The Publication of Habitat for Humanity International | June/July 2000
| The Publication of Habitat for Humanity International | June/July 2000 |
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Field Notes
With the addition of seven new affiliates in February and March, Habitat for Humanity International has 1,538 affiliates in the United States (including the District of Columbia, the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) and also is represented in 66 other countries. In addition, there are 603 campus chapters in the United States and 12 countries around the world. NORTHEAST (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont): Lisa Reitz, 200 S. Church St., West Chester, PA 19382, (800) 434-5463. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston has awarded Greater Providence HFH Rhode Island more than $29,000 to renovate a donated "triple decker" into three condominiums in Providence. Members of Valley Forge Presbyterian Church in King of Prussia, Pa., have plenty to be proud of. Six months ago, HFH of Montgomery County dedicated a rehabilitated Habitat house in Norristown. Church members contributed more than 8,000 hours working on the renovation; some 500 hours preparing and delivering lunches to the work site; and still another 1,000 hours working behind the scenes. Remarkable enough as a contribution, but it also should be noted that the majority of the core group are retirees, many of whom are more than 70 years old. New campus chapters -- Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Conn.; University of Connecticut Medical and Dental Schools, Farmington, Conn.; Scarsdale High School, Scarsdale, N.Y.; Brown University, Providence, R.I. CENTRAL ATLANTIC (District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia): Sandra Graham, PO Box 1712, Easley, SC 29641, (864) 855-8775. Nine years ago, Chatham County HFH in Pittsboro, N.C., opened its "Chatham Habitat Home Store." Its profit margin has grown every year since. In 1999, the store's profit of more than $150,000 was up approximately 80 percent from the previous year. HFH Cabarrus County in Concord, N.C., celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the affiliate held a Playhouse Blitz Build at the Cabarrus County Fairgrounds in March, in which 10 playhouses were constructed in five hours. They are being sold for $900 each. Tarboro/Edgecombe HFH is moving ahead with its commitment to build at least 12 houses this year in partnership with families affected by Hurricane Floyd, which devastated the area in 1999. New campus chapter -- Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, N.C. MID-AMERICA (Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana): Jim Crowley, PO Box 60410, Nashville, TN 37206, (615) 254-6300. In March, Boy Scouts from seven counties partnered with HFH of Monroe County to build a Habitat house in Bloomington, Ind. Funding for the house was provided by a local man whose son died accidentally at a Boy Scout camp in 1976. Holston HFH in Kingsport, Tenn., celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and has set an ambitious goal of dedicating 14 houses by the end of the year. New campus chapter -- Brentwood High School, Brentwood, Tenn. SOUTHEAST (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico): Dick Weber, 226 N. Laura St., Jacksonville, FL 32202-3502, (800) 637-9532. HFH Sarasota is closing in on building its 100th house. The 15-year-old affiliate hopes to build the house in partnership with 100 area congregations in the fall. MIDDLE STATES (Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas): Joe Gatlin, PO Box 3157, Waco, TX 76707, (800) 682-1980. Leland HFH (Miss.) is a 4-year-old affiliate that has built seven houses. A community of just 6,000 in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, what it lacks in resources it makes up for in faith and diligence. During the week of Sept. 9-16, it plans to build four houses, but needs help. If you can help, call (662) 686-4509, or email rsmbaker@tecinfo.com New affiliates -- HFH of Greater Wynne, Wynne, Ark.; HFH of Morgan County, Versailles, Mo. New campus chapter -- Boerne High School, Boerne, Texas. MOUNTAIN STATES (Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming): Bruce Petersen, 1005 N.W. Galveston, Bend, OR 97701, (800) 365-4637. The Women's Resource Center and HFH of La Plata County (Colo.) partnered in May to build a Habitat house in Durango that was dedicated on Mother's Day. Women crews provided the labor, and worked under the supervision of both men and women crew leaders. In Sante Fe, N.M., construction is progressing on a Santa Fe HFH "First Ladies Build" house. New Mexico First Lady Dee Johnson, along with governors' wives from several states, served as the first work crew on the house. New affiliates -- Berthoud HFH, Berthoud, Colo.; Cowlitz County HFH, Longview, Wash.; HFH of Kitsap County, Bremerton, Wash. WEST (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada): Dick Kuegerman, 1440 Broadway, Suite 205, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 286-8960. Do not tell Father Craig Harrison of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Bakersfield, Calif., that children are not capable of extraordinary things. When fifth grader Stephen Ariey asked him what the church was doing to help those in need of housing, Fr. Harrison knew that his answer -- nothing yet -- wouldn't fly. So he asked the youngster to head up a project: to raise $50,000 to help build a Habitat house in partnership with HFH-Golden Empire. To date, almost the full amount has been raised by taking donations at Mass. New campus chapters -- California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, Calif. MIDWEST (Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin): Bill Ward, 1920 S. Laflin St., Chicago, IL 60608, (800) 643-7845. In Edina, Minn., 17-year-old James Westin and friends made a colossal three-story ice castle in his back yard last winter, asked for donations from those who came by to see it, and donated the proceeds to Twin Cities HFH. More than 3,000 people stopped by to tour the creation during two Friday evening "open houses." The sculpture, which measured 20 feet high by 18 feet wide, was complete with "stained-glass windows" made of ice that was tinted with food coloring. Last fall, Bay County HFH (Mich.) was the recipient of a $3,000 donation from the Pro Bowlers Association following its annual charity roll-off, held at Labadfie Oldsmobile on a portable bowling alley. More than 100 spectators and participants were on hand for the annual event. Since its founding in 1987, Saginaw HFH (Mich.) has tithed 10 percent of its undesignated funds to the work of Habitat in Papua New Guinea. Because of Saginaw HFH's commitment, it received word recently that the 1,000th Habitat house built in Papua New Guinea was realized through these funds. New affiliates -- Sparta Area HFH, Sparta, Ill.; HFH of Washburn County, Spooner, Wis. — by Karen Free — by Milana McLead |
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