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