Greetings!
February has just ended, which tells me that we’re less than a month away from the Spring – at least if you believe the calendar!! I have always been anxious for the start of longer days and warmer weather, but as the CEO of Habitat CFC – Spring, more importantly, signals the beginning of the most active building season of the year. With close to ten houses already in process and seven more soon to begin, this Spring will be busier than most – and I am enthusiastically waiting for it all to begin!
Construction is the primary activity that leads to a new home – but as you can see from today’s newsletter – there are many other activities critical to the process. Quality construction doesn’t happen without a detailed set of drawings and plans. Well-appointed closets and quality floors make a house livable, inviting and complete. Of course, none of our work happens without the support of donors, through Giving Day, our annual Benefit and other vehicles. And, it certainly goes without saying, that hard-working, driven and qualified future homeowners are the focus of all that we do.
Habitat CFC will always be about building houses. But all of the hands that contribute to every aspect of our work are at the heart of turning each of those houses into homes. Thanks for your support!
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Stuart D. Adelberg
Chief Executive Officer
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Halstead International Helps Put Habitat Families on Solid Footing
It is common, when speaking about the need for affordable housing, to talk about the importance of having a roof over one’s head. But it’s just as important for a stable house to be built on solid footing with quality floors. Fortunately, thanks to the generosity of Fairfield County residents, Harlan and Sabina Stone, new Habitat CFC houses will now be finished with high quality flooring products courtesy of Norwalk based Halstead International.
Both the Stones and Halstead International have been extremely generous supporters of Habitat International’s work for years, and they recently offered to extend that generosity to Habitat affiliates in their home state of Connecticut. Habitat CFC is working with Habitat International to coordinate the donation of Halstead’s Lifeproof flooring products to Habitat affiliates throughout the state.
Habitat CFC CEO Stuart Adelberg notes, “We are so grateful for the opportunity to use this high quality product in our new houses. The flooring is attractive and durable, and the installation process is something that can be done by trained volunteers. Generous donations from people like Harlan and Sabina enable Habitat CFC to build simple decent homes and provide the life changing opportunity for affordable home ownership to hardworking local individuals and families. We could not be more grateful!”
Harlan Stone noted, “As a family involved in the building material business for over 100 years, we know the importance of shelter. Investing in housing for the less fortunate is one of the greatest investments we can make in the future. I am committed to making the right investments to human potential and helping people who, through no fault of their own, are in need.”
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Core Volunteers:
Connie and Regina
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We are lucky to have a great group of Core Volunteers here are Habitat CFC. These individuals make a commitment to volunteer regularly at our organization, sometimes one day a week – often much more. Many of our Cores have been volunteering with Habitat CFC for years!
Core volunteers help with a wide array of jobs on the construction site and occasionally help lead other volunteers. Some of our Cores prefer to focus on specific jobs.
Connie DeMattia
and
Regina Miolene
like to install the shelving in the closets of our new Habitat CFC houses. Connie has been doing this since 2008 and Regina joined her in 2015. Both of these “Women Build” members have been longtime supporters and construction volunteers at Habitat CFC - Connie began volunteering in 2001 and Regina started in 2004.
When asked why she installs the closets, Regina said, “I hadn’t been doing any construction for a while and Connie asked me if I would help her. I said ‘sure’ because it is a project that needs to get done on every house and installing the shelving is not too physical for me.”
Though the job may not seem too taxing for Regina and Connie – every element of our Habitat CFC houses makes a difference to the future homeowners. We are committed to building quality houses that our families can turn into their warm and stable homes – and we are grateful to Connie and Regina for the important role they play in making that happen!
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Yesterday was Giving Day and we want to thank everyone who donated to Habitat CFC and other Fairfield County organizations! A big thanks the Fairfield County’s Community Foundation for bringing Fairfield County’s communities together and creating this day to benefit our area’s local non-profits. Also thanks to Bank of America for their continued sponsorship of the event.
The funds we raised from Giving Day will help us provide essentials such as a kitchen sink, a window or a door for all the new homes we plan to build in 2019! Thanks again!!!!
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Interested in Homeownership?
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Habitat CFC’s Family Services Department hosts informational meetings for prospective homeowners several times a year.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about both the process and the selection criteria for Habitat CFC’s affordable homeownership program we encourage you to call our office at 203-333-2642 or visit
https://www.habitatcfc.org/apply-for-a-house/
Habitat CFC homeowners work hard helping to build their houses and taking classes designed to ensure their success, but the opportunity to own a new, affordable Habitat CFC home is life-changing for every member of the family.
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Every Home Begins with a Quality Plan
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One of the keys to Habitat CFC’s homebuilding quality and efficiency is standardization. We have five typical house designs, and, to the extent possible, we try to stick to those designs. Of course, every building lot is a different size and shape and the needs of individuals or families may vary to the extent that some customization is often required. We are fortunate to have
Burke Cheney
assisting us when design work or revisions of building plans are needed.
Burke has had a long and distinguished career as a designer and builder of quality homes throughout the region – and we are grateful that he is now sharing some of his time and expertise with Habitat CFC. Our future homeowners may not know or get to work alongside Burke, but his handiwork is helping to guide the construction of every one of their homes.
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Meet Habitat CFC Spring Interns
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Lauren and Christopher have joined Habitat CFC's Development department as an interns helping with our upcoming Benefit.
Lauren Ceriello
graduated from Villanova University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Communications. She wants to work in the non-profit sector and is enjoying the experience she is getting working for Habitat CFC. Her past job experience includes working for Foundation Source, Milford’s Public Defender Office, Core Arts and Save the Children. She also loves animals and has been volunteering at animal shelters most of her life. Lauren is currently actively involved at Danbury Animal Welfare Society. Another one of her passions is music, she is a trained singer, and has been performing since she was seven years old.
Christopher Antrum
graduated from Stratford High School in June 2018. Beginning in the fall of 2019 he will attend Roger Williams University where he will be studying Public Health. In the past Chris has worked with other organizations including Make-a-Wish, the New Canaan YMCA and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. He is excited to gain more experience working with non-profit organizations through his internship with Habitat CFC. In his free time he enjoys traveling, hiking and longboarding.
We are so happy to have them contributing their time and effort to help make our annual benefit on April 6th a success!
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Grab Your Ticket While You Can
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Mark your calendar for Habitat CFC’s biggest event of the year! We will return in April to the trendy space at the Fairfield Theatre Company Warehouse. Guests will be treated to a creative and fun evening featuring a silent auction with mobile bidding, cocktails, dinner and dancing!
We are pleased to announce that Habitat CFC will honor
Gartner, Inc.
, both the company and its extraordinary employees, with the presentation of the coveted Second Mile Award!
When: Saturday, April 6, 2019
Time: 6:30 - 11:00 pm
Where: FAIRFIELD THEATRE COMPANY WAREHOUSE, 70 Sanford Street, Fairfield, CT
(Valet Parking provided)
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1785 Stratford Avenue, Stratford
Just off exit 31 I-95
(store entrance is on Honeyspot Road)
203-383-4358
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ReStore Hours
Tuesday - Friday 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday - 9 am to 4 pm
Closed Sunday and Monday
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Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County | 203-333-2642
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