October 21, 2015 Newsletter

Dedication

Torres Family

Congratulations to Merejilda, Lino, and Alex Torres. We celebrated their home dedication with friends, family, volunteers, and staffers on Wednesday, October 7th. As is our HFH family tradition, the Torres' were presented with a golden key, a bible, a framed prayer, and gifts from the ReStore. After settlement, they will be the second family to occupy a Habitat home in the Ingram Village subdivision in Ellendale. They look forward to more HFH neighbors joining them there soon.

Could it be you? To learn if you qualify for a HFH home contact Family Services at 302-855-1153 x 204. The dream of home ownership could become a reality for you too.

Congratulations

Our Award Winning ReStore Demo Team

Our ReStore Demo Team Members are the proud recipients of the Governor's Outstanding Volunteer Service Award. They were presented the award by Governor Markell on Tuesday, October 6th. Great job, team! Keep up the great work! We appreciate each of you!

Want to join a winning team? Call 302-855-1156 and volunteer at ReStore today!

Rangan and Reyes

We are proud to Congratulate our Family Services Manager, Margaret Reyes. Reyes was honored by the Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council (DCRAC) with their Board of Directors' Award. The award was presented by DCRAC's Executive Director, Rashmi Rangan. Rangan and Reyes continue to advocate for low-income families and affordable housing through their work with SCHFH and DCRAC. Great work, Margaret! Thank you for your service leadership! We appreciate you!

Thank You

We Nailed It!

Teams from Johnny Janosik, SCHFH, AmeriCorps, and NCCC framed an entire Habitat home on the front lawn of Johnny Janosik's World of Furniture on Wednesday, October 7th. Everyone enjoyed working together, eating a fabulous lunch prepared by Jimmy's Grille, and participating in a relay race. According to our long-standing HFH tradition, everyone also signed the completed frame and included well-wishes and positive messages for the future homeowners. The frames will be temporarily stored while the foundation is being poured at the future build site. Way to partner up, nail it, and get it done, gang! Great job!

Guests enjoyed a fabulous buffet at Fish-On Restaurant on October 20th hosted by Chicks for Charity. From salad to dessert everything was quite delicious! They also raffled off items and held a 50/50. Proceeds from the event benefit the SCHFH Women's Build. We look forward to more good times ahead with Chicks for Charity. Thanks, Ladies! We really appreciate your efforts!

Spotlight On ...

Rachel Freeman

Rachel Freeman, our SCHFH Repair Program Coordinator, shares a laugh at the Framing Frenzy. Rachel came to us after spending 2014 working in domestic disaster relief efforts in New York and Michigan. Rachel joined the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps right after college, and went on to complete two more terms with AmeriCorps. In 2001, she biked across the United States with the non-profit Bike and Build, raising money and awareness for affordable housing. While she hasn't ridden her bike since, her passion for affordable and decent housing for all led her to Sussex County Habitat, where we are proud to have her on our staff. Thanks, Rachel! We appreciate your service leadership!

Rachel plans to expand our minor repair program and add a major repair program and will be focusing on homes in the Laurel area. Need a repair on your Sussex County home? To see if you qualify for assistance through our zero interest loan program, contact Rachel at 302-855-1153 x214 or visit www.sussexcountyhabitat.org to learn about qualifications or to request an application.

Volunteer Opportunities

Do you know residential construction? Can you volunteer a day or two a month to lead other volunteers on a Habitat site? We could use your help. Call our Construction Manager Jeff Niethammer at 302.265.5968 to arrange for a crew leader interview.

Also, we are still accepting bids from plumbers for our current new home construction projects. Please call Jeff for more information.

Upcoming Events

Global Village: Our Upcoming Mission Trip to Guatemala

On October 24th, our Family Services Manager, Margaret Reyes, will lead a group of servant leaders to San Marcos, Guatemala where they will help a partner family build their home. She will be accompanied by our Executive Director, Kevin Gilmore, staffers Rachel Freeman and Susan Webb, and Karen McLarty.

The team is already preparing for their nine day excursion. Most are brushing up on their Spanish, though Margaret and Keven are both fluent speakers. They're packing lots of sunblock, hats and gloves, and anything else necessary to help them as they build the family's new cinder-block and mortar home. Some of them are even looking forward to bulking up their muscles while working towards our cause.

SCHFH has partnered with Guatemala because there is a 1.2 million home deficit there. San Marcos, where the team will be serving, is the most rural and depressed area. Many families must live on just one dollar a day. They are subsistence farmers, meaning they grow just enough food to fee their own families. Unfortunately, the water is also not potable, meaning it is unsafe for drinking and cooking. Open fire cooking hearths in the traditional homes there, also contribute to the severe pulmonary illnesses in both mothers and their children. This is why we have made it our mission to build homes, community, and hope there. Look for trip highlights and pictures in an upcoming newsletter and on Facebook. In the meantime, we pray for their safety and success.

Office Space For Rent

W e are still looking for a good neighbor. The suite next door to our Habitat office in Georgetown is approximately 1,000 square feet and available for lease immediately.