In The News

Habitat for Humanity Ranked Number 8 On Builder Top 100 List!

2010-07-26T07:56:00.001-07:00

Red and Black:

Habitat builds a place at the top

July 21, 2010 by KELSEY BYRD
Filed under Economy, News, Student Groups
Habitat for Humanity built a strong reputation in the construction world and was recently named number eight top builder on the 2009 Builder Top 100, jumping from number 11 in 2008.
“This is the first time Habitat has broken the top ten, considering everyone else is big corporate builder and we are just a non-profit organization,” said Cartter Fontaine, the public outreach director for Athens Habitat. “We don’t have the same amount of resources everyone else has.”
The list is published in “Builder,” a magazine that covers the construction world in the United States. Every year, Builder publishes a list of the previous year’s top builders based on total closings.
The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to provide help for low-income families in the form of affordable, sturdy homes.
Out of 70 Georgia affiliate chapters, Athens has one of the biggest. Athens Habitat builds an average of five houses every year for families in need and is working on a new project this year.
“We have built 70 houses in the past 20 years and are currently working on an apartment complex,” Fontaine said.
The apartment complex is being renovated and will be opening around 15 rooms for families in need.
“We do studies based on transportation, home owner rates in the neighborhood, proximity to school and grocery stores to determine where to find the best area to build homes within Clarke County,” said Spencer Frye, executive director for Athens Habitat for Humanity.
Operating for Clarke, Oglethorpe and Oconee counties, Athens Habitat gets volunteers, donations and help from schools, businesses and the local communities.
Every other year, the University’s Habitat chapter donates up to $35,000 to help the cause.
“The UGA chapter helps us build a home every other year,” Frye said. “I think it’s tremendous how University students fund raise for that.”
The University chapter raises money through several means, including a can drive, 5K race and the annual Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure.
One of the major events is the bike trek across the country. The race starts at Niagara Falls and ends in New Orleans, covering 2,500 miles. Bikers will average 70 miles per day and go for more than 50 days to rack up seven builder days.
“We think it’s important to have a certain amount of walkability for the lower income families,” Frye said. “The closer you are to your job center, where your children go to school and the closer you are to your grocery store, means the less you have to spend on fuel costs.”
The Athens Habitat for Humanity raises money all year round through several methods. One of the largest is their Restore location on Barber Street. People donate items to be cleaned up and resold for a incredibly low price. Along with free pickup, any donation to Restore is tax deductible.
“I think it’s pretty important at a time when the economy has created a gap between those who could afford homes, that we’re able to maintain our productivity at that rate,” Frye said. “A lot of our families have to make a choice between food on the table or their heating bills, and we try to lower those expenses as much as we can.”

2010-05-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

Local thrift stores crammed with castoffs: Students leave, but a lot of their stuff doesn't

It's heaven for couch potatoes at Athens' Habitat for Humanity ReStore this week - the time of year when University of Georgia students leave town and cast off tons of furniture as they head into the future.

"I've been getting in a lot of sofas," said ReStore manager J.P. Watkins - way too many sofas, he said. Habitat worker Brian London counted 26 couches in the store Thursday, about double the count of a week or so ago. More than couches cram the thrift store's floor. A 10-foot tower of desks loomed over the furniture display area, next to a stack of tables, beside rows of kitchen chairs and recliners, near piles of slightly used area rugs.

In the meantime, it's a buyer's market for those who don't mind second-hand furniture - like two members of an Athens band, The Fuzzlers, struggling Thursday to fit a desk into the back seat of their car.
The desk will go into their band's studio, said singer-guitarist Eddy Lezama (also known as Fuzz-E). They also had good luck when they checked out big trash containers around student housing areas that were chock full of shelves, futon pads and other useful items, he said. But right now, the furniture is piling up faster than customers like The Fuzzlers are hauling it way. "Last week, every day I had loads of furniture," Watkins said.

The display floors are equally crowded at the Salvation Army, the Atlanta Union Mission (known to most people in Athens as The Potter's House) and other area thrift stores. "We're picking up all we can handle," said Jim McCullough, director of family store operations for the Athens Salvation Army.

Students and landlords bring the furniture into the stores, but the stores also send out trucks to collect furniture donations from owners who call ahead.

One student group, Hillel of UGA, even enlisted volunteers last week to collect household stuff UGA students didn't want anymore as they moved out of university dorms on Baxter Street.
Jim Reese, president and CEO of Atlanta Union Mission, estimated furniture donations are double or triple the normal rate in the Athens store during the week or two before and after UGA graduation.

A lot of good furniture just ends up buried in the Athens-Clarke Landfill, said Jim Corley, director of the Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department.

Corley hopes some of that perfectly good furniture might be diverted from the landfill in the future and reclaimed at a proposed Center for Hard to Recycle Materials, or CHaRM, to be built at the old solid waste headquarters on College Avenue.

The thrift stores are happy to get the cast-off furniture - they will sell it all later, at least the pieces that are not damaged beyond repair. Some, like Habitat and Atlanta Union, have volunteers or workers who repair furniture.

The problem they have is figuring out where to put it all for now.

Atlanta Union Mission and the Salvation Army have warehouses to store the extra stock, but at Habitat, Watkins and Habitat worker Zack Richardson make the stacks a little higher, the rows a little tighter.

The stacks will be gone in two or three months, though.

Students are the source of much of the stores' donated bounty, and students also are the stores' best furniture customers, Watkins said.

Thrift store workers can tell when the UGA is about to start another fall semester just by the amount of furniture they sell, McCullough said.

"You can always tell when the students are leaving, and we can always tell when they come back," he said.

(via LEE SHEARER - lee.shearer@onlineathens.com, Published Friday, May 14, 2010)

2010-05-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Athens Area Habitat In The News:

Frye and McKillip: County housing goal makes sense

We'd like to applaud Athens-Clarke County's mayor and commission for the recent adoption of a set of community and affordable housing goals, which specifically include encouraging redevelopment of existing apartment complexes.

Each year, Athens-Clarke County receives federal grant money to provide affordable housing. By encouraging the redevelopment of existing apartment complexes, we can get the most out of these federal grants. Recently, ReNew Athens was able to acquire and begin renovation of a 16-unit complex at an average completed cost of $26,500. This finished cost is so low because ReNew Athens is able to use most of the standing structure. Thus, by using the existing apartment stock, ReNew Athens can provide a renovated home for one-third to one-fifth the traditional affordable-housing new construction cost of $67,000 to $120,000.
Further, the adaptive reuse of existing apartments is more environmentally friendly. ReNew Athens' units are brought up to present-day efficiency standards, reducing this community's carbon footprint and water and energy consumption. ReNew Athens believes in and supports the adaptive reuse of existing apartment complexes in Athens, and believes this initiative demonstrates the new sustainability that Athens needs.

Spencer Frye
Doug McKillip

• Spencer Frye and Doug McKillip are the founding partners of ReNew Athens. Frye, executive director of Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, is a candidate for mayor of Athens-Clarke County. McKillip, an Athens attorney, represents part of Athens-Clarke County in the Georgia House of Representatives.

(via Athens Banner-Herald Published Tuesday, May 11, 2010)

2010-03-09T06:10:00.001-08:00

Some students skip the party, spend break cleaning up around Athens

Sisters Michelle, left, and Marianne Gendy, both students at Wake Forest University, empty a trash can full of debris as they help revitalize an East Athens apartment building Monday. (Richard Hamm)

Perry Ransbottom could have gone on a cruise with his friends and spent this week hopping around the sandy beaches of the Caribbean.

Instead of kicking back in paradise, the Wake Forest University sophomore chose to leave Winston-Salem, N.C., to spend his spring break cleaning up an old, neglected apartment complex in East Athens to improve living conditions for some of the city’s working poor.

“Definitely, I thought it’s kind of a draw to go to the beach,” Ransbottom said Monday as he unloaded buckets of empty beer bottles and other trash. “But this is really a rewarding experience. I’m glad I chose to come here.”

Ransbottom and a dozen other college students came to Athens through the Collegiate Challenge, the community service arm of Habitat for Humanity International, to spend the week cleaning and fixing the apartments near the corner of East Broad and Peter streets to house low-income residents. The local nonprofit ReNew Athens partnered with Athens Area Habitat for Humanity to buy and renovate the apartment building using a $302,000 federal grant.

“We want to make this a stable, decent place where people can live and raise their children,” said Spencer Frye, Habitat’s executive director, who spent part of the day supervising the student volunteer group and speaking to local residents about the project.

A group of 19 college students will stay in Athens all week to work on the rundown apartment building and repair a home in Garnett Ridge. A new group will arrive next week to pick up where they left off.
Throughout the day Monday, students removed trash and painted worn-out walls — tasks that will need to be completed before workers can begin to install new appliances, wiring and heating, and air-conditioning units to upgrade the facility.

Leslie Touassi, a sophomore from High Point University in High Point, N.C., started her first day of spring break painting the inside of an apartment, then worked to remove overgrown brush and broken glass in areas not too far away from where children play.

“I would definitely take this over your stereotypical college spring break,” Touassi said “I just feel like we’re actually accomplishing something. Hopefully, by the time we leave here, it will be suitable for kids and families so they can live and play in a safer environment.” Volunteers removed nearly two trailers full of trash and debris Monday, said Beau Harvey, a construction manager for Habitat. “I certainly want to get these tires out of here, these bottles and this glass out of here,” Harvey said. “After we do that, this place is going to start to really look spiffy.”

Out on the north side of Athens, another team of college students set out to make repairs to a once-dilapidated home off Garnett Ridge Drive that soon may be used as transitional housing to help others get back on their feet, according to Laura Dempsey, a public outreach director for Athens Habitat.

This is the seventh consecutive year the Athens nonprofit has benefited from a group of dedicated college students who’ve given up their spring breaks to complete service projects, Dempsey said. “It’s really wonderful to know that there are so many students that want to do that,” she said. “It really speeds up whatever project it is that we’re working on.”

This year, 3,396 high school and college students from across the country will spend spring break working on projects in 160 different communities, according to Habitat for Humanity International.

By Ryan Blackburn- Athens Banner-Herald

Published Tuesday, March 09, 2010

2010-02-12T17:07:00.001-08:00

Habitat In The News: ABH Blueprint

Saturdays a success for builds

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to own his or her own home, and Saturday builds are a big part of making that vision become a reality for Clarke, Oconee and Oglethorpe residents.

"On Saturdays, groups and individuals come together to build on a Habitat home," explains Laura Dempsey, public outreach director for the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity. "(Habitat for Humanity) builds Wednesday through Saturday, but Saturday is our largest demand because that's generally when groups can get everybody together and come out."

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity is on a 16-week build schedule, but that can vary depending on weather conditions and how productive a group of volunteers is on the site.

Construction managers gather at the site at 8:45 a.m. to meet volunteers, go through a brief introduction and split the volunteers into groups to accomplish whatever tasks need to be done. Lunch is provided, and volunteers typically build from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"You don't have to have any construction experience. (The constructions managers) can teach you everything you need to know out there, and you don't have to bring any tools," Dempsey says.

Now, when individuals volunteer, they also will become eligible to redeem a free one-day, one theme park ticket to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., or Disneyland in California.

"That's a Disney promotion," Dempsey says. "I've seen a huge increase in people wanting to volunteer because of that, which is great."

Homeowners receiving a Habitat for Humanity house go through a selection process, and are required to perform at least 200 hours of volunteer service with Habitat, Dempsey says.

"(Homeowners) help build on their home as well. This just supports our mission that we're helping people who want to help themselves."

Six Habitat for Humanity homes were built in 2009.

"(Saturday builds are) a really great experience," Dempsey says. "People are a little hesitant because they may not have any construction skills, but it's very empowering. You learn how to do things, and it's a lot of fun."

Want to participate?

To be a part of a build site requires scheduling a date in advance. A calendar on the events page of the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity Web site is updated with the availability of builds. To sign up for a date, e-mail volunteer@athenshabitat.com, call Habitat at (706) 208-1001 or register through HandsOn Athens at www.handsonnortheastgeorgia.org.

(via)

2009-12-31T08:10:00.000-08:00

Athens Area Habitat 2009 Year In Review:

We are honored by the encouragement of our community and want you to know about the great work your support has accomplished.

Despite a time of economic hardship, Athens Area Habitat was able to expand our services and broaden our impact. This steady expansion and ever growing list of families served is not only a testament to the vital role of our programs, but also a demonstration of the dedication our community has to positive change.

We have great plans for 2010 including beginning a new Habitat neighborhood of seven homes, an apartment complex renovation that will provide affordable housing options to a currently underserved income bracket, expanded events, and much more.

Consider making a tax deductible donation to Athens Area Habitat for Humanity to celebrate the accomplishments of 2009 and encourage the development of 2010. Together, we can impact our community in a significant way.

Athens Area Habitat wishes you well as we move into the New Year and look forward to working in partnership to better our community one family at a time.

Upcoming Events:

Committee of 1,000 Celebration: January 28, 2010 (6:30pm – 8:30pm). Join the Committee of 1,000 to attend. Don’t forget to RSVP by January 20, 2010!
Home Is Where The Heart Is Art Auction: February 18, 2010 (5:30pm – 7:30pm)
Home & Garden Show: February 27 & 28, 2010
Run/Walk for Home 5K: April 2, 2010

2009 Year In Review:

Committee of 1,000: Built the first ever Committee of 1,000 Home, which was partially funded by the members of the 2008 and 2009 supporters. The Rahming Family thanks all the Committee of 1,000 Members for making their home a reality!
Won Most Original Float in the Downtown Parade of Lights
Began work on Carpenter’s Circle development, with home construction to begin February 2010.
Completed first ReHOUSE project
Initiated ReNew Athens
The Silver & Archibald Run/Walk for Home 5k presented in partnership with the Athens Area Homeless Shelter raised over $8,000 towards a new home.
The EHARP completed 17 ramps.
A Brush With Kindness completed 10 emergency home repairs.
The 2nd Annual Move to Improve Block Party brought together community members and organizations to celebrate National Homeownership Month
Athens Area Habitat participated in the Community Service Expo offering new service opportunities and cultivating approximately 200 interested volunteers
Athens Area Habitat celebrated 21 years of serving the community with a benefit show.
The (k)larity Group Race for the Dream 5k engaged over 200 participants in supporting the affordable housing mission
The 2nd Annual Jittery Joe’s Fall Classic Century expanded into a Fall Festivalwith a festival, vendors, and more.
Partnerships created with: H&R Block, Housing for Housing, Athens Transit, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support, Comcast, Tate Print & Copy , Sigma Chi
First Annual ReStore Commercial Contest resulted in many creative entries and two featured commercials.
Congratulations to our 2009 Habitat Homeowners: Diala Rahming, Katrina Smith, Kendra Beck, and Tina Steele
A dynamic workforce of over 3,000 volunteers utilized throughout the year

2009-10-29T06:52:00.001-07:00

Mr. Green catches attention in the Athens Banner Herald:

View an audio slideshow of Mr. Green at work

A chair with a broken seat, another missing a leg and a cradle with splintered wood held together by metal clamps take up most of the space on Lee Green's work bench.

He pushes aside sandpaper, a can of varnish, nails and bits of broken molding to reach the wood glue he needs to fix the latest project he's working on.

It's Green's own little slice of heaven.

"I wake up just to come here in the morning," said Green, 56. "This is an awesome job, because it's right down my alley."

Green began working at ReStore, the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity's thrift store, three months ago thanks to an Athens Community Council on Aging program that places older people at nonprofits and government agencies to be trained for new jobs.

The program is open to citizens 55 and older, though its funding stipulates that the program give first consideration to veterans and the disabled.
Green had a stroke in 2006.

"It all fit together perfectly," said Michelle Brinson, the director of the Senior Community Service Employment Program. Because the program aims to place older workers in "green" jobs that match a client's work history, skills and interests, Brinson thought Habitat's ReStore was the perfect place for Green.

Green uses building materials like scrap wood to fix broken pieces of furniture that will sell at up to 90 percent of their retail value.

"I normally try not to spend too much time on one piece," Green said. "I only work four hours a day. If it's real bad, I just say, 'Hey, I'll use this piece to fix something else.' "

The thrift store kept 150 tons of reusable material out of landfills last year, according to Spencer Frye, Athens Area Habitat for Humanity executive director.

ReStore accepts a variety of donations, from books and clothes to furniture and building materials. "It's a place where the community can donate lots of things and also buy items that might otherwise be in a landfill," Frye said. "A lot of our customers are low-income clientele, so it kind of provides a dual service to the community that we're trying to help."

ReStore is good for two reasons - it helps keep useable items out of the landfill, while making money for Habitat - and Green's work helps both of those goals.

Green's work allows ReStore to accept more items - things that are used to the point that they need a little work to be valuable again - and make already useful items more attractive for sale at the 12,000-square-foot warehouse on Barber Street, according to Frye.

Green moved to Athens at 20, when the Job Corps sent him here to help build the University of Georgia's library. He later worked installing custom cabinets at Athens Lumber Co. He now uses those skills every day.

"Mr. Green - even though he's elderly - has got a lot to give to the community," Frye said. "He has transformed the way that store operates."

Each of the pieces of furniture that Green has worked on sport a bright green tag that lets people know the furniture has been repaired. They even bear his name.

"With the tags, we can show the board of directors how much Mr. Green saved from the landfills and how much money he generated for Habitat projects," Frye said.

Green is hoping those numbers will help him secure a permanent place at ReStore.
"I love it here," he said. "I'm tickled to death every day that I get to give things a second life like I have."

ReStore is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. To learn more about the Senior Community Service Employment Program, visit the Web site www.accaging.org.

(By Jennifer L. Johnson via ABH)

2009-10-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Habitat ReStore accepting unwanted household items

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity operates the ReStore thrift store, which takes in new and used home furnishings and sells them to those in need for up to 90 percent off the retail cost.
Through a partnership with the Athens Community Council on Aging, Habitat now is able to refurbish furniture and can accept a larger variety of items and improve the condition of many items to increase their chance of sale. All funds raised support Athens Area Habitat for Humanity.
The ReStore is located at 532 Barber St., Athens, and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

(via ABH)

2009-09-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

Remembering and honoring 9/11 through service.

Students heed call to honor, volunteer for 9/11

Eight years, a war on terror and one presidential administration have passed since Sept. 11, 2001. And for his first 9/11 anniversary as commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama called for Americans to remember the tragedy with acts of service and volunteerism.

"No force for change is more powerful than that of Americans who are making a difference in their communites," Obama said in an Aug. 27 press release. "This Sept. 11, and in the days, weeks, and months that follow, let us recommit ourselves to service, renew America's promise, and work together as one people and one Nation."

Laura Dempsey, Public Outreach Director for the Athens' area Habitat for Humanity, said the community has heeded the president's call for service.

(read full article from the Red & Black here)

Group needs funding to build: Donations to Women's Build, Habitat for Humanity down

2009-08-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

To Heather McElroy, there's a certain feeling of empowerment that women get from building a house together.

Women Build, an all-female group that works with Habitat for Humanity, always has an overflow of volunteers ready to swing hammers or wield paintbrushes. Like many Habitat projects, everything from the roofing to landscaping, painting to siding is handled by volunteers.

"Everyone wants to get out and build," said McElroy, special events co-chair for Women Build. "But we need money before we can do that."

Charitable giving is down, a symptom of the weak economy, and it's slowing the work of all Athens area nonprofits.

"People are just really worried about what they spend their money on right now," McElroy said.

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity first started to see donations drop about a year ago, according to it Executive Director Spencer Frye.

"I would say that pretty much all nonprofits for the past year and a half have been experiencing a fall in their donor dollars," said Frye.

Women Build and Habitat for Humanity need $65,000 per house before they can break ground.

The nonprofit relies on money donations as well as volunteers to help build their homes.

"It really saves us a lot of money and allows us to maintain the affordability of the houses," Frye said. For $207 a month - plus taxes and insurance - a low-income family can afford a house of their own.

"There are a great number of hard-working poor people for whom the only reason they can't get into homeownership is because they have a lack of income," Frye said.

Despite economic hurdles, Athens Area Habitat is in the process of completing their 70th home.

Although Women Build's goal was to break ground by the end of the year, they might not be able to start working before 2010 rolls around. It takes Habitat about 12 to 20 weeks to build a house, but a lot longer to come up with the money to take that first step.

"We've been doing this eight months now, and we're not even halfway to our goal," McElroy said.

Last year, Women Build had a $10,000 grant from Lowe's, was given $4,000 by the Gainesville College Habitat, and had help from a Best Buy initiative to brainstorm and create signage.

"It's hard, with this economic environment, for individuals, churches or companies to put up the kinds of funds that they have in the past," Frye said.

In years past, Women Build had a waiting list of companies willing to sponsor houses. Now, corporate sponsorships are slow in coming, forcing the charity to rely more on donations from individuals. Women Build has sponsorship packets from $100 to $2,500, and have hosted men's bake sales and women's bridge games to help raise money for the next house.

For now, Women Build is working to get the word out about their cause with Google groups and a Facebook page while their representatives and volunteers try to rally donors from their schools, churches, businesses and neighborhoods.

McElroy is hoping that a planned bridge game at the Watkinsville Community Center in September will bring in a few extra dollars toward their next project, the fourth home that Women Build has helped construct.

"Everyone just wants to get out and build," McElroy said. "Hopefully we'll be able to do that soon."

For more information about Athens Area Habitat for Humanity or Women Build, go to www.athenshabitat.com/womenbuild

By Jennifer Johnson | news@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 10:25 pm on 8/22/2009

2009-08-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

Athens Area Habitat is in the Flagpole!

(check it out on p.21 or read the full article here)

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity's 21st Birthday Bash

w/ The Judies, Trances Arc, Velveteen Pink

Saturday, Aug. 8 at Tasty World Uptown

Very little is as effective a centerpiece to a successful birthday party than a righteous and flowing supply of cake. The Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, now in the midst of celebrating its 21st action-packed year of community service, has taken steps to get that party started, cake- and fun-wise. Both can be expected at its birthday bash at Tasty World on Saturday.

“We just want to celebrate and extend it to the community, and have everybody come and have a good time, and remember what we’re doing and why it’s important,” says Laura Dempsey, public outreach director for Athens Area Habitat for Humanity.

Cakes will come from local bakeries like Cecilia Villaveces Cakes and Creative Cookies and Creamery. The fun comes by way of Slush Fund Records’ presentation of Athens and Atlanta bands The Judies, Trances Arc and Velveteen Pink.

In its 21 years, Habitat has served 70 families in Clarke, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties with homes, according to Dempsey. And in the past year alone, Habitat’s ReStore, the Barber Street thrift store, prevented approximately 150 tons of material from getting cozy in landfills—a substantial jump from 2007’s 116 tons.

Further, Habitat instituted a number of new programs in the last year, like its ReHOUSE program (Recycling Home Owner Units Safely & Efficiently), in which volunteers work to erase residential decay, and its Brush with Kindness program, which seeks to restore neighborhoods on a small-projects basis.

“Our whole mission is built on community and partnerships and people coming together for a great cause,” says Dempsey. “Everything that we do is supported by the community. Without the support of all the organizations and business and volunteers, we couldn’t do what we do.”

One would be hard pressed to find a better reason to share birthday cake with the neighbors. Doors open at 9 p.m.

(Flagpole, by Valentina Tapia, 08/05/09)

2009-08-06T18:05:00.000-07:00

Athens Area Habitat's 21st Birthday Bash is featured in Jake!

Rocking the (affordable) house

Earlier this summer, Atlanta-based Slush Fund Recordings (with the help of New West Records) threw down one of the best parties going on during AthFest.

This weekend, the label will put some more of its best and brightest on stage for a special show to benefit and celebrate Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, which this year celebrates its 21st birthday. The big show, set for Saturday at Tasty World, will feature Atlanta bands The Judies and Trances Arc, with Athen’s own Velveteen Pink headlining.

With 21 years under its belt, Habitat has helped more than 70 area families over the years, and continues to keep its focus on constructing homes for those in need.

“Our main mission is affordable housing, “says Laura Dempsey, Athens Area Habitat’s public outreach director. “We build simple and decent housing for low income families in the area.”
One of the organization’s new initiatives, a thrift store name ReStore, recycles houses slated for deconstruction. Habitat has salvaged lumber, furniture, and other building materials and made them available for sale to the public. All proceeds stay within Habitat and support the affordable housing program, Dempsey says.

“It’s really special because we’re able to use our volunteer labor and our construction expertise. We break apart the houses piece by piece and salvage all of the materials that would normally go into a dumpster ... (and instead) are recycled back into the community,” Dempsey says.
“The sales of the ReStore help with our affordable housing program, and it also provides discounted materials for people in the community.”

On Saturday, though, it’s all about celebrating Habitat’s accomplishments in its 21 years – and encourage the community to help keep it going.

“The biggest thing about the show is that we’re really just excited about the 21 years, and we want people to come out and have fun,” Dempsey says. “There’s going to be free birthday cake, and it’s just sort of a party to get everybody together and excited. Hopefully we can spread our mission a little bit”

(Jake, by tommy mcgahee, 08/12/09)

2009-07-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

Athens Area Habitat is in the Red&Black!

Students Volunteer At Habitat for Humanity (read full article here)

The University is full of students willing to help people less fortunate than themselves, or at least that's what the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity has seen.

Athens Area Habitat Executive Director Spencer Frye attributes the willingness of the community to volunteer directly to the moral quality of the students at the University.

"This affiliate is extremely fortunate to have the University students and its organizations," Frye said. "They are extremely volunteer oriented. We are one of the few Habitats that have more labor than we need sometimes."

The most popular form of volunteer work for the organization is done by students eager to get their hands dirty at the build site, but swinging a hammer isn't the only way students volunteer their services.

The ReStore, a thrift store that raises money for Habitat's affordable housing program, provides another way students can lend their community a helping hand.

Located at 532 Barber St., the ReStore serves as the hub for the "Don't Dump it, Donate it" program, which takes donated home furnishings and sells them for a discounted price.

The store accepts all kinds of housing-related items including furniture, appliances, cloths, doors, windows and cabinets.

ReStore offers free pick-ups for those who want to donate, but don't have the time or means to transport their donations to the store.

Habitat raised $180,000 the past two years through ReStore.

In 2008, ReStore kept 150 tons of household materials out of the Athens landfill, said Laura Dempsey, public outreach director for Habitat.

Micheal Jamison, a graduate student from Marietta, works in the ReStore and says his typical day at the store begins at 8 a.m. by making a list of things that need to be done. He spends the rest of the day answering phone calls, helping customers find items and working the register.

"I like the idea that the things I do help the community," Jamison said.

Habitat builds about six houses each year for families in need. It builds three and four bedroom houses ranging from $65,000 to $75,000 - allowing approved families to own a new home for about $250 a month, interest free.

The Athens Area Habitat turns 21 on Aug. 8 and will have its birthday party at Tasty World. Habitat encourages everyone in the community to come celebrate the occasion.

With the continued help of University students, Habitat will continue to give families "a hand up, not a hand out" for many years to come, Frye said.

(Red & Black, by Adam Hicks, 7/23/09)

2009-07-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

Students volunteer at Habitat for Humanity

ADAM HICKS

Issue date: 7/23/09 Section: News

Media Credit: LINDSAY GROGAN

The ReStore is a thrift store that uses its profits raised from donated furnishings toward homes made by Habitat for Humanity.

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The University is full of students willing to help people less fortunate than themselves, or at least that's what the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity has seen.

Athens Area Habitat Executive Director Spencer Frye attributes the willingness of the community to volunteer directly to the moral quality of the students at the University.

"This affiliate is extremely fortunate to have the University students and its organizations," Frye said. "They are extremely volunteer oriented. We are one of the few Habitats that have more labor than we need sometimes."

The most popular form of volunteer work for the organization is done by students eager to get their hands dirty at the build site, but swinging a hammer isn't the only way students volunteer their services.

The ReStore, a thrift store that raises money for Habitat's affordable housing program, provides another way students can lend their community a helping hand.

Located at 532 Barber St., the ReStore serves as the hub for the "Don't Dump it, Donate it" program, which takes donated home furnishings and sells them for a discounted price.

The store accepts all kinds of housing-related items including furniture, appliances, cloths, doors, windows and cabinets.

ReStore offers free pick-ups for those who want to donate, but don't have the time or means to transport their donations to the store.

Habitat raised $180,000 the past two years through ReStore.

In 2008, ReStore kept 150 tons of household materials out of the Athens landfill, said Laura Dempsey, public outreach director for Habitat.

Micheal Jamison, a graduate student from Marietta, works in the ReStore and says his typical day at the store begins at 8 a.m. by making a list of things that need to be done. He spends the rest of the day answering phone calls, helping customers find items and working the register.

"I like the idea that the things I do help the community," Jamison said.

Habitat builds about six houses each year for families in need. It builds three and four bedroom houses ranging from $65,000 to $75,000 - allowing approved families to own a new home for about $250 a month, interest free.

The Athens Area Habitat turns 21 on Aug. 8 and will have its birthday party at Tasty World. Habitat encourages everyone in the community to come celebrate the occasion.

With the continued help of University students, Habitat will continue to give families "a hand up, not a hand out" for many years to come, Frye said.

2009-07-05T18:08:00.000-07:00

Mary Catherine Molpus: Athens Habitat earns gratitude

Athens Banner-Herald | Story updated at 8:04 pm on 7/5/2009

As a social worker for United Hospice of Athens, I regularly address issues of safety for our hospice patients.

Recently, one of our home patients' air conditioning unit broke. Temperatures were in the 90s. The issue of safety needed to be addressed for our elderly patient with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Once informed of the situation, I began investigating all possible solutions. I visited the patient's home to personally assess the situation, called heating and air companies, consulted other social workers and contacted agencies for financial assistance.

When I spoke with Spencer Frye, executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Athens, I became hopeful. Frye called John Bulla of Acme Heating and Air while I was waiting on the phone. Bulla dropped his current projects and was at the patient's house within the hour.

By the end of the day, Bulla had installed a used central air conditioning unit for our patient and her family. This was more than the family had expected. This act of generosity and kindness surpassed my expectations, too.

There are little miracles that occur every day in Athens-Clarke County. Habitat for Humanity's "A Brush with Kindness" program created one for our patient and her family. It is my hope I can inform our community of Habitat for Humanity's commitment to service by sharing this experience with others.

On behalf of my patient, her family and United Hospice, I want to express my sincerest gratitude for Habitat for Humanity's service.

Buzz up!

Mary Catherine Molpus: Athens Habitat earns gratitude070609letters1Athens Banner-Herald As a social worker for United Hospice of Athens, I regularly address issues of safety for our hospice patients.

Mary Catherine Molpus: Athens Habitat earns gratitude

Athens Banner-Herald | Story updated at 8:04 pm on 7/5/2009

As a social worker for United Hospice of Athens, I regularly address issues of safety for our hospice patients.

Recently, one of our home patients' air conditioning unit broke. Temperatures were in the 90s. The issue of safety needed to be addressed for our elderly patient with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

On behalf of my patient, her family and United Hospice, I want to express my sincerest gratitude for Habitat for Humanity's service.

Mary Catherine Molpus

• Mary Catherine Molpus is a social worker and bereavement coordinator at United Hospice of Athens

2009-06-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

Reversing roles to raise funds

People, Places & Things

By April Moore Skelton | Correspondent | Story updated at 7:52 pm on 6/16/2009

As fundraisers in Athens go, aprons fall on the more "vanilla" end of uniforms to be worn by male participants, surpassed in showiness and discomfort by sequined frocks and high heels donned at other local events. Actually, there's probably a lot about this weekend's Habitat for Humanity Men in Aprons Bake Sale that's likely to be vanilla.

"I thought the bake sale idea was fun," says Spencer Frye, executive director of the Athens Area Habitat chapter. "It's a stereotypical role reversal."

Frye, no stranger to what once was considered "women's work," was changing a diaper when called to talk about the fundraiser. He admits to being "handy in the kitchen" (diaper changes take place far from that space, he assured) and will be making some cookies to sell at the event, "the kind with the Hershey's Kiss in the middle."

The bake sale is held in support of Habitat's fourth Women Build campaign, an initiative to empower women to build Habitat homes, and encourage them to take an active role in their communities. Frye says the Women Build effort isn't "exclusionary" - though the vast majority of volunteers on such construction sites are women - but that it is an effort to encourage female participation. The group even attempts to use female contractors when possible, though Frye says there's a scarcity of "women plumbers in this town."

Al Davison, husband of Mayor Heidi Davison, admits to a decided lack of skill in the carpentry department.

He says a friend once called him "the worst carpenter he'd ever seen, and said that I shouldn't even be allowed to own tools."

Luckily for Habitat home recipients, Davison knows that when it comes to construction, "my best skill would be providing lunch."

For the bake sale, which asks men in the community to use their culinary skills to raise money so the ladies can begin nailing a house together, Davison will be bringing his "surprisingly famous cheese biscuits" to the Athens Farmers Market, and he'll work the Men in Aprons booth, hawking the "ridiculously simple" biscuits to shoppers.

"I think the thing that makes them so good is that they have about four to five times the amount of fat in them that people would prefer," he says.

While that sort of decadent doughy creation is sure to sell fast at the Farmers Market on Saturday, Frye says he realizes "it would take a lot of sold cookies" to come up with the sum Habitat requires to begin construction on a home, which is typically $50,000.

In the past, the big check has come from families, churches, individuals or businesses, but with the downturn in the economy, "we're having to piece together the money," Frye says.

The idea behind the bake sale is "about advocacy and awareness," he says, more than raising a large amount of money. Ultimately, "we want people to know we've got a family ready to receive a house, so we need the money."

It's in that spirit fellas are bringing cakes, pies, cookies and candies to the table. And, "if they give me an apron, I'll wear it," Davison says.

Men in Aprons, Women with Hammers Bake Sale

When: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday

Where: Athens Farmers Market, Bishop Park

Online: www.athenshabitat.com/womenbuild.htm

2009-06-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

Demolition added to Habitat repertoire

Athens Banner-Herald | Story updated at 11:45 pm on 6/2/2009

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity has added house demolition to its mission of building low-cost housing for people who live in Athens.

The "deconstruction program" is called ReHOUSE (Recycling Home Owner Units Safely and Efficiently), and uses volunteers to level vacant houses and clean up trash and debris in an effort to curb blight.

Workers salvage all usable materials and sell them at Habitat's ReStore, a shop whose proceeds are used to help pay the cost of building Habitat houses.

2009-05-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

3 Homes: From Dream to Reality

One of the most important factors in stabilizing neighborhoods is to create a high volume of home ownership in a short period of time. By choosing neighborhoods in Athens to collectively focus on, Athens Area Habitat for Humanity and the Athens Land Trust are doing just that. Several new homes have been built in the Waddell Street area resulting in a fresh outlook for the neighborhood. Homeowners in their new homes are able to look out for each other and their property as a collective force while reducing crime in the neighborhood.

The vision for 868, 870, and 872 Waddell Street began a year ago and has resulted so far in the acquisition and demolition of two blighted structures with no historic value, one of which was a burned out shell. By removing blighted and vacant houses, the neighborhood is no longer an eyesore but also, they are no longer hiding places for criminal elements which vacant and abandoned structures attract.

Plans are being developed to rebuild three permanently affordable energy efficient homes. By providing the opportunity of homeownership to lower income individuals, the neighborhood will soon be a model of transformation with owner occupied units resulting an incubator for the revitalization and stabilization of the surrounding area. It is through agency collaboration like this that we will be able to renew blighted neighborhoods in Athens thus giving a sense of pride to our residents, adding to the tax base of the county, reducing the crime in the neighborhood and turning the dream of homeownership into a reality.

2009-02-19T18:11:00.000-08:00

Forum: New local Habitat homeowner shares story of dream

Commentary | Story updated at 7:14 pm on 2/19/2009

Reginald Willis, recipient of a home from Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, shared his journey to home ownership in January at the annual Committee of 1,000 Celebration, an evening dedicated to thanking Habitat supporters. Here is a portion of his speech:

It is with great pride and joy that I come this evening to give a few brief words of encouragement and support for the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity.

I, being a recent recipient of a home through Habitat for Humanity, can truly say that my dream of being a homeowner came into realization after becoming introduced to this great organization.

Although I had turned to other venues of home ownership, it was not until putting in my application and having my home visit in December 2007 did I really believe that it could truly happen. The economic hardships of today, and seeing families in a much better position of being a homeowner than I was, kept me full of doubt that I could obtain this goal of home ownership. But with prayer and much faith, my ship did sail, and a new beginning in my book of life began to be penned.

I certainly will say this was not a handout. Athens Area Habitat for Humanity does not just say, "Here you go, you have a new home."

After meeting with Spencer (Frye, Athens Area Habitat for Humanity executive director) and other staff members of Habitat, I was assured that yes, you made the first step (doing the application) and Habitat made the second step (approving the application). But the real journey was just beginning.

It was with great pride that every weekend I arose from a good night's rest and dressed for the occasion. Not a shirt and tie (as is my daily wardrobe for work), but in sweats and workboots, accessorized with work gloves and a towel, I made my pilgrimage to Waddell Street to give my part in the building of my new home.

What pride and joy filled my heart.

It was a great journey, and one that is not soon to end. I looked forward to preparing meals on weekends for all the generous volunteers that came out to give a helping hand in my new home. Most I had never seen before, and some were family and friends that wanted to share in my dream. We laughed together many times ... .

My journey was one not only filled with pride and joy, but an extremely educational journey for me and my family.

My daughter had the experience of hammering nails and using a saw, she experienced painting, too, but mainly packing. Packing food into our car for the meal for the workers on Saturday, packing supplies of water and snacks to take to the work site during the week, and yes, packing our apartment in preparation of our move into our new home.

Finally, the dream was over. After doing a benefit concert for Habitat and finishing reaching our goal of sweat hours, I had to wake up. Wake up to the realization that yes, I am now a homeowner. I can now say with deep heartfelt pride, "Come to my house for dinner."

It is one of the best feelings I've ever had.

The excitement just weeks ago - the idea of being able to celebrate our first Christmas in our home - wow, what a feeling!

As we embark on a new day in America, with a new leader and new ideas, as we move to embrace change, let us never forget that Habitat for Humanity has already started laying the foundation on which the walls of hope will stand, where the roof of love and compassion is to cover, and with grace and meekness to fill the area.

We join in this celebration tonight, looking at what we have ahead, the challenge of continuing to take a dream, and make it a reality. We join together tonight to echo the words heard and embraced by so many: "Yes, we can."

Because we can make a difference - one nail at a time. We can keep hope alive, and we can make dreams come true.

So I say to Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, don't stop hammering, don't stop sweating, don't stop doing what you do. Keep your hand on the plow, and when it's all said and done, "Well done, thy good and faithful servants."

"Well done" will be the words you hear, for your labor was not in vain.

2008-02-12T18:15:00.000-08:00

Greek community to kick off Habitat project

MIMI ENSLEY

Issue date: 12/2/08 Section: News

Members of the Greek community at the University will kickoff a Habitat for Humanity building project with a groundbreaking ceremony today.

Though actual construction on the Habitat house will not begin until January, the groundbreaking signifies the culmination of 18 months of fundraising in preparation for the build. During the past year and a half, members of Greek Life were able to raise $63,000 - the total cost of the project. Individual chapters were responsible for a portion of the funds, and money earned during Greek Week last spring also contributed to the total sum.

Leaders from the University's Greek councils are excited to move past the preparation stages and begin work on the house, which volunteers will build at 105 Red Fern Circle in Bogart.

"This has been an incredible journey starting with the original dream and actually seeing it come to fruition," said Kathleen Robinson, president of the Panhellenic Council. "The real results will come in the next few months as we see the house take form and get to know the family whose lives we are going to impact."

Robinson, a senior from Macon, said she has found her "home away from home" in her Greek organization and sees the project as a way for her to give the same feeling of home to an Athens family.

"I am so grateful we will be able to provide a home for a family in Athens," she said. "This is a wonderful opportunity for all Greek students from the four councils to work together to give back to our community."

The Habitat house will be built through the combined efforts of members from each of the four governing bodies of Greek Life - the Interfraternity Council, the Multicultural Greek Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Panhellenic Council. The groups comprise more than 5,000 students who participate in the University's fraternities and sororities.

"One of the core values to every Greek organization is service, and we all strive to adhere to this by contributing to causes with our time and resources," Robinson said.

Robinson will speak at the groundbreaking, as well as Spencer Frye, executive director of Athens Area Habitat for Humanity, and Brad Valentine, president of the Interfraternity Council. The Greek leaders will thrn break ground at 5 p.m. Project leaders hope to finish "the House the Greeks Built" by the end of spring semester.

Valentine, a senior from Gainesville, said the work that will take place after the groundbreaking will be the most important.

"I strongly believe that the Greek community will be impacted the most when the individual members unite and work together to achieve their common goal," Valentine said. "As the house is being built, our members will get to know the family and they will benefit more from the intangible aspect of impacting other lives."