January 27, 2016 Newsletter

Thank You

The AmeriCorps 2016 MLK Days of Service were a huge success! Pictured above, Team Rachel, a family that comes together every MLK Day to serve with Habitat, framed two future Habitat homes at one of our Ellendale build sites. The frames will be placed on build sites in Seaford later this year. #GoTeamRachel!

The team also did some interior finishing work on the Ellendale homes. AmeriCorps assisted the team and also watched the children of the volunteers. They also helped the kids ice cookies and clean up trash. Everyone enjoyed the day and much was accomplished in honor of Dr. King.

Framing

Painting

An award winning team of youth volunteers from the Laurel Public Library also gave a day of service with AmeriCorps to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The teens painted a shed in the library's parking to be placed at a Habitat home site in Laurel later. These award winning teens have already been recognized by Governor Markell for their other outstanding volunteer efforts.

The youths worked alongside some of our Partner Families (future Habitat homeowners), including the woman for whom the shed was built. They also helped distributed information about Habitat's Repairs Program for existing homeowners who may need help with major or minor repairs in Laurel as part of Habitat's neighborhood revitalization plan.

Thank you to the Laurel Public Library and Habitat staff who organized the event and to the AmeriCorps service members who successfully led the event. #HabitatYouthRocks!

Leading

Serving

AmeriCorps and former AmeriCorps members now serving with Sussex County Habitat were also called upon to assist the Red Cross during last weekend's snow storm. The team readied a shelter at Sussex Central High School for homeless and evacuated persons Great job, everyone!

#AmeriCorpsGetsItDone!

Signing Ceremony

She'don and Kevin

Please welcome She'don Hayes! We held a signing ceremony for her on Thursday, January 21st at our offices in Georgetown. During the ceremony we pledged to do all we can to help She'don complete her requirements for home ownership including her sweat equity hours and family services curriculum. Congratulations, She'don! We hope this first step leads to a new affordable home for you and your children in the near future.

Upcoming Events

Register Here

We have a lot of exciting events coming up in the next few months. We promise to get the details to you in plenty of time, but we don't want anyone to miss out so please save the following dates:

25th Anniversary - March 12th - Georgetown Cheer - 6 to 10 pm

Wine Tasting - April 17th - Bin 66 - 4 to 6 pm

Auction Night - May 12th - Bethany Blues - 5 to 8 pm

Walt Jones Memorial Project = Annual Golf Outing - May 13th - Midway Par 3 - 8:30 am or 1 pm Tee Times Avaialable

Spotlight On ...

Sharon Feltwater

AmeriCorps member, Sharon Feltwater, currently serves at the ReStore. Sharon writes, "In my heart and with my eyes I've always been able to create and design." She'd been volunteering regularly at ReStore when one day the manager, Mark, asked her to redesign a room so that customers would be more attracted to it. "I used architectural pieces, shutters, ivy, and developed a beautiful new design. The forgotten room now had new life -- but from re-purposed materials. This made me so joyful." From there Sharon began to create different rooms with different themes. Mark and the team fell in love with the new look she created for the ReStore. Sharon's passion soon created the opportunity for her to serve with us full-time as an AmeriCorps member. "I enjoy every moment of playing at this place where the team has become my circle of friends. The process of creating is just too much fun to call it working. Imagination is my best friend. I don't go to work, I go to play."
Thanks for your service, Sharon. We know how much work it really is.

Volunteers and Donations Needed

We are still in need of donated items for our two upcoming auctions. Suggestions include; gift certificates for local restaurants, hotels, spas, golf courses, fitness centers, etc. Baskets of Cheer, cheese, fruit, chocolate or other delectable treats are welcome too.

To explore advertising, sponsorship, or volunteer opportunities during our 25th Anniversary Kick-off and the Walt Jones Memorial Project events, please contact Traci deWolfe at [email protected]. She'll be glad to help you get started.

Global Village: Guatemala Fast Facts

Did you know SCHFH tithes 10% of all unrestricted funds to Guatemala? Here's why:

Guatemala has a population of 14,389,000. It is arranged into 22 Departments and is about the size of Tennessee.
More than half of Guatemala's population is indigenous and poverty unequally impacts this population. (Worldbank)
Despite being the largest economy in Central America, Guatemala has the lowest human development index (a composite measure of life expectancy, health, and education outcomes) of any country in the sub-region. (CESR)
Nationally, between 56-64% of the population lives below the national poverty level of $2/day. It's over 75% in rural areas.
COHRE says that 50% of Guatemalans, mostly rural indigenous, live in inadequate housing. Between a million and a million-and-a-half live in homes made of cornstalks or scavenged materials with dirt floors.