Welcome to our first monthly newsletter! Each month we will be featuring some of our valued members including volunteers, board members and employees. We will also be sharing updates from the ReStore, affiliate, and build (when applicable)! | |
Gretchen Peterson
Volunteer Spotlight
Gretchen is a social worker and educator. With an LICSW, she began her career as a school counselor at a school for kids with language-based learning disabilities. Over her 24 years there, she gained additional responsibilities in many areas of the school and earned her Special Ed. Administrators License, eventually becoming the COO. She recently transitioned to an all-girls independent school as the Assistant Head of School.
Her work with Old Colony Habitat for Humanity began a couple of years ago. She first volunteered in marketing and quickly moved to the Family Services Committee, where she now organizes educational classes and helps with communications.
In 2019, Gretchen and her children traveled to Guatemala to volunteer with Habitat Global Builds. It was an unbelievable experience that she will never forget.
Gretchen says, "I am a believer in helping others be the best they can be, which is why I enjoy volunteering for Habitat, whose mission includes partnering with families to improve lives."
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Randy Miller
Board Member Spotlight
Randy is the President and owner of Miller Recycling Corporation and Northeast Data Destruction located in the Cabot Business Park in Mansfield, MA. Randy began his career working part-time with the family-owned recycling business in 1976. He became president and owner of the company in 1987 and started Northeast Data Destruction in 2000 to address the growing demand for confidential shredding of sensitive information.
Randy has served on several boards and is a former president of the Eastern Paper Mills and Suppliers Association, as well as the Rotary Club of Mansfield, MA. Randy’s hobbies include enjoying the outdoors, photography, and traveling with his wife Emily. They reside in Cumberland, RI, and have 4 grown children.
Randy says that he "was attracted to the Habitat organization as a way to give back to the community. A past Habitat executive director, friend, and Rotary member Manny Cunard drew me to Habitat. As a business owner in Mansfield for over 20 years, I was committed to assisting organizations in need. Habitat seemed like a good fit. OCHFH is a great organization and it has been a pleasure to work with the many highly skilled individuals associated with this group, helping to provide quality homes for great families throughout the area."
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Lora Gilleese
ReStore Manager
Lora Gilleese, joined the Old Colony Habitat for Humanity Restore in Attleboro MA in Oct. 2019 as the operations manager. It's not surprising that Lora was named the ReStore director in 2021, as "working for Habitat is more than a job [for her]; it's a mission." Jimmy Carter's dream - helping to provide affordable housing for low-income families- motivates Lora.
Along with the typical administrative, personnel, and financial duties that go along with running a retail store, inventory management is at the core of her responsibilities. Luckily, Habitat receives hundreds of valuable items daily. Whether these generous people and organizations request a pickup or they deliver directly, Lora and her staff sort, price, and turn that sock in record time. Having been a single mom of three, Lora is driven to build a strong business for the organization.
When Lora isn't at the store (which is not often!), she's probably spending time with her seven grandchildren or walking her dog.
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Volunteer Appreciation
In September, we had the pleasure of having a group of Johnson & Johnson employees volunteer their time & talents at the ReStore!
They helped with organizing the store, and we are so thankful!
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Volunteers Wanted at the ReStore!
Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity? We're looking for volunteers to help us out with displays and organizing!
We have shifts available Tuesday through Saturday (10-12, 12-2, and 10-2) and there is no commitment required beyond the shift you sign up for. You can sign up for a shift at this link:
https://volunteerup.com/Login.asp?w=i&o=195
Does your child need community service hours? If they're over 14 we also have opportunities for them!
Is your organization looking to set up a volunteer day? We would love to have your group (of up to 10 volunteers) help at our ReStore!
If you are interested in learning more or have any questions, please email [email protected] or give us a call at (508) 639-9577
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Join us for our Sip, Savor & Celebrate 2023 Wine Tasting Event!
Oct 26th at Lake Pearl, Wrentham MA from 6 - 9 p.m.
Follow this link to learn more about our event, purchase event/raffle tickets, or make a donation: https://oldcolonyhabitat.org/2023-wine-tasting/
Our non-profit tax ID# is 04-3014778
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Our Mission
Dedicated to providing decent and affordable housing in partnership with families in need, Old Colony Habitat for Humanity is all of us working together, partnering with families to improve their housing, both locally and around the world. Building strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.
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Thank you for all your support; be sure to follow our social media profiles (linked below) so you can always be up to date on all things Old Colony Habitat for Humanity! | |
COMMUNITIES WE SERVE
Assonet, Attleboro, Bellingham, Berkley, Dighton, East Freetown, Fall River, Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Swansea, Somerset, Taunton,
and Wrentham
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