Habitat Headlines | February 2021
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According to a 2016 article published in Psychology Today, there are seven types of love. Since I have had the pleasure of working at Macomb Habitat since 2012, I believe I have seen all seven, but for sure, six.
Here’s a brief description of each and an example to bring you joy.
Philia Love – The hallmark of this type of love is friendship and shared goodwill. Each year, at least 1000+ volunteers contact us and arrange a volunteer experience. Sometimes its just one or two friends, but other times, it’s an entire company. I hear them say, “I love helping Habitat!” On any given summer day, we see examples of this type of love! When I posted that we needed auction items for our Gala, Dave Collins, a friend and co-chair of the event, shared the request with his friends. Thank you, Dave! And thanks for sharing the love…
Storge Love – this is familial love; the type of love you see between parents and their children. We have many board members who do so many things for us, but two of them—Thomas Barnes and Jeremiah Hoehner—involve their children in many of those acts of kindness. Sometimes I peek at their Facebook pages (we are friends) and I see the values they are instilling in their children. They do this through actions, not words. And the love I see between those parents and their kiddos is magnificent!
Agape Love – this is universal love, like loving God or having love for strangers. People who have this type of altruistic love can have better mental and physical health and may experience greater longevity. Ask anyone who works for Habitat if they know this type of love, and they will most likely confirm it. The joy that fills our heart when we help a stranger or pray for those in need is truly amazing. It is a much greater bonus than a cash gift! (But we wouldn’t mind one of those either! lol)
Ludus Love – This is a playful love consisting of teasing and dancing. This is casual love with few complications. Some of the guests who attend our special events exhibit this kind of love. They attend the events, make donations, and then move on to other things. I’m hoping their love will become a little more passionate and they will return as volunteers or longtime donors!
Pragma Love – This is practical love founded on duty or reason. Every now and then, a person must volunteer as a community service person. Maybe they’ve made a small mistake. Perhaps they have made a large mistake. No matter the crime (except for the most serious ones) we welcome these folks into our fold for community service which could be as little as ten hours or as long as six months. They have a reason to visit us, but we always charm them along the way.
Philautia Love – Loving one’s self is the hallmark of Philautia. This can be heathy or unhealthy. For board members who give thousands of dollars or hundreds of volunteer hours, we see Philautia Love. Why? Because by doing good, they bring themselves joy and happiness. It feels so good to help others!
Eros Love – Does the term passionate and simmering love ring a bell? We don’t see a ton of this type of love on construction sites or in the stores. We did have two employees fall in love once, but other than that, everyone else is keeping that type of love under wraps. Whew! We do have one partner family whose wife and kids are scheduled to come to the USA to be reunited with their husband and dad. I’m sure a few sparks will be flying when those two love birds are reunited!
When Neel Burton published his article, he never imagined that the President and CEO of Macomb Habitat would find a way to tie it to the mission of providing community, homes and hope. But I did! Hooray!
The harder job will be finding just the right Valentine gift for all the loves in my own life – at work and beyond.
Happy Valentines Day everyone and may love touch your lives in one way or another.
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You're Invited to
a Virtual Event!
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Join Macomb County Habitat for Humanity any time beginning Friday, February 12th at 7:00 pm thru Saturday, February 13th at 8:00 pm for a virtual event and silent auction to support the building and rehabbing of homes in Macomb County. Enjoy a night of fun from the comfort and safety of home!
The auction is already open and closes Saturday, February 13th at 8:00 pm, so get to bidding!
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Those who RSVP by February 11th will be entered for a drawing for a One-Night stay at the Bavarian Inn at Frankenmuth with dinner for two at Zehnder's Restaurant.
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Champion of Champions
A Philanthropic Competition for
Leaders in the Community
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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.
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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.
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2021 Thrivent Venture Update Scheduled
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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?
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We Mourn Karen Upshaw's Death
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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.
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Mount Clemens Ice Carving Event Feb. 5-7
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Take time for a stroll around Downtown Mount Clemens Friday, February 5th thru Sunday, February 7th, for the 16th Annual Ice Carving Show. The show will have a theme of thanking frontline workers who have worked during the coronavirus crisis, a tribute to police officers, firefighters, nurses, doctors, teachers, and more. Each day professional carvers will start work at noon, and their sculptures will be on display on the Fountain Stage at Macomb Place and Cherry Street Mall area.
While you stroll, look for the carving sponsored by donors in Macomb Habitat's name!
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What's New at the ReStores?
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- Sinks, Toilets, and Vanities
- Cabinets
- Workinng Appliances
- Doors & Windows
- Lumber
- Tiles & Wood Flooring
- Electrical Supplies
- Door Handles & Cabinet Knobs
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8 Types of Construction Waste that can be Donated
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If anything is a constant with home improvements, it is the trash. Home improvement projects tend to leave behind plenty of sawdust, screws, and wood scraps.
Donating your renovation materials keeps functional—and often desirable—items out of the landfill. Other renovators get the materials they need for their projects, and you get to help others while getting rid of your leftovers. Macomb Habitat provides donation pick up services (Call Karrie at 586-263-1540, x 100). Your donations may qualify for a tax deduction, too, making donating a win-win situation!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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6. Tiles & Wood Flooring
We will accept extra boxes of tiles, laminate, or wood flooring from a home improvement project.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Regular Volunteers Needed at ReStores!
The ReStores are in need of regular volunteers. Select either 10 am - 2 pm or 2 pm - 6 pm on a Tuesday through Friday of choice, at either of our ReStore locations in Shelby Township or Warren.
Volunteer duties include...
- managing displays
- processing home goods
- helping organize the store
- some lifting
- mask and work gloves required
Grab a friend or two and improve your health while helping others. Together we can reach more families with shelter solutions!
Call ahead to schedule your volunteer visit. In most cases, you can start the same day you show up! Just bring a valid photo ID.
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The ReStore is currently looking for the following items to be donated:
- working snow blowers
- upholstered furniture (in good condition)
- children's desks/any desks
- appliances (working, less than ten years old), countertop microwave ovens, washing machines, dryers
- usable lumber
- working power tools
- toilets
- bathroom vanities
- pedestal sinks
- stainless kitchen sinks
- interior & exterior doors
- standard windows
- jewelry, leather purses, perfumes
We DO NOT ACCEPT the following:
- bedding and towels
- clothing
- mattresses and box springs
- items in need of any repairs
- light bulbs
Call ahead to reserve a pick up time.
(586) 263-1540 x100
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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
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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.
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Not Itemizing? No Problem
Giving More under the CARES Act through March 14th
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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.
25 N. Main St., Mount Clemens, MI 48043.
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What are Community Rewards?
Kroger Community Rewards makes fund-raising easy by donating to local organizations based on the shopping you do everyday.
Once you link your card to an organization, all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card!
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Cars for Homes
Donate a vehicle to Habitat for Humanity’s car donation program – Cars for Homes. Your generosity will support our work with local families.
- All proceeds from your vehicle donation will support Habitat for Humanity and help local families here in Macomb County.
- Your donation may qualify for a tax deduction.
It’s fast and easy. Learn more about how vehicle donations work here!
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Have you Designated your Favorite Charities in your Will?
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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.
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