Thanksgiving During COVID
I peeked at my calendar last week and noticed that our Board meeting was going to be moved because Thanksgiving was on that day! As I did that, I realized we were into November and time was skateboarding past me.

It must be COVID!

I‘ve been on so many Zoom meetings and have alternated my time between home and work so frequently, I simply forgot to look up and give thanks.

It is, after all, the month to formally do that.

While I have hundreds of people to thank, I’d like to single out ten for this blog.

  • Stephanie Burgess – Our liaison at the County. This woman has helped us in ways no one could imagine. She and her team are always looking out for the families we serve by providing us every opportunity to be the best we can be in the HOME arena.

  • Reverend Dr. Charles Boayue, Jr. – this Advisory Board member first introduced us to legal asylees, refugees and immigrants. That effort led to a meeting with the city of Eastpointe, a proposal, and then some homes. The whole journey has been remarkable.

  • Kim Homan – Eastpointe official. This woman has worked very hard to make sure the homes are on track and that we are held accountable.

  • Carol McQueen – As Development Director, Carol has had to raise money virtually. This is no easy task, but she never gave up or quit. Kudos to this very special member of my team!

  • Ericia Bartels – Our COO – created an online platform for our ReStores while we were shut down for COVID. You must check it out and purchase some items: macombrestore.com. Kudos to Ericia for being creative and forward-thinking. It’s a gift!

  • Mashell Carissimi – Our fabulous Board Chair. You name it. She does it for us. From sponsorships to trainings (and everything else in between) this dynamic force supports us.

  • Dave Tirsell – Our Volunteer and Faith Relations Manager is a true blessing to all of us. Dave looks between the cracks and seeks to help when others forget. We refer to him as our Santa because he is always giving of himself. Small little items have turned up on many a doorstep or porch (including mine). Partner family members appreciate him. The board and staff are amazed. And the churches can’t wait until he comes back to participate in fellowship or prayer with them.

  • Rita Brown – Rita is the “larger than life” personality that helps guide us through difficult decisions with humor and grace. We are very excited she is on our team. We’ve had virtual cocktail parties, a Women’s Luncheon and several appeals. In January she will orchestrate an online Gala. How fun! What should I wear?

  • ALL of our thousands of volunteers and donors – No volunteer is more important than another. Regardless of the size of the task, every moment given is appreciated. We simply could not achieve our mission’s work without them. And to our donors, if the gift is huge or the gift is much smaller, we put everything together and make it work for the families we serve. Thank you, a thousand times over.

  • The Board of Directors – Some board members gave gifts in the thousands of dollars this year to assist as COVID could have potentially crippled us. The level of generosity was mind-blowing and forever appreciated. We have the best Board EVER!

Ten mentions could be 500 mentions. But each person or group who does anything for Macomb Habitat is part of our mission and legacy. We are grateful to be important and meaningful to all of them. We are blessed to be alive and to be working either virtually or side-by-side with dedicated staff who care deeply about single moms, low income families and struggling seniors who hope for a hand up.

We are all family and together, this year especially, we give thanks!
Upcoming Events
Please Join Us at The Great Greek Grand Opening!
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is having its' Grand Opening and 50% of sales from dine-in and pick up orders are being donated to Macomb County Habitat for Humanity! Enjoy award-winning chef-inspired dishes like the fan favorite traditional Gyro as well as Soulvaki platters, classic Greek Salads and more!
Visit Wednesday, November 18th between 11am and 8pm.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill
12433 23 Mile Rd.
Shelby Township, MI 48315
586-997-700 or thegreatgreekgrill.com
Champion of Champions
A Philanthropic Competition for
Leaders in the Community
Champion of Champions is a 16-week challenge, a competition between community leaders and their teams who raise funds for Macomb Habitat for Humanity in honor of a local family of the year.

Candidates build strong campaign teams to support and expand their reach, where each dollar raised is equal to one vote. The team who has the most votes, (money raised) is named the Champion of Champions at the finale event May 1st.

Volunteer Update
Thank You to Allstate Heating and Cooling!!
For your generous donation of a new furnace to our Toepfer home build, which was vandalized and had the previous furnace stolen. Thanks to Allstate, our hardworking family partner can have a safe, secure, and warm home for the Holidays.
We Appreciate Our Veterans

As a Veterans Build Affiliate, we are pleased to be able to help veterans in Macomb County in many ways. From homeownership to Critical Home Repairs we give thanks for the men and women who have served in the military to protect our freedoms.
Brose Jefferson Aids a Veteran

Two tag teams from Brose Jefferson in Warren spent a busy day replacing all the gutters and staining wood on a home owned by a senior veteran in Roseville. Getting the work done before winter will eliminate ongoing water problems and make the year ahead much more comfortable for the homeowner.
Faith Build in Home Stretch
The Faith Build project on Garfield St. in Roseville is in the final stages of work. Saturday and Wednesday volunteer days through late-November will take the three-bedroom home from painting to landscaping and completion. Interior work is focused on laminate flooring and ceramic tile, while the good weather helped us raise the shed and attached the side porch. Safe procedures are in place for 12 or fewer people teams with hand washing, sanitizer, and more available. We have heat as the temperatures chill. Check out the Volunteer Calendar at macombhabitat.org to join the fun as we prepare a forever home for Ciera Judkins and her four children. Can’t volunteer? Make a financial donation at the Donate Now button to help purchase materials.
Thrivent + Macomb County Habitat for Humanity =
A Perfect Partnership

We are celebrating that in 2019 we received $1,055 in Thrivent Choice Dollars® grants from Thrivent Financial benefit members! Additionally, we also benefited from personal donations through Thrivent’s online giving platform or through Thrivent Action Teams. With over 40,000 organizations enrolled in Thrivent Choice®, we’re excited to see the impact made across the country. If you are a Thrivent member, you can use the link below to direct your Thrivent Choice dollars or make other donations in support of Macomb County Habitat for Humanity.
ReStore Update
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We are Hiring!
Warehouse Associate Position Open
Macomb County Habitat for Humanity seeks a hard-working person who has the ability to easily lift 40 lbs or more. This candidate must have a dazzling personality and be able to thank our many drive-in donors for their great contributions. If you are that person, send an email with your resume to Erica Mixion.
Bracelets, Rings, and Sparkly Things...
In our continual quest to meet the demands of our savvy ReStore shoppers, our creative Chief Operating Officer, Ericia Bartels, has decided to create a special offer that involves the sale of jewelry.

The Sparkly Things section of the Online ReStore will have costume baubles, vintage jewelry, and fine gems available for purchase. We will also offer shipping or pickup on these items.

Ericia will start the offers through Macomb Habitat’s virtual ReStore (macombrestore.com) on Cyber Monday, November 23rd.

If you are one of our shoppers, you will want to pay attention to this opportunity!

However, if you are one of our donors, we are hoping you will take time to scour your jewelry boxes and look for pieces you may not wear frequently or at all. When you are ready to donate them, call our offices at 586-263-1540 X100, and schedule a drop off or pick up. We will offer walk up drop offs in our main office, located at 25 N. Main St., Mt. Clemens, in the CoLaborative Workspace. Monday–Thursday
10am–3pm.

The holidays are just around the corner. A beautiful necklace or a fun ring could be a magnificent surprise for a loved one. Whether it’s a stocking stuffer or a forever ring, Macomb Habitat will have something for everyone!
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