30 Years of Building Community Homeownership ♦ Repairs ♦ Advocacy ♦ Volunteers ♦ Habitat ReStore 2015 Spring Newsletter P.O. Box 5265 Kingsport, TN 37663 Phone: 423-239-7689 Email: [email protected] Website: www.holstonhabitat.org Holston Habitat for Humanity - Celebrating 30 Years In the early 1980s, while teaching at King College in Bristol, TN, Elizabeth Ann Hay took students to visit Koinonia Farms and Habitat for Humanity headquarters in Americus, GA and led a mission trip for students to build Habitat homes in Haiti. In 1985 Elizabeth Ann became the chair of Holston Presbytery’s Ethical Issues and Human Needs Committee and shared with the committee the experiences of the King students. The whole committee enthusiastically embraced the idea of creating a local Habitat affiliate. In March 1985 Elizabeth Ann arranged for Ted Swisher from Habitat International to speak to community leaders about Habitat for Humanity. One of those leaders was Jo Elizabeth Ann Hay & Jo Morrison in 2010 Morrison, who immediately caught the Habitat fever and joined forces with Elizabeth Ann to mobilize the community to form a new Habitat affiliate. The two women made presentations, recruited volunteers, organized committees and applied for 501c3 status. Before the end of the year the job was done. In October 1985, Elizabeth Ann and Ted Hagen, Sr. went to the annual meeting of Habitat International in New York City, where Holston Habitat for Humanity received its charter. HHfH was one of fifteen charters granted that day for a total of 100 affiliates in the United States. The new affiliate originally served the cities of Kingsport and Elizabethton. Today HHfH serves Sullivan, Washington and Carter Counties in Tennessee and the city of Bristol, VA. 1st HHfH House built in 1986 - Kingsport HHfH has provided housing for 254 local families and over 230 families overseas through its affiliate tithe. Meet Our Newest Homeowners The Bell Family Helen Bell and her three children are excited about their new home located at 908 East Lakeview Drive in Johnson City, TN. The Bell family has had a journey full of experiences Helen Bell and daughter working with Holston Habitat. The challenges the Bell family faced ultimately led to a blessing in disguise that Helen says she is very thankful for. “Working closely with everyone involved built my social life with people who are on the same page as me,” Helen says. The family’s home, built in partnership with the Johnson City B Team and Johnson City Community Volunteers, was dedicated on January 11, 2015. The Ross Family After applying with Holston Habitat and not qualifying, Nelson and Carolyn Ross were determined to become homeowners. So the couple reapplied, got approved and made everyone fall in love with their warm and vibrant Carolyn & Nelson Ross personalities. The Ross family worked diligently on the rehab of their home alongside the Holston Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and Staff. Nelson and Carolyn are regular volunteers at the Holston Habitat ReStore where they earned the majority of their sweat equity hours. “Habitat became our family. Everyone chipped in and helped,” says Carolyn. The recycled home, located at 1638 Spruce Street in Kingsport, TN, was dedicated on January 31, 2015. The Chappell Family After renting in Section 8 housing, Amanda Chappell decided it was time for a change. She and her family worked hard through the program and on the rehab of her new home in Elizabethton, TN. The Chappell Home Amanda, who is also going to school, said, “Working through the Habitat program has pushed and motivated me to finish school.” Amanda and her family are excited about her accomplishments and their new home which was dedicated on February 22, 2015. Thanks to BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and Elizabethton Community Volunteers for all their help on this project! New Board Members HHfH extends a warm welcome to the following individuals who are joining the HHfH Board of Directors in 2015: • Doug Dotterweich: ETSU Economics Professor - Johnson City • Ashok Gala: PHD, Principal QA Chemist - Kingsport • Steve Miller: Eastman Chemical Company - Kingsport • Stacy Onks: PHD, ETSU Professor - Johnson City • Connie Whitaker: Interior Decorator - Piney Flats 30th Anniversary Photography Contest In honor of celebrating 30 years of building hope in our community, Holston Habitat is holding a themed photography contest. Winners will have their photos showcased in a 2016 HHfH calendar. Visit our website at www.holstonhabitat.org for more information. Appalachia CARES/AmeriCorps Program We are pleased to have Cora Thompson and Allen Rollings on our Habitat team for 2015. They will be working with us half-time as Appalachia CARES/ AmeriCorps members. They will work alongside our volunteers on the work sites and support the construction efforts of HHfH. Cora is a senior in Engineering at ETSU and will be graduating in May of this year. She also is an instructor in Computer Assisted Design classes at Northeast State Community College. Allen is a Computer Technical Consultant with good hands-on construction savvy. They both will add to our construction/builds and direct service to our communities through their efforts. Appalachia CARES/AmeriCorps members are not affiliate staff members. They are provided as a resource to our affiliate. Holston Habitat for Humanity is an Appalachia CARES/AmeriCorps program host site. AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith -based groups across the country. Since the program’s founding in 1994, more than 900,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.2 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. AmeriCorps programs do more than move communities forward; they serve their members by creating jobs and providing pathways to opportunity for young people entering the workforce. AmeriCorps places thousands of young adults into intensive service positions where they learn valuable work skills, earn money for education, and develop an appreciation for citizenship. Congratulations to Victor & Lisa Harris (Kingsport) for paying their house off in 2014! Their house was dedicated in May 1993. The Habitat office will be closed the following days: Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day Friday, July 3 - Independence Day The Habitat ReStore will be closed on Saturday, July 4 for Independence Day. Northern Students Escaped the Frigid Cold Students from Milwaukee School of Engineering, Hotchkiss School in Northwest Connecticut and Lesley University in Boston spent spring break away from the frigid winter weather and helped people at the same time on their spring break. Thirty two students and advisers built with Holston Habitat for Humanity in the tri-cities during the first three weeks in March. These weeks of service were part of the annual Collegiate Challenge sponsored by Habitat for Humanity. Students from universities and high schools throughout the country invest their spring break by helping build communities through Habitat for Humanity affiliates. "This is the first year we have engaged college groups to come down during their spring break," said Art Pearce, Executive Director. “These students traveled a long way and sacrificed the option of sitting on a beach somewhere to invest in our communities. We are very grateful. I am sure they were hoping for a little break from winter by coming to the sunny south,” Pearce said. Students and advisor from Milwaukee School of Engineering SAVE THE DATE ReArt at the ReStore 3 - Saturday, July 11 This year’s Fun Fest will run from Friday, July 10 through Saturday, July 18. The theme is “Community Unity.” The third annual ReArt at the ReStore will take place in the ReArt Arena on Saturday, July 11. Come join in the fun and spectacle as area artists share their talents in this unique event. You can follow event announcements and updates on Facebook. ReStore News Tuesday volunteers get ready for another big day Making a difference one volunteer at a time On any given day, there are between 15 and 25 people volunteering at the ReStore and we could not make it without them. If you are an individual, business or belong to a civic or church group and are looking for volunteer opportunities, consider joining in our effort to benefit Holston Habitat for Humanity. Great opportunities exist in many areas, including: customer service, merchandising, stocking, logistics, donation procurement and more. Please call Milburn Lane, ReStore Manager, at 423-378-4760 or send an email to [email protected] to find out how you can donate the gift of time. Calling all artists If you are a ReArtist, then we are looking for you. There are still spots available for this year's ReArt at the ReStore. If you are interested in participating, or would like more information, please contact the store at 423-378-4760 or email [email protected]. Bank Cards now accepted in the Warehouse As an added convenience for our customers, the ReStore now accepts VISA and MasterCard in our warehouse as well as in the main store. Thanks to the Kingsport Regulars and all the other volunteers who assisted, we now have a wonderful office space in the warehouse for our volunteers to better serve all our patrons. ReStore Location: 750 East Main Street, Kingsport ~ Hours: Tues., Thurs. & Sat. 9:30 am - 3:30 pm Holston Habitat gratefully acknowledges donations made in honor and in memory of the following individuals in 2014: Honor Burt & Jane Boyd; Bobby Camp; Betty & Carr Hagan; Nan Larsen; Al Lizzio; Bill & Pam Lizzio; Catie McMahon & Justin Little; Military Veterans; Tommy & Kathy Phillips; Laura Swanson; Betty Roberts Thompson Memory Reiko Amstein; Janie Brown; Alvin Carter; Jim Cox; Charles “Ben” DeGreen; Joyce Dockery; William T. Dvorak; Evelyn Feathers; Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Forsha; Lee Garber, Jr.; Charles Goodwin; Mike Locke; Don Lohoff; Pete Morrisett; Hoa Duc Pham; Lyman Reynolds; Barry Robertson; Paul & Ruth Schneider; Dale Watkins Welcome Hillary! We are delighted to have Hillary Mitchell as our practicum student from East Tennessee State University this semester. Hillary is working with our Homeowner Services Manager as part of her graduation requirement. “I have found through my experiences that broken crayons still color. I want to continually make a difference in people’s lives. One thing I am going to take away from my experience at Holston Habitat is the ongoing satisfaction I received just by knowing I had a hand in making a difference in a family’s life. It is so empowering that I plan to always be a part of this amazing program in some way. HHfH changes lives and it has surely changed mine,” she says. Hillary will graduate from ETSU with a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Social Work May 2015. Introducing Our Approved Homeowner Partners Carletta Anderson & Pauletta Frye and children Noah (7) and Jonah (1) Kingsport Steven & Donna Rawdon and their children Travis (7), Zachary (4) and Briana (3) - Bristol, TN 2015 Staff Spring 2015 Projects Art Pearce………….….Executive Director Steve Clark…………….…….Construction Milburn Lane………….………….ReStore Alanna Leonberg…...Homeowner Services Terry Davy…………….………...Accounts Mandy Penz………………….……..Office Barry Osborne……………….….Volunteer Appalachia CARES/AmeriCorps Cora Thompson……………...Construction Allen Rollings……………….Construction The Johnson City B Team is building a home with Bambi Fuller and her four children at 191 Morey Hyder Road in Johnson City. Contact Deb Yobst at 423-477-3008 or email her at [email protected] to sign up for a day to volunteer. Construction will begin at Wade Street in Johnson City for Wilma Tucker and her three grandchildren. The project is sponsored by Thrivent Financial. Contact Barry Osborne at 423-335-5573 to volunteer. Holston Habitat for Humanity P.O. Box 5265 Kingsport, TN 37663 2014 Board of Directors Sally Lee…………………….…..President Mark Matson…...President Elect/Treasurer Rebecca Henderson…......VP/Johnson City Carol Pitts…………………..VP/Kingsport Carol McCarthy…………………Secretary John Boaz………………………...Director Doug Dotterweich………………..Director Ashok Gala……………………….Director Mary Anne Gibson…….…………Director Steve Miller……………………....Director Stacy Onks………………………..Director Bob Wallen…….…………………Director Connie Whitaker………………....Director Building will soon begin on a home for Ashley Ambros and her two children at 209 Ruth Street in Bristol, TN. If you would like to join the Bristol Community Volunteers on this build, please contact Barry Osborne at 423335-5573. Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Kingsport, TN Permit No. 97
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