A Roast & A Welcome

Outgoing Executive Director, Dan Walz & Merchandise Coordinator, Jeremy Campagna

Jeremy is standing closer to the camera than Dan. He is not really a giant.

Dan Walz. Was he merely the stuff of dreams? Dreams perhaps resulting from a spicy snack eaten just before bed?

No, Dan Walz was very real, and his gentle guidance and generous spirit influenced all involved with Rockbridge Area Habitat. During his decade-long tenure as Executive Director, he helped 34 hardworking Rockbridge families achieve homeownership, and oversaw a pilot ReHabitat program.

When Dan first came to Habitat in 2001, we were building one to two houses a year; under his leadership, that number has risen to four homes a year. In April of 2011, Rockbridge Area Habitat received an award for having built more homes, in relation to population, than any other Virginia affiliate.

Dan left us to take a risk management position with Habitat for Humanity International. He and his wife, Amy, and their two sons, will continue to live in Lexington, and Dan will telecommute. Working from home will allow him to bake his famous wedding cookies in between managing risks (or risking management). The Rockbridge Habitat staff hope he’ll share some of those cookies from time to time.

Lexington ReStore Manager, Jane Ann Wells, presents Dan with a humorous plaque

March 18 was Dan’s last day with RAH, and a combination party and “roast” was held in his honor at the Lexington ReStore. Over 30 volunteers, board members, and homeowners attended the event. He abashedly accepted praise for his leadership of a flourishing Habitat affiliate, and bravely endured ribbing for idiosyncrasies such as talking aloud to himself and changing his opinion mid-sentence.

Before Dan’s departure, the Habitat Board named Lynn Leech as Interim Executive Director. Lynn has been on the board since 2009, and edited the spring 2010 edition of our newsletter, the Homesteader. Before joining Team Habitat, she held the post of Managing Editor for Washington and Lee University’s Shenandoah, one of the country’s premier literary magazines.

Lynn is a native of Rockbridge County, and she and her husband, Rick, live in Lexington. They have two grown daughters, one grandson, and a cat named Maxine. While the Leech’s children have moved away from Lexington, Maxine steadfastly remains at home.

Board Chair, Jim Kvach & Lynn Leech

When asked about her past experiences with Habitat, and her expectations for the future, Lynn responded as follows:

As a college freshman, I applied for an internship with a fledgling organization, Habitat for Humanity, a group that was beginning to make large strides in providing decent, affordable housing in partnership with the working poor in and around Americus, Georgia. I was never able to work out the details to serve that internship, but the seed of the meaningful work Habitat does was planted and has stayed with me. And now, years later, I find that seed has borne fruit as I have been asked to serve as Interim Executive Director of Rockbridge Area Habitat. The challenge is made easier, since I am assuming leadership of a successful program supported by outstanding, dedicated staff and hard-working volunteers. I hope you’ll join us in our efforts to advance our affiliate’s outreach as we work to break the cycle of poverty in Rockbridge County, one house-one family-at a time.

On the Move with Jeremy & Brandon

Jeremy and Brandon in front of the ReStore truck

Jeremy Campagna and Brandon Richardson, our stalwart Merchandise Coordinators, drive throughout Rockbridge County picking up donations and delivering items purchased by ReStore customers. Every week day, the duo pull appliances from attics and bring bookshelves from basements. When a customer purchases a bedroom suite, for example, Brandon and Jeremy drive the furniture to the buyer’s home, carefully carry in each piece, and set everything up.

But our professional haulers bring more than grit and dedication to their work. When you call Jeremy, he’ll arrange a pick up time that suits your schedule, sometimes coordinating as many as 15 pick-ups and drop offs in one day! If you don’t get him immediately, leave a message. More than likely, he's balancing some crystal stemware in one hand and a marble-top dresser in the other.

Spring has finally appeared, and so has the gruesome specter of spring cleaning. So de-clutter your home and help a deserving Rockbridge area family build one! Every item sold at the Buena Vista or Lexington ReStore helps Habitat build another new home.

Habitat accepts gently used house wares, appliances, electronics, building supplies, and many other items. If you’re unsure whether your stuff has what it takes to be Habitat stuff, don’t fret. Whether you’ve got lumber or linens, toilets or TVs, the Knights of Transport are the ones to call.

CALL Jeremy at 540-461-3118

All Pick Ups are FREE

Drop offs cost $25/$35. Call for exact price.

Habitat Homecoming

Left to right: Melissa's niece, Imaija; Melissa; Melissa's daughter, Ciesha

Photo by Margie Page

Once a Habitat home is complete, a ceremony is held to bless the home and celebrate the family’s success and hard work. Melissa Carter’s Home Dedication Ceremony was held Sunday, March 13^th. It was a bright sunny day, with a brisk wind. Melissa stood on the porch of her new home, overlooking a crowd of around 50 Disciples' Build volunteers, friends and well-wishers. Beside her was her beautiful seven-year- old daughter, Ciesha, and nearby stood her mother, sister, grandfather and other family members.

Lynn Leech, our new Interim Executive Director, welcomed everyone to the event and Jim Kvach, our Board Chair, thanked the 20 churches that contributed volunteers and financial assistance to the building project. Margie Page, of Lexington Presbyterian Church battled laryngitis to praise Melissa for her success as a mother, working person, and community member.

Together, Melissa and Alice Waddell, Co-Chair of the Family Partnership Committee, lit a candle to symbolize the love and happiness that will fill the home. Alice then led the Litany of Dedication, which ended in the simple words:

Bless this house, O Lord, we pray.

Make it safe by night and day.

Bless your children everywhere.

That in your Kingdom they may share.

Melissa's & Ciesha's new home! Photo by Sy Hughes

Alice handed Melissa a copy of the Bible, and then Melissa accepted the keys to her new home. Wiping away a tear, Melissa thanked Habitat and all of the volunteers who had helped to build her house.

After the ceremony it was time to eat. There was plenty of food, thanks to Jane Ann, our dedicated Lexington ReStore Manager, who organized the meal and worked the grill. Kentucky Fried Chicken, where Melissa works as a Shift Supervisor, contributed two huge pans of chicken.

Jane Ann at the Grill (Photo by Sy Hughes).

Ciesha and the other kids played in the backyard while the adults walked through the house, admiring the design selections Melissa had made. She chose dark brown kitchen cabinets and knotty pine laminate flooring. She also picked a pretty multi-colored ceiling fan for Ciesha’s room. The rooms were bare of furniture, but full of love and support. Melissa’s and Ciesha’s new Habitat house had become a home.

Ciesha and Melissa
Photo by Sy Hughes