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The
Newsletter
for
DuPage Habitat
for Humanity
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It's all about the
families we help!
DuPage Habitat for Humanity
213
S. Wheaton Ave.
Wheaton IL
60187
630.510.3737
www.dupagehabitat.org
Sarah
Brachle
Executive Director
Jon
Peterson
Business Manager
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Volunteering |
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Call the Habitat office
at
630.510.3737 or e-mail dhfh@dupagehabitat.org
There is more to
Habitat for Humanity than just building.
DuPage Habitat for Humanity now needs volunteers
with fresh ideas for "behind the
scenes" work as well! Come to the next
general meeting on the second Tuesday of
the month and join a committee
like
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Construction
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Faith Relations
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Marketing and PR
and
more! Especially now, we need help
on our plans for our new
builds!
We have a new
volunteer orientation at each
month's general meeting at 6:30
p.m. right before the general
meeting at 7 p.m. the second
Tuesday of each month at BP America Inc., Cantera II, 28301 Ferry Road,
Warrenville (just north of
I-88 and west of Winfield Road).
All are welcome!
Bring a friend.
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Affordable Housing Task
Force |
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Did you know?
This past year, DuPage Habitat's median-priced
home rose to $360,000, up 4.8 percent from last
year, while median household income dropped to
$69,800, down from last year's
$72,400.
*
Did you know?
DuPage County's Affordability Index is 55,
indicating that families earning the median income
have just 55 percent of the monthly income needed
to afford the median-priced home in DuPage
County.
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Back to
top
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2008 DuPage Habitat calendars now
available |
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Visit the CafePress DuPage
Habitat storefront to order a 2008 calendar
featuring various photos of events and
activities of the affiliate. To view and purchase the
calendar, go to this
link. DuPage Habitat receives $3
for each calendar purchased.
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top | |
| U.S. Housing
Facts |
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10.9
million individuals live in housing with severe
physical deficiencies such as having no hot water,
no electricity, no toilet or neither a bathtub nor
shower. |
| Habitat Quick Facts |
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More than 200,000 houses
built! |
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One million people now live in safe, decent
Habitat houses. |
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Houses are sold at no profit with an
interest-free mortgage. |
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Homeowners and volunteers build the houses
under trained
supervision. |
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IN THIS
ISSUE:
- Homeowner profile:
The Long family
- Director's notes: A message
from Sarah Brachle
- Donor
spotlight: Gleaner Insurance
- Special
event recap: Fund for Humanity walk
- Spotlight: Site development
committee
- A Look
Ahead: What's happening in November and
December
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HOMEOWNER PROFILE: THE
LONGS |
 In September's edition of
"E-Builder," DuPage Habitat for Humanity announced the
selection of its three latest partner families. This month,
we feature the Long family, whose hope- and faith-filled
journey with DuPage Habitat began with a simple phone call
to the organization. After completing the application
process, the Longs were selected for a home to be renovated
by early 2008. They are currently taking part in the
renovations themselves, and find the experience rewarding
and exciting. "I think it's great to know that we helped on
our own home," said Brenda. The Longs' daughter, age seven,
even has plans of her own for the family's future backyard:
"A trampoline, a pool, a swing-set and two dogs!"
The Longs are
especially grateful for their new home because it will bring
some much-needed permanence and freedom to their son, who
has autism and is visually impaired. The boy will have
plenty of room to play and explore in the family's new
house, and will even be near a special school that he
attends. The Longs look forward to moving into their new
home and are thankful for the support they have received. "I
really feel like this is a blessing from God," said Brenda.
"I thank God for organizations like Habitat for Humanity,
and I can't thank them enough."
by Dave
Bristol
Friends,
This month, I
will have been with DuPage Habitat one year. This
anniversary has prompted me to stop and reflect on all we
have accomplished this year. As you may know, this has not
been my first experience with Habitat. I started
volunteering with Habitat in college, and then when I
graduated, I volunteered with Habitat at the organization's
headquarters in Americus, Ga. My first two years were spent
as a construction volunteer. This delighted me and
frightened my father, who could not conceive that there were
people out there who would let me operate power tools.
During my
first year in Americus, Habitat built a partnership with an
organization called Middle Flint that serves developmentally
delayed adults. Through the partnership, five
developmentally delayed adult men joined the Habitat
construction crews. Greg joined my crew. To give you a
visual, Greg is about 6'4" and weighs more than 300 pounds.
He is a big man. And the gentlest person I have ever
met.
The very
first day that Greg joined the construction crew, he did
something that I will never forget. We were building trusses
in an old peanut warehouse. After Greg would finish nailing
on a gusset, he would stop and say "Ta Da!" The other
volunteers and I learned to stop and say, "Great job, Greg!"
or "Wow, that gusset is perfect!" and he would smile and go
on to the next gusset.
That practice
continued no matter what we were building or doing. Every
piece of siding, every wall painted, and Greg would go "Ta
Da!" He was celebrating his accomplishments, our
accomplishments. He made us acknowledge that he had finished
something to be proud of. This is something that so few of
us do in our daily lives, and something I know that I don't
do well. But now whenever I think of celebrating
accomplishments, I think of Greg.
We've all
heard Margaret Mead's now-famous quote, "Never doubt that a
group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it
is the only thing that ever has." When I hear that quote, I
think of Habitat because that is our model - people joining
hands with other people, each bringing their strengths and
talents, to change the world. Because of DuPage Habitat
volunteers, the Weems family has a home, the Delabres have a
home, the Longs will have a home. Our volunteers have
changed the world for our partner families, and in doing
that, you are making a better world for all of us.
On behalf of
the staff and Board of DuPage Habitat, thanks to our
wonderful volunteers for making 2007 a year to be proud of,
and thank you for all you do.
In
partnership,
Sarah
Brachle
Executive
Director
Our sincere
thanks go out to the in-kind donors who have supported
DuPage Habitat since September, including:
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Ambitech Engineering
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Calyx Consulting, Inc.
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Consolidated Garage Door
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Graphixgirl Design
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Kimball Hills Urban Centers
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Marriott Resorts
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MSW Consulting, Inc.
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O'Brien Law Offices
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PODS
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Richardson & Edwards
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The Savannah Group
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Seamless Gutter Corporation
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Seyfarth Shaw
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Tidal Construction Services
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Zip
Realty
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT:
GLEANER INSURANCE |
 This month, DuPage Habitat
for Humanity thanks the Gleaner Life Insurance Society for
its generous contributions. Gleaner Insurance, fraternal
beneficiary society, assists its members in achieving their
financial goals through a broad range of life insurance and
annuity products. The organization has contributed $40,000
to DuPage Habitat, making it one of the biggest sponsors of
2007. Additionally, Gleaner sent teams of volunteers to
assist in construction during the month of August. DuPage
Habitat is immensely grateful for the Gleaner Life Insurance
Society's generosity.
by Dave Bristol
 On a beautiful Sept. 15 day,
DuPage Habitat for Humanity held its fifth annual Family
Walk for DuPage Habitat. The event, which raised nearly
$15,000 for two housing rehabilitation projects, was
sponsored by Doubletree Guest Suites, Unilever, Qdoba
Restaurant and American Charter Bank and took place at the
Doubletree Suites Hotel in Downers Grove. For every $100 in
pledges, each participant received a raffle ticket and was
eligible for prizes including a barbecue grill, gardening
tools, golf shirts and many other donated items. This year's
walk was a wild success, and DuPage Habitat is grateful to
the event's many participants and sponsors.
by Dave Bristol
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SPOTLIGHT: SITE DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE |
Committee:
Site development
Chair: Jon
Peterson
Board
Liaison:  Michelle
Davis
What We Do:
The site
development committee is responsible for identifying and
locating viable lots for new construction and homes for
rehabilitation. These homes will house the future partner
families of DuPage Habitat for
Humanity.
How You Can Help:
The committee is currently seeking two
new houses that can be rehabbed during 2008. They are
looking for structurally sound, modestly sized homes in
decent neighborhoods. If you or someone you know has a
property like this that is being sold or could be donated to
DuPage Habitat, please call us. The committee is also
approaching Realtors, lenders and attorneys who may know of
properties that are available or will be soon that might fit
DuPage Habitat's needs. Please contact the office with any
information on potential properties.
Nov. 13: New volunteer orientation
meeting
6:30 p.m., BP Conference Center, Cantera II,
28301 Ferry Road, Warrenville,
IL
Nov. 13:
General monthly Habitat meeting
7 p.m., BP Conference
Center
Jan. 5:
Next homeowner application session
10 a.m.-noon, Gary Memorial United Methodist Church, Wheaton,
IL
Mandatory for interested
applicants
January: Next family potluck (date
TBD)
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FINAL THOUGHT FOR THE
MONTH |
The work of volunteers impacts on all our lives, even
if we are not aware of
it. Back to top
DuPage Habitat for
Humanity is a Christian housing ministry affiliated with
Habitat for Humanity International. We welcome all people
dedicated to building decent, affordable housing for families
in need, while empowering families to help themselves.
DuPage
Habitat for Humanity
213 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton, IL
60187
Phone: 630.510.3737 Fax:
630.682.4881
www.dupagehabitat.org
dhfh@dupagehabitat.org |
DuPage Habitat for
Humanity