Board President Making Himself Useful

Here's proof that the board president actually gets his hands dirty once and a while and that he's not adverse to calling in favors to get his friends to do the same (from left, Brian McLaughlin, John LeFante, crew leader John Nichols).
We had the always fun task of insullation, but didn't complain (much).

The Reason we do What we Do

I came across an email from Sharon D'Alessio, one of our two new partner families, which she sent to our Family Selection Committee upon being selected a partner family. I thought I should share part of it.

"Thank you so much for selecting my boys and I to be part of habitat housing out of 30 applicants. We feel so honored and we are all very excited. I was so excited about the whole idea of being able to move into my own home with the boys that I could not help but to drive by the site area late yesterday afternoon to get an idea of what the area may look like. I have to say I was very surprised of all the work I had seen being done and finished. Owning my own home ... will be a blessing for my boys and I."

filed by Glenn Fannick

Building Update - Aug 20, 2007

Moss House
Accomplished
- Kitchen cabinets and counter top installed
- Kitchen sink installed
- Tub surround installed
- Closet doors hung and guides installed
- Outside walkway installed
- Driveway dug
- Shed pad installed
- Most of yard seeded
This week
- Chalk tub surround
- Spackle tub corner
- Install bath vanity and sink
- Install propane tanks and connect to house
- Do touch ups in kitchen

D'Alessio House
Accomplished
- Flooring installed
- Cabinets installed
- Painting complete
- Driveway/walkway installed
- Shed pad installed
- Yard seeded
- Mailbox installed
- Appliances delivered
This week
- Counter top installed
- Rug installed
- Power and water to house
- Propane connected to house (THURSDAY)
- Inspections

filed by Mike Strada

Building Update - Aug 12, 2007

Moss House
Accomplishments
- All interior door knobs installed
- Exterior door locks installed
- Kitchen ceiling paint touched up and lights re-installed
- Door stoppers installed
- Kitchen cabinet knobs installed
- Kitchen ceiling fan installed
- Closet doors painted
- Breanna's closet doors installed, this
- Purchased tub surround and tub fixtures
- Purchased kitchen sink

This week coming
- Counter top to be delivered Wednesday
- Install counter top, sink, faucet
- Install tub surround and fixtures
- Install Master Bedroom closet doors

D'Alessio House
- Started "finishing work"
- Painting trim and wall touch up

This week coming
- Excavator coming for grading/driveways
- Cabinet installation
- More finishing work on Saturday

filed by Mike Strada

Two Houses in One Year

A first for our affiliate is the construction of two houses simultaneously - and both done in record time. The House blessings for both houses will be Tuesday, Aug 28 at 7pm at the site. Come join us celebrate!

Final Electrics Installed at D'Alessio House

I stopped by the house site on Friday to see the progress and saw that George Conley and his assistant from Conley Electric of Cranbury were there that day. George has volunteered his professional skills on every house we've built, saving us probably tens of thousands of dollars over the years.

Queenship team ahead of schedule and in sight of the finish line

Our friends at Queenship have posted dozens of pictures on their Web site on the progress of the D'Alessio house.

The house is getting finished in record time and AHEAD of schedule. A first for our affiliate. It's all because of the dynamic skills, tons of volunteers, committed leadership and their faith that they COULD do it. A true inspiration of all of us.

Youth United Update - August

Hi to Youth United! here's our first Build project ALERT, followed by other news updates.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS!!! THIS IS A SPECIAL BUILD HELP REQUEST FOR YOUTH 16 AND OVER!!!

1) SATURDAY MORNING ONLY, August 11 - 8:30-1PM to complete some finish work on the Moss home. We need your help to install the interior doors, paint them and install all the fixtures.

2) AUGUST WEEKDAYS - Starting this week, until the Moss home is done: our adult build supervisors are looking for youth to assist them during someweekdays between now and when school starts. Please email me <> and let me know what days and times you are available. Again, there are many final jobs for our contractors that youth can assist with.

PLATES AND PLANNING NEWS!

Youth Ages 12 and over - SAVE A SEPTEMBER SATURDAY (date to be set)

Storage clearing and moving plate collection- We would like to find youth to help clear our new storage area of build equipment some Saturday morning in September. That same day, we plan to move the plate collection to our new storage area. We will set up tables at the new storage site to package plates as they are sold.

Plate sale and packaging

I'll provide the name of our volunteer youth leader in charge of the collectors plate collection sale on eBAY. To help with the storage clearing, the plate collection move or packaging email Jeanne.

COME TO THE EVAN AVENUE HOUSE BLESSINGS!!!!

Date: Tuesday, Aug. 28th, 7-8pm

You are invited to join us for two house blessings -- Katherine Moss and family/Sharon D'Alessio and family homes are moving to completion. Please come and congratulate our newest families!!

DIRECTIONS - House Blessings - Evan Avenue, East Windsor

http://www.habitatmba.org/projects.htm

Directions are under Current Project Site

PARTY!! Volunteer Recogitnion -- Attend to celebrate all of our accomplishments.

When: Saturday, September 22, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Location: Elks Lodge No. 1955 110 Hickory Corner Rd, Hightstown, NJ 08520

Please contact Rosa if you and/or your group are interested inhelping with the party planning.

PREPARING FOR FALL 2007! "YOUTH ON BOARD" (16-25)

We are looking for a few youth members to join the HFH affiliate board andattend meetings, starting in the fall. We wiil have both non-voting youthboard members (16-18) and voting members (18 and over).You can help us define the new youth board member role by attending our September meeting, 2nd Thursday, September 13, at 7:30 PM at 1st United Methodist Church, 187 Stockton St., Hightstown, NJ

MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Each fund rasing project for the affiliate that you, your family or groupsets out to accomplish is an opportunity to learn about and experienceleadership.

Youth United 2007-2008 Calendar and To-Do list:

• Update the Youth United (YU) email list -- if you have new members to invite, just email Jeanne


• Set up your own school or group fund raising goals and schedule and let us know your plans


• Attend Youth United meetings at the monthly HFH board meeting - our affiliate events (including youth teams for spring 2008 pancake breakfast)


• Be a motivated member of our "Youth on Board" program - plan events/helpthe board


• READ ALERTS - keep up with our email schedule - youth will have chances tolend a hand for home rehabs and other Build Team needs- Ages 12-15 - Queenship of Mary youth will build sheds and will let us know if youth 12-15 can help with these. Again, contact me if you're interested.


• Add YU event pictures for our website. Digital pictures are being collected, so please email me those to me.


• Finally, continue to promote outstanding youth participation for the upcoming school year!http://www.habitatmba.org/YouthUnited.htm
  

Enjoy the week, and I look forward to seeing you soon! Celebrations and parties are a great way to meet other youth!!!

- filed by Jeanne McCarthy, Youth United leader

Building Update - Aug 3, 2007

Moss House
- Exterior doors painting completed
- Kitchen cabinets secured in place
Next Week
- Install kitchen counter top
- Closet doors
- Bathroom work

D'Alessio House
- Interior painting completed

Misc
- Both the trailers are empty and can be removed.

filed by Mike Strada

Habitat for Humanity seeks role in West Windsor redevelopment

There was some nice coverage in the Packet today about board member Marshall Lerner's comments to the West Windsor township council meeting this week. He put forward our affiliate's willingness to help the township meet its low-income housing tally as part of its planned redevelopment of the train station area.