News & Updates

"If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together."  Chinese proverb

A key theme at Habitat on the Hill is the creative, albeit, sometimes unlikely partnerships that are developing due to reduced funding. This tightening of the belt is being faced at all levels -- from governmental agencies to nonprofits to the individual families served by Habitat affiliates across the country.  While the economic environment is challenging at best, there is a silver lining.

I just had the distinct privilege of attending the closing for Ricky Mitchell and the house we built together with him in Long Acres in Raleigh.  Habitat is a partnership, not a charity give-away.  And with Ricky this couldn’t be truer.  Ricky himself was actively engaged in all aspects of the construction.  Ricky’s brother, a professional roofer, installed the roof shingles.  Ricky’s co-worker, a trim carpenter, installed all the interior doors in a matter of hours and then cut the baseboards which Ricky installed.

This past Sunday was our 11^th annual Holiday Home Tour fundraiser and the crowd gathered was not only treated to some good food and music, but also to hearing from our current homebuyers in Garner, Michael and Waldrena Robinson and their experience with Habitat Wake.  As we approach Thanksgiving, I find myself grateful and blessed to be a part of an organization that can make such a huge difference in people’s lives in such a simple, but profound way.

Last Saturday was the long-anticipated opening of our second ReStore, located at 181 High House Road in Cary.  It was a great occasion with speeches, ribbon cutting, balloons, and lots of eager customers. For us, ReStore has a three fold mission:  1)  Assist families in securing low-cost products to upgrade their own dwellings   2)  Raise funds for Habitat for Humanity’s mission to provide simple, decent, affordable housing for those in need  and 3) to promote re-use of products rather than discarding them to landfills.

I stopped by one of our build sites a couple Saturdays ago and had a chance to chat with our homeowner-to-be.  I wish you all could have been there to just see the joy that Habitat has brought into his life.  It was so evident.  All of our volunteers and donors help make that possible.  It really is precious.

I went to lunch last Tuesday, with my 22 year old twin sons.  While I stepped away to the restroom, the check arrived, and to my pleasant surprise, my son Micah picked up the check! My take-away on this is that things do change in significant ways over time.  I’ve bought Micah many meals over the years and to have him pay for one signifies a major change that is a generation long in coming.

Last week, Habitat Wake staff member Pam Forsythe visited our friends in Honduras for a Global Build.

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately.  We’ve been busy, both on our construction sites and in putting together a plan of action for our Fiscal Year 2012, which begins in July.

Yesterday, 12 area CEOs came together and began framing Shanita’s house at a site in Cary.  I was privileged to be able to spend the day working with them. I told the CEOs that they didn’t have to make any decisions on site, but to “just do as you are told and we’ll all be OK.”  I introduced our construction manager Brad McHugh, as chairman of the board for the day and Ed Rogers our site superintendent, as chair of the audit committee.