Happy New Year!

I enter this year with gratitude and hope. Although we are dealing with so much uncertainty, at Habitat CFC we are certain that we will continue our mission of building more affordable homes for the families that we serve. Last month we dedicated two more homes for families that committed to securing Habitat homeownership. We celebrated with the DeJesus/Contreras and Betancourt families at their beautiful new homes. We also celebrated holiday gift-giving for Habitat children when Santa made a special visit to Habitat CFC. Earlier this month, we celebrated Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with “ A Celebration of Service” showcasing our volunteers. Rev. Dr. James Logan, Senior Pastor at Messiah Baptist Church in Bridgeport, CT served as our keynote speaker. We will host a Homebuyer Seminar on February 9th at 6 p.m. via zoom. I am looking forward to a year full of Habitat CFC events and educational programs and I am hopeful that I will be able to meet many of you in person at these celebrations.

As we move forward this year, I am thankful that you remain a part of Habitat CFC’s journey.

“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Join us for a fun evening with cocktails, dinner, dancing, a silent auction and more. The proceeds from the evening will support our mission to build decent, stable homes and bright futures for hard-working Fairfield County families.

Dress in your favorite garb from the roaring 20s and don't forget your dancing shoes!

Contact Director of Development Kristen Alvanson at kalvanson@habitatcfc.org or

(203) 333-2642 x109.

Join us for the first in a four-part series hosted and moderated by Habitat CFC CEO Carolyn Vermont. These free, one-hour virtual events will be a chance for us to hear from community leaders from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Women's History Month

National Caribbean-American Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Considering downsizing?

If you have furnishings that you are not planning on taking with you on your move, consider donating them to the Habitat ReStore. We offer a FREE pickup service or you can drop off your items at our Stratford location.

Drop Off Your Donation | 1785 Stratford Ave, Stratford, CT

email preferred – donate@restorecfc.org

We will miss seeing them volunteer with us and bringing their great attitudes every day. With this accomplishment they are one step closer to moving into their brand new Habitat home! We could not be happier for them.

When Sarah Whitney, this month’s volunteer spotlight, first moved to the United States from Hong Kong, her dad brought her to participate in a Youth United build day at our warehouse. The Youth United volunteers were painting siding for one of the Habitat CFC homes that day.

This first experience of giving back inspired her to start a lemonade stand at her home and to then donate the proceeds to Habitat CFC. She then ran the stand for 3 years in middle school. “I really liked having the lemonade stand and had a really good spot for it. I wanted to raise money for an organization and enjoyed selling the lemonade. Because I was coming in and volunteering with Habitat CFC, it was a fit.” Sarah then participated in making crafts like bottle tab bracelets, Jacob’s ladders, and suncatchers with Youth United. She would even sell them at her lemonade stand. She has since participated in several build days and currently volunteers as the Youth United events coordinator.

The most memorable moment that has stood out for Sarah was when she first started volunteering. “We were sorting books and stocking a bookshelf made by Youth United. My dad and I loaded it onto his truck and we took it over to one of the Habitat homes. To see the two little girls in the home and to see their reaction to the new books made me feel really good.”

Sarah started a Habitat for Humanity club at her school, the first club put together exclusively by students at the school. The club was difficult to get started. There had to be a lot of communication with the school and it was tough to get people interested in the club. This was definitely a learning experience for Sarah. “It was about learning to not give up, especially in the beginning, but all of our fundraisers have worked out well.” Recently, the club held a bake sale that raised over $1,000!!!

Sarah is currently a Junior at Pierrepont School in Westport. She plans to attend college to study biological science, but she still wants to volunteer with her college or university’s Habitat for Humanity chapter.

- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Habitat CFC Homeowners

Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County is pleased to announce that Valencia Goodridge has joined the organization as the Director of Family Services.

Her passion for affordable homeownership and commitment to helping local families thrive, partnered with her skills and experience, make Valencia the perfect leader of Habitat CFC’s Family Services department.

“I am delighted to have Valencia onboard at Habitat CFC. I have seen her work and dedication in the greater Bridgeport community, and I am confident that she will be a great addition to our organization,” said Carolyn Vermont, CEO of Habitat CFC.

“As a Bridgeport native who lived in public housing on the south-end during the 70s, I believe in Habitat for Humanity's vision as it embodies a spirit of hope for families,” says Goodridge. “I feel privileged to join the Habitat for Humanity team, offering low-income working families the pride of homeownership is poignant for me.”

Valencia is a native of Bridgeport, CT, grew up on the south-end of Bridgeport, and attended Bassick High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Bridgeport and completed her graduate studies at Southern CT State University with a Master’s in Business Administration. She most recently worked on the leadership and management team at the Community Action Agency of New Haven, servicing the most vulnerable individuals in the community. She’s a part-time Adjunct Professor.

Valencia is a servant leader and an active member of several non-profit boards; the Alumni Board at Southern CT State University, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and Westville Village Renaissance Alliance. She has extensive community experience and a proven track record of success working with marginalized populations.

Valencia resides in New Haven with her husband Gary and enjoys reading and visiting her adult daughters and sons-in-law.

Habitat CFC is very grateful to have Valencia join the team and wishes her much success in helping families to achieve their dream of homeownership.

On Tuesday, December 7th Habitat CFC’s Women Build program hosted a Lunch & Learn webinar facilitated by Debra Waldman, a Professional Certified Coach, on the topic “Women & Family: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation”. A group of Women Build members participated along with Habitat staff in an engaging discussion on the challenges of women who find themselves in the position of having to care for both their children and aging parents at the same time.

Lunch & Learn is an ongoing series of webinars focusing on women’s topics such as family, empowerment, finance and advocacy. Check here: https://habitatcfc.org/women-build-lunch-and-learn for future webinars. The webinars are free and open to the public.

Thank you to Bank of America for sponsoring this ongoing series!