned Holiday Fun, including Gingerbread,
Santa Claus and his Top Elf, Face Painting, Caricatures, Live Entertainment and Much More! Call 970-669-9769 for more
information! Or visit www.lovelandhabitat.org.
Loveland Habitat for Humanity partners with
area churches to help build affordable
housing
One way Foundations Church member
Michael Melancon puts his faith in
action is by building houses. Melancon
and other members of the Loveland
church volunteer the third Saturday of
the month on the different construction
phases involved in building Loveland Habitat for Humanity
affordable homes.
"We believe we are doing God's work," Melancon said, adding
that the volunteers give of their time while living out the Christian
tenet of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.
"Habitat is a Christian organization, and we believe there's a
natural merge there between faith and Habitat."
The Foundations Church in Loveland is one of 20 churches
actively engaged in Habitat building projects, along with another
10 to 20 churches that provide volunteers on an irregular basis.
"We're trying to re-engage the faith community," said Michelle
Lehr, resource development director and faith relations liaison for
Loveland Habitat for Humanity.
Faith engagement refers to the partnerships formed between
Habitat and area churches, as well as the support the faith
community gives to Habitat and its mission, Lehr said.
Loveland Habitat's mission to serve others is similar to a faith
mission, said Gwen Stephenson, executive director of the
Loveland Habitat.
"We're a faith-based organization, and we just feel churches and
their missions align with our foundation and purpose,"
Stephenson said. "We are looking at: What are ways we can better
partner with churches?"
The organization is distributing information with a dozen ways to
engage faith partners with Habitat, including sponsoring a whole
house, engaging congregations in different Habitat projects, such
as A Brush With Kindness home preservation program, and
creating a Habitat-themed Vacation Bible School curriculum.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provides a model of such a
partnership with Habitat organizations by
providing grants, volunteers and other resources
to help build homes through annual Thrivent
Builds events.
"We want to take the Thrivent model and use that
with other churches," Stephenson said.
Joey Parsons, pastor of Fields of Grace
Presbyterian Church, researched organizations
serving the community when he started the Loveland church
more than six years ago, he said. He liked what Habitat does and
wanted to encourage church members to volunteer, he said.
Loveland Habitat for Humanity Awards Annual
Education Scholarship
Loveland Habitat for Humanity recently awarded two higher
education scholarships through its Susan McGraw Scholarship
Program. Loveland Habitat homeowners and their families are
eligible for the program. The most recent winners, Rachel and
Ashley, will utilize their awards toward their college education.
Established in 2007, the fund was founded by volunteers to assist
Loveland Habitat families and their children planning to attend
school, from obtaining their GED, to going to college or attending a
tech school. The fund is named in memory of the wife of a Loveland
Habitat volunteer, McGraw, who had a passion for people finding a
better way through education.
“The fund was established with the thought that additional
education for a Habitat family will result in a higher income
potential,” said Susan Briggs, Loveland Habitat Program Director.
“The award of scholarships is done through committee based on
established guidelines which review all applications and
recommend the awards. The fund is managed by the Community
Foundation of Northern Colorado.”
Briggs added that the annual award is dependent on available
funds, with applicants allowed to apply up to 4 times or a
maximum of $10,000. To date, $23.025 has been awarded. Loveland
Habitat applicants are encouraged to apply for additional
scholarships and the Loveland Habitat process assists the
individuals in becoming more exposed to other financial
opportunities. Applicants must be active homeowners – paying a
mortgage – and they must be original family members.
“There are so many direct benefits from this program. People are
able to acquire additional education, increase earning potential, all
while limiting the amount of debt incurred,” added Briggs.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - SUMMER/FALL 2013
For more information or to sign up for any of these opportunities, contact
Kristy, 669-9769 [email protected]
CONSTRUCTION ONGOING
Multiple homes in different build stages at 3 different construction sites. Build days
every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and some Fridays. All skill levels welcome. Age
restrictions apply. Contact us to schedule! Regular Thursday volunteers are our
greatest current need, but there’s always work!
A BRUSH WITH KINDNESS JULY - SEPTEMBER
Help preserve homeownership in Loveland by partnering with low income
homeowners to renovate and maintain their homes. Projects in 2013 involve minor
exterior repairs, painting, yard clean-up, etc. Age restrictions apply. 200+ Volunteers
needed!
ReSTORE ONGOING
Proceeds from our thrift store cover 100% of our overhead and build one entire home
each year. Support us by donating, shopping or volunteering at our ReStore!
Volunteer opportunities for age 17+ or 15+ with accompanying parent.
Be a part of the 2013 Jimmy & Rosalynn
Carter Work Project by supporting the
Loveland Habitat for Humanity
Board of Directors Team!
The Loveland Habitat for Humanity Board Team will be participating in a special build
event right here in Loveland! Board members will be building in conjunction with the
2013 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which will be hosted in Denver by
Habitat of Metro Denver.
Each year since 1984, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, give a
week of their time to help Habitat build homes. The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work
Project helps to raise awareness for the critical need for simple, decent and affordable
housing. Since it first began in 1984, the Carter Work Project has provided housing
solutions for families in 14 countries around the world, 18 states in the U.S. and the
District of Columbia. In 2011 and 2012, the Carter Work Project has built in Léogâne,
Haiti. In 2012 alone, over 600 volunteers from around the world helped complete 100
Habitat for Humanity homes in partnership with families affected by the 7.0-magnitude
earthquake that struck the region nearly three years ago.
2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, and
Habitat Metro Denver is honored to be a host for this milestone event. The 2013 Carter
Work Project will be travelling across the U.S., visiting cities including Oakland, San
Jose, Denver and New York City. Help support this amazing October 10 through 12
event right in your own backyard through your donation toward affordable homes here
in Loveland. Visit our website to donate: www.lovelandhabitat.org.
Habi Hour Gets
BIGGER!!!!
Don’t miss the action the first
and third Friday of EVERY
month at the Loveland
Habitat ReStore as we
celebrate HABI HOUR! For
90 minutes only—4:30 to 6
pm—all items in the store are
on sale (excluding cars)! All
you have to do is spin the
wheel as you check out to
learn your discount, anywhere
from 20 to 50 percent off!
And .refreshments are served
( juice and popcorn.)
So mark your calendar today
for the monthly Loveland
ReStore HABI HOUR!
SPECIAL HABI HOUR
JULY 19TH ALL DAY TO
RAISE FUNDS FOR
GRANBURY TEXAS
HABITAT TORNADO
VICTIMS! CALL
970-669-7343
FOR INFO.