Editor: Beth Rand
Layout: Ruth Hannum
Office Staff: Beth Rand, Betty Dyess
A successful Habitat for Humanity affiliate needs a strong group of volunteers to make it work. We have been very fortunate that through the years we have had literally thousands of volunteers help build homes. The fact is, we could not succeed without them.
Less obvious are those that volunteer their time and energies as board members, committee members and office support. These are the people that help develop and implement our business plan(s) and support day to day operations. The fact is, we could not succeed without them, as well.
A heartfelt thanks to all our Habitat for Humanity of Burlington County volunteers. You make it happen.
Bill Santamore
TEAM HABITAT has become a popular company sponsored workday at a Habitat for Humanity of Burlington County (HFHBC) construction site for the purpose of building employee enthusiasm and teamwork. It can be a half-day or full day event. TEAM HABITAT provides an opportunity to build employee morale, demonstrate good corporate citizenship, build company visibility, and enhance personal interaction outside the company work environment....while helping to build affordable housing for Burlington County Habitat approved families.
Habitat for Humanity of Burlington County (HFHBC) is an independent, non-profit corporation that depends on tax deductible donations of money, materials and services. HFHBC tithes 10% of non-designated contributions to Habitat International to support International's overseas building program.
Our goal is to achieve an annual income of $750,00 within 5 years and build more than ten homes per year in Burlington County. We need your contributions to get there.
We are thankful and blessed for all the special volunteers that help keep our program moving forward.
Todd Johnson has volunteered his skill and certification through the years as a licensed electrician to do the wiring of our Habitat houses so they meet code and pass inspection. Todd has left KYW-TV and started his own business, Todd Johnson Electrical Contractor, located in Moorestown. He has been a real friend to our affiliate.
Betty Dyess continues to volunteer two days a week to help in our office. She also volunteers the other three days at Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Betty tackles any job that needs to be done. She is a great resource and sounding board and a valuable member of our team.
The Regulars come to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays to build houses; Blair, Frank, Don, Jack, John, Jim, Dick, Murray, Bob, Harvey, Dave, Sid, Bob, Bill, John, Sandy, Ray, Frank, and Rich. They are a great group that plays an important role in our success.
What is a ReStore?
More than 50 Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the United States and Canada have established ReStores. These are warehouse facilities that sell quality used and surplus building materials at prices substantially below retail prices. All materials sold by Habitat ReStores are donated. - often by contractors with excess supplies, from demolition crews salvaging reusable materials, or from the general public.
Proceeds from the ReStore help to fund home construction and defray affiliate administration costs. Some of the donated materials can be used in our own home construction, especially in "gut-rehabs", helping to control costs. The ReStore can also provide opportunities for "sweat equity" hours for family members under the age of sixteen. (State law requires workers to be at least sixteen to work on a construction site).
What is needed?
We need at least a 5,000-sq. ft. warehouse facility where we can store and display donated materials and build permanent offices for our affiliate. The preferred location would be somewhere between Riverside and Burlington City. Obviously, facility costs are an extremely important consideration for our non-profit.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help plan and develop a ReStore operation, please contact our office.
Hosted by Cendant Mortgage
The Fourth Annual Cendant Charity Golf Classic on June 9th at the Seaview Marriott Resort was a resounding success. It raised record funds this year, which will be donated to four charities: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Easter Seals, Muscular Dystrophy Association and Habitat for Humanity.
Cendant has been a strong and generous supporter to Habitat for Humanity of Burlington County. Their first contribution four years ago allowed us to increase our home production to three homes per year. We are now planning to build up to six homes in 2004. Cendant's support is a critical factor in making this happen.
Cendant's commitment in funds and Cendant employee volunteers supporting our affiliate and the Metro Camden Habitat affiliate reflect the type of corporate citizenship that really makes a difference in the quality of life for all residents. We are very grateful to have Cendant and their employees as friends of Habitat for Humanity.
Area businesses and organizations continue to be a key resource. The following have made donations this calendar year as we go to print.
Platinum Plus Level
Platinum Level
Gold Level
Silver Level
Bronze Level
Cornerstone Level
On August 18, 2003, more than 200 golfers and a small army of volunteers converged on Little Mill Golf Club in Marlton, N.J. for the first Patrick F. Monaghan Golf Classic. Part of the tournament proceeds will be used to sponsor Patrick's Place II in Burlington, N.J. (see related story on recently completed Patrick's Place in Beverly.)
An outpouring of support from the community helped make the tournament a success. The tournament was also a family affair, with many of Patrick's friends and their parents either volunteering or golfing. Many parents volunteered alongside their sons and daughters.
Of the 70 volunteers who helped keep the day running smoothly, more than half were teenagers who wanted to be part of the tournament memorializing their friend. Nearly all of the teenage volunteers belong to the St. Mary of the Lakes Youth Group, YES (Youth Energized in the Spirit) in Medford. Kathy Ellis, YES leader, said the group's membership has nearly doubled since Patrick's death as his friends are coming together and performing service in his memory.
Serving the community--it's what Patrick would have done. They're doing it with him alive in their hearts.
The tennis playing ladies at Medford Village Country Club held their first fund raiser for Habitat for Humanity of Burlington County in October. Club pro Mary Jewett organized the Calcutta event (competitive team tennis) with the enthusiastic support of Beth Brockelman and Bonnie Fletcher. They were a terrific team putting the fundraiser together on short notice. It was a great success. Plans for next year are already being discussed.
"When the songs of angels are stilled
When the star in the sky is gone...
When the shepherds are back with their flocks
The work of Christmas begins...
To find the lost
To heal the broken
To feed the hungry
To release the prisoner
To rebuild nations
To bring peace among people
To make music in the heart..."
Howard Thurman
Unity House is a building project created for the purpose of establishing a fully funded building program supported by an interfaith coalition of area Houses of Worship. In addition to helping to build affordable housing, Unity House offers a wonderful opportunity to build fellowship and strengthen congregations by participating in the building process.
Support for this program is growing as we meet with churches throughout the county. We are interested in establishing a standing committee of volunteers to help promote Unity House. If interested, please contact the office. Father Robert Legnani, Habitat board member and pastor at St. Stephens, is the committee chairperson.
We are looking forward with great anticipation to 2004. We expect to increase home production from our current annual rate of three homes to five or six. That's a significant increase that has been in the planning stage since last year.
It began with a meeting more than a year ago with Rick Iovine, Executive Director for the City of Burlington Redevelopment Agency. The City's interest and our desire to help revitalize neighborhoods by building new homes and "gut-rehabbing" abandoned and boarded up properties formed the basis for a potential partnership based on common goals. As we go to print, we are still working on the partnership details but construction has started in the historic district. We are also beginning to explore the possibility of partnerships with other Burlington County cities. They, too, would be based on a mutual commitment to a common goal defined by each city's needs.
In order to support this growth we have continued to improve office and field operations. We have also been successful in increasing volunteer involvement (now at eighteen volunteers) in the Family Selection and Family Support Committees and have turned our attention to staffing other committees with volunteers. Each full strength committee adds critical capabilities for fulfilling our mission. And, just as importantly, our financial position has continued to strengthen with more individuals, organizations, churches and business groups contributing to our affiliate. All help to make a positive difference in the quality of life for families, neighborhoods, cities and all the residents of Burlington County.
Peter A. Cerra
We are winding down our current building program in Beverly with the completion of Patrick's Place I. Patrick's Place is the eleventh home Habitat has built in this river front city; eight homes have been "gut-rehabs" and three have been new construction. The Patrick's Place project was established to honor the memory of Patrick Monaghan, a high school sophomore, who died in a skiing accident in February.
Patrick's Place II will be one of the first new homes built in Burlington City as we start production in this historic city. The City of Burlington has conveyed three properties to Habitat for Humanity of Burlington County to help the city's on-going redevelopment effort. The first home will be the "gut-rehab" of a boarded up property and the other two will be new construction. All three will meet the Historic Preservation Commission's building code requirements.
Habitat has been working closely with the City of Burlington Redevelopment Agency to develop a "partnership" agreement after our initial discussions that began in September 2002. Our mutual intent is to establish a multi-year, multi-home construction program.
We have had terrific support from a number of area businesses in helping to move the Burlington City project along. Time and talent were contributed by Ed Penberthy, Niki Kelly, Bill Hyland and Tarin Decembrino of the law firm Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, by Jack Parry of J. Randolph Parry Architects, and Bob Lee of Everland Shourds & Associates engineering firm. Jim Stewart of J.P. Stewart Development and Habitat board member has been instrumental in bringing focus and energy to the project. We are very grateful for all their efforts.
It is not unusual to read that Habitat for Humanity of Burlington County (HHBC) renovates or repairs homes in addition to new construction. That's incorrect. The fact is that HFHBC "gut-rehabs" boarded up properties in addition to new construction.
What's the difference? It is significant. A gut-rehab is the complete removal of interior walls and ceilings down to the framing. The building is then inspected for structural defects and corrected as necessary. The home is fully insulated and new plumbing, heating and wiring is installed. Everything is done according to code. The building exterior is often removed and replaced. The end result is the gut-rehabbed home is basically comparable to new construction.
There is another very important result. A HFHBC gut-rehab home greatly improves the quality of the housing stock in the neighborhood. Because we are a private, non-profit corporation and build with volunteers we can "afford" to do this kind of extensive work. A private, for profit company simply cannot do the same thing and price the home at market and make money. Bottom line, when Habitat for Humanity of Burlington County gets involved, our construction and home ownership program helps to dramatically improve neighborhoods.
God Bless
Steve King
The Liberty House building program is being developed under the leadership of the Lockheed Martin Corporation. The plan is to have defense industry related companies fund an on-going building program. The homes will be built with volunteers from these same companies and with current and former military personnel, among others. The idea for the program came from Beth Rand, Officer Manager, during a scheduling meeting with Staff Sergeant Anthony Whitehead from McGuire AFB. McGuire AFB personnel and Lockheed Martin employees have been long term, regular volunteers.
We are grateful for the generous businesses, churches, civic and school organizations, and individuals who toiled at our work sites this past year to help make someone else's dream of owning their own home a reality. We are grateful for all who donated funds and materials to keep us building. Unfortunately, we still have along way to go to achieve our goal of eliminating poverty housing in Burlington County. We still need your help, and will be asking you to do more so we can do more. Come join us at our work sites, we are a feel-good place with loads of laughter. Write us a check, it will make you feel good at tax time. Attend our dedications for finished homes, the music will make your heart sing and the grateful families will bring you to tears.
___ I'd like to be part of a work crew.
___ I'd like to be a volunteer for a committee
___ I'd like to donate in-kind contributions, i.e., building materials, office supplies, warehouse space.
___ I'll be a prayer partner.
___ I'd like a speaker for my church, school, or organization.
___ My special gift is enclosed $____________.
___ I'd like information on your home ownership program.
___ I'd like to donate to Burlington County Habitat for Humanity online at www.habitatbcnj.org
Name:_____________________________________
Address:___________________________________
City:____________________ State:_____Zip:_____
Phone: ______________________
Habitat for Humanity
PO Box 67
Beverly, NJ 08010
Office: 609.239.5551
Fax: 609.239.0569
Email: habitatbcnj@snip.net
Website: www.habitatbcnj.org