Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County's October 2005 Newsletter


Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is proud to announce that we will soon be breaking ground on our next house, which will be constructed on the lot at 2506 Jackson Street. When that time comes, we will be contacting all of our building volunteers to schedule them for times and dates to work. Don't forget to also check our calendar on the web. Because the affiliate’s goal is to increase the number of homes we build each year, we have decided to hire a construction manager. We are pleased to announce that Jerry Swanson of Bellevue has been chosen. He is excited about working with Sarpy Habitat volunteers.
GROUNDBREAKERS’ CLUB Help build homes that low-income families can afford by joining the Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County “Groundbreakers’ Club” Members of the Groundbreakers’ Club pledge to donate $50 or more each time Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County breaks ground on a new home. The donations are tax deductible! For more information or to receive a brochure, call 292-6560, email, or visit the Habitat office located at 119 W. Mission Ave., Suite F.		Our newest Groundbreakers’: Karen Hutchinson Debra Keith Lloyd and Ivna Johnson William Ernst Tim Burke James Batorski Mr. and Mrs. Philip Duffy
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Hello Habitat family,
I am so pleased to have been given the opportunity to work beside you as the first Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County. I began this job on July 25th and it has been a wonderful experience so far. I am excited about joining Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County. I have long admired the mission of Habitat for Humanity and I have been especially impressed with the Sarpy County affiliate. The volunteers from Sarpy County are very dedicated to the Habitat mission and I look forward to working side-by-side with all of you. I have moved into my office and, if you haven’t been to the Habitat office lately, feel free to stop by. It’s a busy place now with the phone ringing off the hook and visitors also stopping by. I need to meet with all of the Board of Directors individually by December, but I always would like to meet with volunteers and supporters of Habitat. These meetings are a great time for us to get to know each other and for you to share with me your suggestions and concerns. I look forward to meeting and working with you to build more homes for those who otherwise could not afford adequate shelter. God Bless, Margaret Stamp Executive Director Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County

		Lost and Found - A lawn chair used at the International Day of Prayer picnic in September was left at the event. It is being stored at the Habitat office. Please call 292-6560 to claim it. 119 W. Mission Avenue (402) 292-6560 Office Hours: Monday through Friday 12:00-3:00 PM Web Site: www.hfhsarpy.org E-Mail


GREETINGS FROM OUR PRESIDENT IVNA JOHNSON

I began my first President's Notes greetings by stating, "that these are exciting times for our affiliate". Little did I know then how exciting and hectic they would indeed become in the next few months. The big news is of course that we received, on our second attempt, a Capacity Grant through International and H.U.D. This grant has allowed us to hire an Executive Director. Our choice for the job was Margaret Stamp, formerly with the Bellevue Leader. If you haven't met her yet, drop by our offices and introduce yourself. What a joy and live wire she is, full of energy, enthusiasm, and great ideas! Welcome, Margaret - I just hope the rest of us can keep up with you! It was also hard to keep up with our builders led by Gary Sands and Gene Cash. They set a hectic pace completing our last house in less than 90 days - a record for our construction team. Callie and her family moved in on September 1st - one more family with a home of its own, a place for kids to play and to invite their friends, where a family can share pride of home ownership with us. We hope to start our next build in October so that we can have an enclosed area completed before the cold weather hits and be able to finish off the inside during the winter months. Call the office if you'd like to join a great group of volunteers. Not only will we be working to complete a new house during the winter, but we hope to be partnering with the LaVista Foundation to help renovate some older homes and bring them up to modern standards of comfort, convenience, and appearance. This exciting venture is an answer to our prayers to expand our ministry beyond the bounds of Bellevue, to fulfill the scope of building envisioned and implied in the name of our affiliate. Habitat isn't all about work – we have fun too. Join us in November for our Theater evening. We are teaming with the Bellevue Little Theater to stage a benefit performance of The Rainmaker, whereby the theater group will share proceeds with our affiliate. There will be a wine and cheese party prior to the program. More details will appear in a separate article. In February, we are planning a progressive dinner being organized by four churches in Papillion. We continue to be thankful for all of the support given by so many of you. We need your prayers, volunteer commitment, and financial support if we are to continue our mission to build decent, affordable housing for people in need of adequate shelter. Ivna
Northrop-Grumman's Donation to Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy

Representatives from Northup-Grumman present a $5,000 check to Habitat of Humanity of Sarpy County officials at 1712 Freeman Drive in Bellevue. On hand for the event were from left: Bob Hinson, Northup-Grumman vice president, deputy general manager, and corporate lead executive of the Omaha region; Ivan Johnson, president of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County; Margaret Stamp, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County; and Northup-Grumman Human Resources Manager Doug Denherder.
Habitat Calendar Nov. 3 - Coffee and Contacts - We expect about 40 Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce members here at the office at 7:30 am. Board Members, Committee Members, and Habitat volunteers are encouraged to attend! Nov. 10 - Benefit - The Bellevue Little Theatre is donating profits from ticket sales from the November 10th production of The Rainmaker. Begin the evening with a wine and cheese tasting party at the Habitat office from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The play begins at 8:00. Cost of the evening is $25.00: Purchase tickets from the Habitat office.
Coffee and Contacts Hello Volunteers! We are hosting Coffee and Contacts for the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce here at the Habitat office on Nov. 3^rd from 7:30 to 8:30 am. Coffee and Contacts is a monthly event where all the Chamber members gather at a business to meet, network, and learn about the host business. This is an exciting opportunity for Habitat to shine! There will be about 40 people visiting our office that morning and, since that’s a lot of people to put in our office, we need to be organized. I have a plan and I am looking for volunteers to help with Coffee and Contacts that morning. Volunteers for the event will need to arrive by 7:10 am. If you are not available that morning, then perhaps you could help prepare the office the night before. We will need people to help make the office spotless and set-up for Coffee and Contacts. This crew will meet at 7 pm on Nov. 2^nd. If you can lend a hand with either task, please email us or call 292-6560. Speaker’s Bureau Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County has formed a Speaker’s Bureau. Habitat volunteers give public speeches about the mission of Habitat and what the public may do to help. If you belong to a club, organization, or church group, call 292-6560 or email us to arrange a Habitat volunteer to speak to your group. Habitat volunteers are invited to join the Speaker’s Bureau. Check with Margaret for more information. Holiday Craft Sales… Painted glass balls and cute reindeer made from Christmas lights are on sale now to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County. Volunteers created these ornaments, which range in price from $1 to $3. And best of all, 100% of the sale price goes to our affiliate to build simple, decent homes that low-income families can afford. Special thanks to Annette Prato, Charlene Dappen, Anne Mathiesen, and Roberta Behm for making the ornaments. Ornaments may be purchased at the Sarpy Habitat office, 119 W. Mission Ave., Suite F, on weekdays from noon to 3 pm. For more information, call 292-6560.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SUPPORTS HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORTS The Welcome Inn, 24^th and Martha, was the site of an event that raised $1000 in relief for Hurricane Katrina victims. The fundraiser featured live music provided by dozens of local bands, which donated their talents and energy. Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County had a booth at the venue selling T-shirts and answering questions about Habitat. A special *Thank You* to the several volunteers who donated their time in the booth. Gratitude goes out to the Welcome Inn and all the bands who donated for such a wonderful cause.
President Ivna Johnson sells T-Shirts		Bands Provide Entertainment At Welcome Inn
Donations: Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is collecting funds to send Habitat volunteers to rebuild homes in areas destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. The volunteers will be sent as in early 2006. Please donate today to help build homes for those who have been made homeless by the hurricane! Please mark donation as “Send Volunteers to Rebuild” & sent to the address below. All donations to Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County are tax deductible!

MORE HURRICANE RELIEF . . . Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County volunteers are working hard to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The affiliate is raising funds to send volunteers to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina Volunteers are helping rebuild the lives of hurricane victims transported to Omaha by providing them with transportation, food, and clothing. Sarpy Habitat President Ivna Johnson has raised $500 to purchase meal vouchers, as well as collecting clothing for the hurricane victims. Several Sarpy Habitat volunteers have been taking hurricane victims brought to Omaha to much-needed medical appointments. Volunteer Vera Snide has been driving hurricane victims to medical appointments several days a week for more than three weeks now. She not only provides the hurricane victims with transportation, but listens to their stories and provides a comforting shoulder to cry on. It’s obvious Vera has the true Habitat spirit because she is grateful for the opportunity to help the hurricane victims. “I’m thankful I was able to help in some small way and they were all very thankful for everything that has been done for them here,” she said. Although the hurricane victims have been through a traumatic experience, with the help of volunteers such as Vera, they see the light at the end of the tunnel. “They have lost everything, but are looking forward to returning to Louisiana and back to relatives to start over again,” Vera said. To find out more information about donating to help Sarpy Habitat raise funds to send volunteers to help rebuild, call 292-6560 or email us. Wish List Since we are a non-profit agency, donated goods help us run smoothly and efficiently. These donations are tax-deductible. We especially need these items. · Enclosed Cargo Van · *Drywall Screw Gun* · *Copy machine* · *Stamps* · *Lexmark 70 Black Ink Cartridges* · *Building space for a "ReStore"* Tax-deductible materials can be donated to a ReStore facility and profits would go toward building more Habitat homes in Sarpy County. We would sell donated building materials and house furniture unable to be used in our Habitat homes.
In Memoriam Cards: In Memoriam Cards are now available through Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County. Habitat volunteer Linda Ernst created these cards. What better tribute to your friend, family, or a colleague than a gift that lives on in service of others? These cards may be picked up at the Habitat office, 119 West Mission Ave, in Olde Towne Bellevue. Or fill out this form & mail with check or money order to: Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County, P.O. Box 1664, Bellevue, NE 68005. An acknowledgement of your donation will be mailed to you.