Other News Happening with Sarpy Habitat
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Thanks to Thrivent Builds: Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County was recently selected for a Thrivent Builds grant in 2012. We are one of 126 affiliates building 142 Habitat for Humanity homes in 32 states through the Thrivent Builds program!
Our Fall 2011 Newsletter is out. This requires Acrobat® Reader®.
Our Spring 2011 Newsletter is out. This requires Acrobat® Reader®.

Special thanks to "Girls Night Out" Vendors: Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County would like to thank the vendors from "Girls Night Out" who donated a portion of their proceeds to our mission. They helped raise over $125! Special thanks to Linda Underwood from Holiday Inn Express, in Bellevue, for coordinating this event! 16 Mar 2011

New Staff Hiring!  Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is proud to announce that Linda Johnson has been hired as the new office manager.  Executive Director Jon Costello said “The addition of this paid position is exciting for our organization and reflects Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County’s growth in the county.  Linda has been an outstanding volunteer for a number of years and I look forward to the energy and experience she brings to our mission.” 

Linda Johnson grew up in Centerville, Ohio.  She graduated from Muskingum College, majoring in Psychology.  For many years she worked in the insurance field.  She and her husband, Dan and two children came to live in Papillion in 2003 when he was assigned to Offutt AFB before retiring from the Army in 2008.  She became active with St. James United Methodist Women, participating in local mission work and Relay for Life.  She served as the local unit treasurer for St. James UMW from 2006 to 2010.  St. James UMW has been a financial supporter of HFH for many years.  In 2009, she accepted the position of District Treasurer for the Missouri River UMW Mission Team for two years.  

A notice in the church bulletin prompted her to come to work as an office volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County in 2007.  She has also worked at the job site and has been lunch coordinator.  She enjoys quilting, woodworking, and loves doing a variety of DYI projects. Linda is excited to be a part of Habitat’s mission of building decent, affordable homes for families and hopes to contribute to the continued success of HFH Sarpy County. 7 Feb 11

Special thanks to Northrop Grumman:  Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County would like to thank Northrop Grumman for their generous donation of $6,000 on Dec. 17, 2010. Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
 

St. James United Methodist Church donated over $2,500 to HFH-SC! Thank you very much St. James United Methodist Church for supporting our mission. The funds could not come at a better time as we are constructing 2 homes at the same time! 2 Nov 2010

Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County would like to announce a new partnership with Lansky's of Bellevue. Josh Mullen, manager of Lansky's, announced today that his company will donate 15% of all the receipts it collects from meals ordered every 2nd Wednesday of the month. This partnership starts on October 13th. Lansky's is located in Bellevue, NE. 3909 Twin Creek Drive. (3 blocks West of 36th St and Hwy 370) 402-502-0555. 1 Oct 2010

Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County would like to thank Bellevue – Offutt Kiwanis for their $500 donation! Kiwanis is a great organization for Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County to partner with as we help children, families and communities. Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County, Jon Costello, was invited to speak at the Kiwanis luncheon and offered a Q&A session after his speech. 31 Jul 2010

About 30 children toured a construction site in Bellevue last week, testing floorboards, peering out windows and donating items to the family that will live in Habitat for Humanity’s latest production. Read the full Bellevue Leader article printed 24 Jun 2010.
On 30 May 2010 we had a 5k run/walk event to support Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County which we received $2500.00 from Southridge Church for this event.

On 26 April 2010 we had a new Executive Director come on board. The Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is pleased to announce the arrival of Mr. Jon Costello as HFH-SC’s new Executive Director. Read the Bellevue Leader's article on our new director.

Gene & Chuck traveled to Ft.Smith, AR for this years Collegiate Challenge. Where they assisted in leadership of  21 students, 16 from Macalester College & 5 from Texas Tech.
Collegiate Challenge is Habitat for Humanity’s year-round alternative break program that provides opportunities for students from youth groups, high schools and colleges to spend a week of their school break building a house in partnership with a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the United States. To view photos. 21 Mar 09

Women's Day Build - "Ginny Weston recruited female workers, including her 31-year-old daughter. The mother became a Habitat for Humanity volunteer within the last year and encouraged women in her church, St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Papillion, to participate in the "women build" effort Saturday." Read the complete Omaha World Herald article. 11 May 08
Our Spring 08 Newsletter is out. This requires Acrobat® Reader®.

In this short session of the Nebraska State Legislature, many bills will be discussed. Among the bills introduced in this session is one that would benefit economically disadvantaged families in the state. Senator DiAnna Schimek is sponsoring a bill that would make the state’s Habitat for Humanity affiliates sales tax exempt when it comes to purchasing materials used to build homes. For more information. Feb 08

Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County receives $7,000 from The UPS Foundation
Bellevue, Neb. – Jan. 2, 2008 – Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County received a $7,000 grant from The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of UPS (NYSE:UPS). The grant will be used to build simple, decent Habitat homes in Sarpy County.
Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County has built/rehabbed 21 homes so far, and this grant will help the nonprofit continue building Habitat homes in 2008, said Executive Director Margaret Stamp.
“On behalf of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County, I would like to extend our gratitude to The UPS Foundation for this wonderful blessing of a $7,000 grant,” Stamp said. “This funding will help us build more Habitat homes in Sarpy County that economically disadvantaged families are able to afford.”
Established in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its backing clearly impacts social issues. In support of this strategic approach, The UPS Foundation has identified literacy, hunger relief, and volunteerism as its focus areas.
In 2006, the UPS Foundation distributed over $45 million worldwide through grants that benefit organizations.
“Giving back to the communities is an important part of UPS’s nearly 100-year-old culture that’s embraced by our employees through volunteerism, making donations and sharing their unique skill sets,” said Lisa Hamilton, president of The UPS Foundation. “Together with nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County we work to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need.”

Affordability of Housing in Sarpy County
  In Sarpy County, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $682 . In order to afford this level of rent and utilities, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $27,280 annually. Assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year, this level of income translates into a Housing Wage of $13.12.
  In Sarpy County, a minimum wage worker earns an hourly wage of $5.15. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 102 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, a household must include 2.5 minimum wage earner(s) working 40 hours per week year-round in order to make the two bedroom FMR affordable.
  In Sarpy County, the estimated mean (average) wage for a renter is $9.90 an hour. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment at this wage, a renter must work 53 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, working 40 hours per week year-round, a household must include 1.3 worker(s) earning the mean renter wage in order to make the two-bedroom FMR affordable.
  Monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for an individual are $603 in Sarpy County. If SSI represents an individual's sole source of income, $181 in monthly rent is affordable, while the FMR for a one-bedroom is $547 .
  A unit is considered affordable if it costs no more than 30% of the renter's income.
Source: National economically disadvantaged Housing Coalition, Dec. 2007

The Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County elected John “Mac” McLean Tuesday evening as its new president.
McLean, 60, is a retired Air Force Colonel whose career accomplishments include serving as vice commander of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base. He is currently the Executive Director of the Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland. “Habitat for Humanity is a terrific organization whose focus is to provide quality housing for those in need,” McLean said. “The Sarpy County affiliate for Habitat has done a terrific job in growing to try and meet the needs in the Sarpy and Cass county area and I am excited to have the opportunity to help the Habitat team continue its wonderful work.“ Sarpy Habitat Executive Director Margaret Stamp said she looks forward to the leadership and experience that McLean will bring to the Board of Directors. “Mac McLean understands the mission of Habitat for Humanity, and he will use his talents and experience to continue moving that mission forward,” Stamp said.
McLean replaces former President Ivna Johnson who resigned from the post in April, but continues to volunteer with the nonprofit. Sarpy Habitat Vice President John Taylor has been serving as acting president in the interim. Oct 07

John Taylor, Vice President of Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County, has been awarded the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Nebraska Region Volunteer Excellence Award in the Retiree category. For more information. Sept. 07

The Metropolitan Utilities District (M.U.D.) is helping a Hurricane Katrina family get a fresh start in a High-Efficiency Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County home. For more information.

Thank you to Dodge Cares, Inc. for donation $3,116 on May 1, 07 to Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County. The money was donated through a project called “Creating Hope from the Ground Up. The project raised funds for 15 local nonprofits. Special thanks two home builders, Brau Builders, Inc. and Jordan Michael Signature Homes. These builders each built a home, and the net proceeds from the sales of the homes were equally divided among the 15 charities.
Our Spring 07 Newsletter is out. This requires Acrobat® Reader®.

Wells Fargo Bank presented Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County with a donation of $20,000 on April 10, 2007. The check was presented to the Board of Directors by Pam Bails, a Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Consultant and a member of the Sarpy Habitat Board. This donation was made through the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. The foundation contributes financial support to nonprofit housing organizations when Wells Fargo employees volunteer to help renovate or build a home for a economically disadvantaged family.

Congratulations! Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County's 2007 Volunteers of the Year are Carol Tesk, Family Support Chair, & Kris Richt, Family Selection Chair. Carol and Kris were chosen because of their instrumental leadership and dedication to the mission of Habitat for Humanity. Thank you Carol and Kris for all you do!
Congratulations!  Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County’s Vice President Ron Begg and his wife, Mary, were selected as the Bellevue “Persons of the Year” by the Bellevue Leader. Read the article in the Bellevue Leader. Congratulations Ron and Mary for this well-deserved award!

Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County wants to work with churches throughout Sarpy County! There are several ways that we can work together to provide homes that economically disadvantaged families can afford. Check out how this can happen.
Attention Youth! Sign up for 2007 summer Youth Blitz!

Trips this summer include builds in Minnesota, North Carolina, California, and Florida. Below is a description of Summer Youth Blitz. Summer Youth Blitz is a unique service experience for a diverse group of youth, ages 16 to 18, from high schools and youth organizations around the United States. During this two-week program, 15 to 20 youth participants and adult leaders work on a Habitat house. In the evenings, youth participate in activities that focus on peer leadership, social justice, the cycle of poverty, tolerance and team building.
For more information on Summer Youth Blitz, please visit the Summer Youth Blitz page on the new youth programs website: http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/syb/default.aspx

The Disaster Corps program aims to provide increased support for disaster-affected HFH Gulf Coast affiliates through engaging members of the Baby Boomer generation as volunteers. Following a 2-week intensive training in disaster response, Disaster Corps volunteers will commit to a service period of 2 to 4 weeks with a disaster-affected Gulf Coast affiliate.
Future Institute trainings:
 - January 8-19, Phoenix, AZ
 - February 5-16, Las Vegas, NV
View the fact sheet & the flyer with contact information. This requires Acrobat® Reader®.
Our Fall 06 Newsletter is out. This requires Acrobat® Reader®.

Thank you for your outstanding support. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a partner with Habitat for Humanity, announced the awarding of grants for two houses to be built in Sarpy County in 2007. This is the second year that the Sarpy affiliate has been awarded the Thrivent Builds Homes grants which provide economically disadvantaged families with affordable housing. This brings the total to four homes that have been built for deserving families in our community. With these grants, Thrivent Financial provides 70% of the funding, Lutheran churches in Sarpy County provide 10% and the Habitat affiliate provides the final 20%.

"Creating Hope from the Ground Up" is a project by Dodge Cares, Inc. to raise funds for 15 local nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County! This project involves two home builders, Brau Builders, Inc. and Jordan Michael Signature Homes. These builders each built a home, and the net proceeds from the sales of the homes will be equally divided among the 15 charities, thanks to Dodge Cares, Inc. The homes are located in the Copperfield Subdivision in Omaha, at 3840 S. HWS Cleveland Blvd. and 3834 S HWS Cleveland Blvd. The homes will be available for public tours on Oct. 25th from noon to 3 p.m.

The home located at 3840 S HWS Cleveland Blvd. was built by Brau Builders. It has four bedrooms, four baths, a kitchen with glazed maple cabinets and a huge walk-in pantry. Convenient back staircase, large mud-laundry room. Private tours may also be arranged by calling Jeff Ransch at 391-5333

The home located 2834 S HWS Cleveland Blvd. was built by Jordan Michael Signature Homes. It has four bedrooms, four baths, and three-car garage. It has a 2-story great room. Includes a whirlpool and veranda in sitting room. Granite kitchen with stainless appliances and walk-in pantry. Private tours may be arranged by calling Dirk Blume at 672-0391.

Dodge Cares, Inc. is a 501 c3 tax exempt charitable organization that was incorporated in

October of 2002. Dodge Cares solicits, collects and distributes tax-deductible contributions form NP Dodge sales associates and employees as well as the general public. NP Dodge Company matches the contributions of its sales associates and employees to Dodge Cares up to $250 per year per person to approved charities.
 

Habitat for Humanity’s Youth Programs department is looking for photos of youth involvement in Habitat for Humanity – both on and off the work. This contest is open to all young people between the ages of 18 and 25. For more information.

To see the completed moving story as reported by KETV.

Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County has taken on an exciting house-moving project for two homes, one of which was built in 1900. The homes are currently located at the southwest corner of 25th Street and Highway 370, which is the future location of the Bellevue Medical Center.
The homes were donated to Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. Habitat will move the two homes to lots Habitat owns on Rose Lane Road in Bellevue. The house moving company in charge of this project is Ensor Movers, Inc. of Johnson, Nebraska. The two homes are being moved the evening of 2 October.
The farmhouse built in 1900 was where Sarpy Habitat Volunteer Norm Schuessler grew up. Sarpy Habitat invited Schuessler and his family to visit the home, and tour the home, one last time before it was moved from where it has stood for more than 106 years. The tour was an emotional one for the several of the family members, and it brought up several fond childhood memories.
Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is pleased to be preserving this piece of Sarpy  County history. Many people have been pleased to know that the farmhouse they have driven by so often will be relocated instead of being torn down. We thank the previous owner for his generous donation.
Sarpy Habitat will rehab the farmhouse and sell it as a fundraiser to pay for the nine lots Habitat purchased on Rose Lane. The other house being moved is a ranch-style home that will be sold to a Habitat Partner Family.
Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County appreciates the assistance it has received from the following while it prepares for this house move: the City of Bellevue, the Bellevue Police Department, OPPD, and MUD.
Habitat Volunteer Mike Zens is in charge of this exciting rehab project. People interested in volunteering for this project should call Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County at 292-6560.

 For more details on the house, view the Bellevue Leaders article & our photos. 
 

With great sadness, we write to share with you that Pat Smith, a member of Habitat for Humanity’s International Board of Directors has passed away.

Papillion South Students heading to Biloxi, Mississippi with help from Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy Countyy

     Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is making it possible for one local youth to help rebuild her father’s hometown of Biloxi, Mississippi.
     Kelley Phillips, a junior at Papillion South High School, has arranged to travel to Biloxi with five peers and two chaperones in a hurricane rebuilding effort. The teenagers will leave July 31 and return August 6th. Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is using money from a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser to send the youths on the trip.
     Phillips, age 16, is completing this project to earn her Gold Star Award through Girl Scouts. Phillips chose to earn the award by arranging for her and her peers to help rebuild Biloxi, Mississippi, which is where her father grew up and where her grandparents still live.
To earn the award, Phillips had to plan the trip, make all the travel arrangements, and raise the necessary funds.
     Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is using its hurricane funds to help support the trip, as well as arranged for a Sarpy Habitat volunteer as a Construction Guide to accompanying the group. Phillips’ mother will also go on the trip.
     “Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County is pleased to have the opportunity to help these teenagers have a positive impact by rebuilding the homes and lives of those in Biloxi, Mississippi,” said Sarpy Habitat’s Executive Director Margaret Stamp.
     The teenagers will leave in a 12-passenger van on Monday, July 31st at 8 a.m. and will return on August 6th. In Biloxi, the Habitat volunteers will work side-by-side with Hope Force International volunteers to rebuild what the hurricane destroyed.

What was accomplished? Kelley Phillips, who organized the trip, said the volunteers were put to work hammering, sanding walls, preparing wood for flooring, removing drywall, and nailing in baseboard. In total, the volunteers were able to work on nine different houses.

Also read about their article from the Papillion Times.

Habitat for Humanity's Operation Home Delivery is an effort to rebuild the Gulf Coast region devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. View more information to see how you can help.   (June 2006)

Several youth groups in Bellevue have taken to that motto and have aided Sarpy Habitat for Humanity in fundraising efforts that have raised hundreds of dollars.

2006 Nonprofit of the Year Award
Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County was chosen as the recipient of the 2006 Nonprofit of the Year Award from the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce.
Margaret Stamp, Executive Director, accepted the award May 10th on behalf of all the dedicated Habitat volunteers and donors.

Our Spring 06 Newsletter is out. This requires Acrobat® Reader®.

A family whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina will be among the speakers at the annual Bellevue Community Prayer Breakfast. Read the article published by the Omaha World Herald.

Congratulations to Sarpy Habitat volunteer Ron Begg, who along with his wife Mary Begg, received the 2006 Spirit of Bellevue Award from the Bellevue Rotary Club. Ron and Mary received the award for their dedication to community service.

Ron Begg is currently the Sarpy Habitat Vice President, on our Board of Directors, and also serves as a grant writer. Ron started volunteering with Sarpy Habitat in 1997 when he was a construction volunteer. Since that time he has served Sarpy Habitat in a variety ways such as being on the Development and Celebrations Committees, and he was our Church Relations Committee Chairman. Congratulations Ron and Mary on this award!

A Sarpy Habitat family member wins a gold medal in all-around basketball skills on March 24th at the Special Olympics State competition in Lincoln.

The Sarpy County Habitat for Humanity affiliate and the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Nebraska Region are joining a national $21.7-million house-building effort to construct more than 300 affordable homes; $706,020 will go toward building 12 homes in Omaha, Bellevue, Lincoln, Grand Island and Kearney. For more information.

Margaret Stamp, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity, participated in the Groundbreaking for Dodge Cares, Inc. for “Creating Hope…from the Ground Up” on Feb. 16th.

The groundbreaking was for two homes that will be built in the Copperfields Subdivision of Omaha, the proceeds from the sales of the homes will be donated to Dodge Cares, Inc. for distribution among several nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County!

Dodge Cares, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation supported by NP Dodge sales associates, employees, companies and community contributors. Dodge Cares, Inc. contributes to qualified nonprofit organizations that provide food, shelter and comfort for the homeless, displaced and abused in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa.

Stay in touch with the Habitat relief efforts in the Gulf Region by checking the updates.

Future Habitat Homeowner is featured in this week's Bellevue Leader for her trip to rebuild homes destroyed by the Hurricane. There are three people from Sarpy Habitat down in Pearlington, Mississippi helping to rebuild homes. Sarpy Habitat hopes to send more people down south to rebuild homes later this year. If you are interested in going, or would like to donate money for others to go, call 292-6560 or email.

Newsletter for October 2005