Habitat Headlines | February 2021
valentines-cookies.jpg
Upcoming Events
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.

Faith & Volunteer Update
Faith Build
All volunteer work is complete on the three-bedroom home on Garfield St. in Roseville. We await some electrician and plumber's final efforts to wrap it up for Cieara Prazuch to purchase as a forever home for four children. You will see the Dedication of this home with Cieara Prazuch and her four children during the BELIEVE in the power of home Virtual Event happening Friday, February 12th.
2021 Thrivent Venture Update Scheduled
Mark your calendar for Thursday, March 11th at 6 pm for our 2021 Thrivent Venture Update. We will be meeting via Zoom to recap the past build, meet the Prazuch family and look forward to a project this summer for 100 volunteers over 40 days to help build a home and work on neighbors' houses nearby. Information on how to register is still to come, but those who sign up by March 4th will get pizza and pop delivered to their Macomb County home to enjoy during the Update. Interested in attending?
Contact Dave Tirsell now at dtirsell@macombhabitat.org.
We Mourn Karen Upshaw's Death
Karen has been in our program for some time, had completed her sweat equity hours, and was weeks away from purchasing her Habitat home on Charles Street in Clinton Township. She passed away in her sleep from COVID-19 complications. She was a long-time employee in the Macomb County Register of Deeds and is part of a large Upshaw family with connections going back generations in the Mount Clemens area. A tree will be planted in her memory this next spring at Charles Street.
What's New at the ReStores?
1. Sinks, Toilets, and Vanities
Donating is a great way to keep these bulky items out of the landfill. If you contribute a toilet or sink, make sure that they are not stained and do not have chips in the porcelain. If you are remodeling an older bathroom, your vintage fixtures will be surprisingly popular at the ReStores!
2. Cabinets
Remodeling a kitchen often means replacing kitchen cabinets. Luckily, someone else may want those kitchen cabinets you remove and recycling them will cut down on construction waste. Kitchen cabinets should be in good shape and working order. It means making sure the cabinets are sturdy, the drawer pulls work and slide out easily, and the doors and drawers fit together squarely on the cabinet.
3. Working Appliances
You also can donate working appliances like stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers. Appliances need to be less than ten years old, clean, and in good working order. We can help these appliances find a new home.
4. Doors & Windows
Both interior and exterior doors can be used by someone else. The most useful doors are clean and undamaged, so look for holes or alterations before donating. Fiberglass or vinyl windows also can be contributed. If you are donating windows, please check for cracks or holes in the glass, as these cracks might make the glass unstable and likely to break.
5. Lumber
Wood scraps 36” or longer from framing or home improvement projects can be easily recycled. We request that it come without exposed nails and screws as these can pose a safety hazard. Other concerns include wood with ripped or sharp edges and treated wood types.
6. Tiles & Wood Flooring
We will accept extra boxes of tiles, laminate, or wood flooring from a home improvement project.
7. Electrical Supplies
You can donate light switches, switch covers, and wiring to cut your construction waste down even more. Electrical boxes are also accepted, as well as light sockets and adapters.
8. Door Handles & Cabinet Knobs
Many people replace door handles and cabinet knobs to update a room’s appearance. These fixtures are often still in good condition and can be donated to a local salvage shop. Door handles will be most useful when all the parts are kept together, so put all the pieces in a bag before donating.
If you are looking for one or some of these items, almost all items listed are shoppable online at MacombReStore.com! Shop online. Pick up in store.
ReStore Locations
Shelby ReStore
46660 Van Dyke, Shelby between Hall Rd. & 21 Mile
Mask required for entry.

Store Hours
Tues-Fri: 10 am - 6 pm
Sat: 10 am - 5 pm
Warren ReStore
23211 Van Dyke, Warren
at 9 1/2 Mile
Mask required for entry

Reduced Drop Off Hours
Fri: 10 am - 5:30 pm
Sat: 10 am - 4:30 pm.
Not Itemizing? No Problem
Giving More under the CARES Act through March 14th
To help alleviate the coronavirus’s economic devastation, Congress has enacted the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Included was a brand new universal deduction for charitable contributions. Taxpayers who do not itemize may now deduct up to $300 per year in charitable contributions. Such deductions must be: (1) in cash (no property like household goods), and (2) given to a 501(c)(3) public charity such as Macomb County Habitat.

Since this is a universal “above-the-line” deduction, taxpayers do not have to file Schedule A (itemize) to claim it. Instead, taxpayers list it as an adjustment to income on Schedule 1 of Form 1040 and then deduct it from their gross income (along with all other adjustments to income) on the first page of their Form 1040.

We can provide you a letter to document your donation to Macomb Habitat through the Donate Now button on our website or by mail to
25 N. Main St., Mount Clemens, MI 48043.
Have you Designated your Favorite Charities in your Will?
Macomb Habitat was blessed with an unexpected donation in support of our work from the estate of a friend of Habitat who recently passed away. Consider updating your will to have a portion of your estate go to help Macomb Habitat reach more families in the years ahead. 2021 is our 28th year of operating in Macomb County, and with your help, we can continue that good work for many more years.
STAY CONNECTED