We’re excited to announce that plans for WomenBuild 2010 are underway.  Last year’s WB project was an outstanding success and we expect to do it again this coming year.  Please let us know if you would like to participate in WB2010, and stay tuned for updates.

Social networking sites have changed the way people organize and share information. They focus on building online communities of people who share interests and activities. Small organizations, particularly non-profits, typically do not have the resources to reach a broad audience. Now, with Social Media sites like Twitter and FaceBook, we are able to form stronger and more effective connections with interested and passionate supporters… people like you!

Social networking will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County through interacting with a like-minded community and finding a channel for energy and giving. How does it benefit you? As a “fan” or “follower” you can receive instant updates about interesting things in the world of Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County. These updates are shared in real time, so you will be able to stay connected as information happens – not afterwards!

Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County is now using FaceBook and Twitter. These sites will allow us to share status updates, links, advocacy alerts, pictures, video and other media/information with you. We also have a YouTube channel, which is still being developed. Stay tuned for more information, and a link to that channel, in the near future.

Be our friend on FaceBook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/profile.php?id=100000079547196&ref=name
(Habitat Iredell)

Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/HabitatIC
(@HabitatIC)

Website Overhaul:
In addition to our efforts to get involved in social media, Habitat is also in the process of redesigning our current website, http://www.habitatiredell.org.  Some of these changes and additions have already been added to the site. Check them out below.

HabiTours: You can now take online tours of some of our recently completed Habitat homes.

Blog Updates: Found under the News/Events link on the main page, you will be able read messages from the staff, homeowners, and Habitat-related information from various news sources.

Please take advantage of these new opportunities to follow and support Habitat. Also, share these links with your friends and family. Use them as an opportunity to spread the good news about what Habitat is doing in our community.

Women Build Volunteers, Donors & Supporters,

I’m excited to announce that Habitat’s 2009 Women Build home is finished! For the first time in her life, Lillian Dye has a home she can truly call her own. This would not have been possible without your donations, volunteer service and support. Once again I would like to say thank you to everyone who played a part in this Women Build project.

Habitat typically celebrates the completion of a build with a dedication ceremony. In keeping with the Women Build theme, we dedicated Lillian’s home on Mother’s Day. While the date was fitting, unfortunately most of you did not have the opportunity to see the finished product. We think you all deserve to see the end result of your hard work! So, on behalf of Lillian Dye and Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County, I would like to invite you to a drop-in reception at Lillian’s home. Please join us at 1300 Partnership Way on Friday, July 10th from 5:15 to 5:45pm. Enjoy light refreshments as you tour Lillian’s home. Bring your family and friends and show them what you accomplished! Please RSVP if you will be able to attend. Call the Habitat office if you need directions to the site.

Please remember that Women Build is now an annual program at Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County! If you missed the opportunity to work on this home, you will have another chance to help with Women Build 2010. Also remember that Habitat is always in need of volunteers for a variety of projects. If you would like to get involved in the ReStore, in the office or on other construction projects please let me know!

Thank you again, for all your support. I hope to see you on Friday July 10th.
In Partnership,

David Moore
Director of Volunteers
Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County
david@habitatiredell.org
704-871-0409

Thanks to everyone who came out to paint Saturday. We had a great group of volunteers on site and accomplished more than we had hoped. It’s true that many hands make light work! Please read below for more opportunities to get involved this week, and this coming Saturday. Anything you can do to help will be greatly appreciated.

Women Build: Finish Work & Cleanup Volunteers Needed Saturday 6/20
The Women Build home was dedicated on Mother’s Day, but construction is still in progress. We need a group of 10 women to work on the home this Saturday, June 20th. Work will begin at 9:00am. Tasks will include touch-up paint, finish work and site clean-up. This may be your last opportunity to work on the Women Build 2009 home. It doesn’t sound like much, but this work day is important to get the home ready for Lillian to move in. Please let me know if you would like to help out with Women Build this Saturday!

Thank you all for your continued support of Habitat and Women Build.

In Partnership,

David Moore
Director of Volunteers
Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County

On May 09, 2009 many volunteers and supporters celebrated with Lillian Dye and the staff of Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County as her new home was Dedicated!

Eveyln Funderburk’s photo

More than a dozen women traded in their high heels and business suits Wednesday for a pair of dirty sneakers, blue jeans and a hammer.

The women worked on the construction site of the Women Build home, which is part of the Habitat for Humanity Fourth Creek Village.

On this day, they left their makeup and purses at home and traded them in for tape measures, buckets of nails and ladders.

Jamie Morrison, who is affiliated with Iredell County Home Builders Association, was proud to lend a hand to the project.

“It’s a great experience,” she said. “It’s always good to help when somebody’s in need.”

This week is the National Women Build Week. The local Habitat affiliate was one of 175 chosen to participate.

Homeowner Lillian Dye was on site doing her part to build her first home.

The 66-year-old had little to say, but was clearly ecstatic about occupying her two bedroom, two bathroom home in just a few short weeks.

She was happy women in the county have come together to build her home.

“They’re showing love and their concern,” Dye said.

Construction of the home began in February and is scheduled for completion in three weeks, according to Executive Director Scott Loudermelt.

Some 200 women have had a hand in building the home.

Loudermelt said he is amazed by the participation and interest in the project.

“It’s remarkable the amount of help and the amount of caring,” he said.

For Maggie Shoobridge, being part of the Women Build was a dream fulfilled.

She has been involved early on since the fundraising began, but was excited to work on site.
“The idea has been close to my heart,” she said.

Shoobridge, who took a vacation day from work to participate, said she is humbled to be part of the process.

Pat Abell began volunteering after retiring following a 30-year career in physical therapy at Iredell Memorial Hospital.

She to devote as much time to volunteering as she possibly could.

She has done just that.

Her parents built homes and she always wanted to be part of the process. Getting to work with women of all ages and backgrounds is a bonus.

“I support the ideals of Habitat for Humanity and I wanted to learn how to build,” Abell said.

I’m sending this email to remind everyone that our Women Build Dedication Ceremony has been rescheduled for this Saturday, May 9th at 3:00pm. Please plan to attend this heartwarming ceremony to join with us in celebrating the pending completion of Lillian Dye’s new home.

We often refer to these dedication ceremonies as “payday for volunteers” as this is your chance to see the work that has been accomplished thanks to your efforts. This is also your chance to meet the committee members, staff, donors and others who have had a hand in this project behind the scenes. Please join us on Saturday, May 9th at 3:00pm on the Women Build worksite for this special ceremony.

The Women Build worksite is located in Fourth Creek Village, immediately behind the Statesville Post Office.  Click this link for the driving directions.
Please note that, while we are dedicating this home on Saturday, there is plenty of work left to do. I will be contacting everyone shortly with an updated volunteer schedule, and some new opportunities to get involved in adding the finishing touches to this home.

You can see more pictures in the Photo Gallery

Thank you all for your continued support of Habitat and Women Build.

In Partnership,

David Moore
Director of Volunteers
Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the Women Build Dedication Ceremony on Saturday May 9th at 3:00pm. This special ceremony will celebrate all the work that you have accomplished during this build. We will also take this time to congratulate Lillian Dye on the upcoming completion of her new home. Plans are still being confirmed. We will share more information as this date approaches.Thank you again for your support and participation. This Women Build project has truly been a blessing to Habitat, to our staff and to everyone who benefits from this organization’s work. We hope to see your enthusiasm and support grow as we work to complete the current Women Build home and then begin planning for the next one.

Women Build at Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County was recently selected to receive a $5000 grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement. As one of only 175 recipients of this grant, we have been invited to participate in National Women Build Week. During the week of May 2-10, groups of women volunteers across the country will participate in Habitat construction projects and promotional events. Our goal for National Women Build Week is to step up our fight against poverty housing, while emphasizing the strength and accomplishments of the Women Build program.

As part of National Women Build Week we are planning a special work day on Wednesday, May 6th. That morning, at 9:00am, we will have a presentation by Habitat staff, Lowe’s staff and our Women Build executive committee. We will spend the rest of the day working on the Women Build home at Fourth Creek Village.

Please join us at the Women Build work site at 9:00am on Wednesday May 6th for the kickoff for our National Women Build Week celebration. Contact David at the Habitat office if you would like to volunteer to build that day. We need a group of approximately 20 volunteers. We have all-day shifts (9am to 3pm) as well as morning shifts (9am to 12pm) available. In addition to the ceremony, we will have lunch provided for volunteers by a local restaurant and a selection of door prizes to be given away that afternoon. Contact the Habitat office at 704-871-0409 for more information or to sign up to volunteer.

Women Build Mother’s Day Cards
Habitat is still taking orders for Women Build Mother’s Day Cards. Please take this opportunity to honor your mother or grandmother while also supporting Habitat and Women Build. For a donation of $25, your mother will receive a heartwarming card noting your donation made to Habitat in her honor. For a donation of $50, your mother will receive this card and she will also be listed on a banner to be displayed at the dedication ceremony for the Women Build home. Please consider making a $50 or $25 donation to Women Build today. Mother’s Day card orders must be received by May 1st. Contact the Habitat office at 704-871-0409 for more information.

Women Build Dedication – Saturday, May 9th
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend the Women Build Dedication Ceremony on Saturday May 9th at 3:00pm. This special ceremony will celebrate all the work that you have accomplished during this build. We will also take this time to congratulate Lillian Dye on the upcoming completion of her new home. Plans are still being confirmed. We will share more information as this date approaches.

Thank you again for your support and participation. This Women Build project has truly been a blessing to Habitat, to our staff and to everyone who benefits from this organization’s work. We hope to see your enthusiasm and support grow as we work to complete the current Women Build home and then begin planning for the next one.

In Partnership,

David Moore
Director of Volunteers
Habitat for Humanity of Iredell County

I would like to thank everyone who came out to help with the first day of construction on the Women Build house. Several women (and a few guys) braved the cold, windy weather this past Saturday to kick off the build. In one day, with a small crew, we were able to set the center beam and all of the joists for the floor. Now we’re ready to lay the sub-floor and begin framing the walls and roof. Look below for some pictures from this past Saturday.

Open Volunteer Sign-ups
In my last e-mail, I asked everyone to sign up for one Saturday only. This was an effort to give all of our 300+ volunteers a chance to sign up. At this point we still have several open spaces on our construction schedule, so I am opening the schedule up to everyone. Please check your calendar for the dates listed below and sign up for as many build days as you would like. Spaces will be filled on a first come, first served basis. To sign up for build days, please call or email me. You must sign up in order to participate. Also, please notice that we’re specifically in need of volunteers for this Saturday, Feb 28th. Framing is one of the most labor-intensive tasks on the worksite and it will require several hands to get the job done.

Women Build Construction Schedule

Meals Needed for Saturday Volunteer Groups
We’re still looking for people and/or groups to provide meals for our Saturday work crews. If you have a church group, civic group, restaurant or business that is able to feed a group of 20 people on our worksite during a Saturday build day, please let me know.

Thanks again for your support and participation. I’m looking forward to working with each of you.

In Partnership,
David Moore
david@habitatiredell.org
704-871-0409 ext 15