Update from Greenhouse Road

I should tell you a story.

Much like we joke that the Bills always seem to end up on the roof, I try to put the tasks and volunteers AT HAND, together. Now this is not strictly possible and various folks will have to simply do what needs to be done. Often there are options, often not.

We insulated the crawlspace today. This really is an uncomfortable, cramped and stooped and crawling around proposition! Fiberglass insulation overhead in the crawl ain't FUN.

Oddly, it always falls to the YOUTH. OFTEN, that means Kelly and I and the ELDERS.

The Mormon Missionaries came through again today. They brought us a couple young fellas, as per Kelly's request, from SVU, and along with Janielle, a stellar Sophomore Volunteer from W&L (the only student THERE from IOWA) we knocked it out,
and put the plastic on the floor.

...and sent them ALL home after dubbing them "HEROES!!!"

Before THAT though, I had an after action debrief:

"So," I said, "what did we do well and what did we do poorly..." You could see the the looks both quizical and concerned, or unknowing...

Elder Walker, who with Elder Merrick, got there towards the end of the insulation said, "We got here late?"

I corrected him as you may already have guessed, "No" I said, "A volunteer is ALWAYS on time, both coming and going (from the site)."

I paused, stared semi-dramatically, then continued into the breach:

"The answer to the question is, we did EVERYTHING well, and nothing poorly..."

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good, and sometimes a plan comes together nicely.

-Joe

50th and Growing!

Terry Foster, RAH's 50th Homeowner

A special excitement surrounds the building of the State Farm/Rockbridge County High School house this year, because it will be Rockbridge Area Habitat’s 50^th home! “Rockbridge Area Habitat was founded in 1989, and it took us 22 years to build 50 homes,” says Jim Kvach, board chair, “I hope we can build the next 50 in half that time.”

RAH is proud of all it has accomplished. “Our board is busy, our volunteers are dedicated, and our staff is committed. We all take great satisfaction in knowing our hard work brings about real change in this community. We’re delighted to celebrate the construction of our 50th home and share our achievement with the people of this community. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to the thousands of volunteers and donors from the past 22 years who have made our success possible,” said Lynn Leech, interim executive director.

Each year RCHS students in the building and trades program build a home for Habitat, and State Farm Insurance sponsors the build. “We are very happy to celebrate this milestone with Rockbridge Area Habitat and the high school. It’s something I know the students are proud of and will be able to look back on for many years to come,” said Mac Felts, local State Farm agent and long-time Habitat supporter. “Participation in a project of this scope enables students to practice essential building skills they can use throughout their lives, and State Farm could not be happier to give our young people such a wonderful learning experience.”

In May, the home will be moved the short distance from where it was constructed at RCHS to its foundation on Village Way, off of Greenhouse Road. Then it will take six weeks for Habitat volunteers and construction staff to finish the home.

Terry Foster will be moving into Rockbridge Area Habitat’s 50^th home in late June, 2011. The latest in a long list of responsible, hard-working Habitat partners, Terry works in the laundry at Virginia Military Institute and is custodian for her Raphine church. Electrical, plumbing, and structural problems with her trailer prompted Terry to apply to partner with RAH.

Rockbridge Area Habitat has plans to build at least three more homes in the Village Way neighborhood over the course of next year. “We continue to be blessed with dedicated volunteers who help us make homeownership possible for deserving families in our area,” Leech says. “But our donor base needs to grow if we are to continue to meet the needs of this community. Individual donors are our largest source of financial support, and it is their generosity that helps bring life to Habitat’s mission to provide safe, decent, affordable housing for families in Rockbridge County.”

2011 RCHS Habitat Home Building Crew

Kurt Bennett, head of the building and trades program at RCHs, says, “My students practice essential building skills they will use throughout their lives. They learn to build a quality home while knowing a deserving Habitat partner family will benefit from their efforts.”

Seniors in Kurt’s building and trades class are enthusiastic about their experience. Tyler Prasnicki says his favorite part of the class is getting hands-on training while helping someone else, and Bryan Loan appreciates the class because he plans to build his own home one day. Brooke Southers follows in the footsteps of family members who took the course before her. She enjoys being part of a program that helps families to purchase their own home.

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