Home Team Huddle is back! Purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win an NFL weekend getaway. Funds raised by this event go to building safe, decent, affordable housing in Linn & Benton counties.

This year, the action starts with a kickoff at Brick Alley Pub & Sports Bar in Marion! Stop by Brick Alley from Noon to 6 PM on Sunday, January 15 to watch football and purchase raffle tickets! Door prizes will be given throughout the afternoon.

Or come to Community Night at Hospoda Craft Pizza & Beer on Tuesday, January 24 from 5:30 PM - 8 PM. Sample a variety of brews made by Cedar Rapids Brewing Society and get a pizza special that benefits Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Can't make it to these community events? Purchase your tickets at Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Wednesday, January 18 to Saturday, February 11!

Grand prize package includes 2 tickets to an NFL regular season game of your choice, $1,000 airfare voucher, and $500 hotel voucher!

Thank you for voting for Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity in the annual Gazette Gives Back advertising grant program. Thanks to your support, we placed 7th out of 41. Your vote has secured $18,000 in advertising funds that will amplify our messaging and allow us to reach The Gazette's over 35,000 daily readers year-round.

Participants in The Arc of East Central Iowa's Day Habilitation program volunteered to sort hardware at ReStore

Habitat staff and crew leaders replaced floors and repaired ceiling fans in a mobile home as part of the Affordable Repairs program

Students Building Community classmates learned to hang drywall in the home on 34th Street

The International Paper Foundation has awarded an $8,000 grant to Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity to help preserve the affordable housing stock by completing repairs and creating a safer environment for homeowners. This grant is just one example of International Paper's commitment to their company's signature causes, which include education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief, and initiatives that improve our planet.

Audrey started volunteering at ReStore in 2008, two weeks before her retirement.

Initially she volunteered on the sales floor, stocking and organizing, but she gradually started helping the electricians. She's been volunteering in the electrical room for eight years now.

"Sometimes we salvage something people think is not worth keeping, but it's just right for the right person," says Audrey. "I'm glad we can keep things out of the landfill."

She also recruits individuals to volunteer at ReStore. When a big pallet of lighting came in, she invited her book club to come help. Some of them have continued to volunteer at ReStore. "Many women don't think they can do this work," says Audrey. "I wasn't sure for myself at first, but I love doing it now. I recommend anybody to come check it out. Even if electrical volunteering isn't for you, there's lots of other stuff to do like scrapping and sorting."

"I like it because it's something to do that's hands-on, and it's something totally different from what I did for a career. It's like coming in to play. "

If you're interested in sharing your time and talents with a nonprofit organization this year, ReStore gratefully accepts help from volunteers! There are plenty of volunteer roles, including:

Last year, dedicated ReStore volunteers committed over 4,100 hours to helping raise funds for Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity's mission of building safe, decent, affordable housing. You can help, too!

If you'd like to volunteer with Habitat, please contact Kelly Murphy at [email protected] or 319.366.4485 ext. 104