homefrontA Newsletter of Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties

Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware County, PA is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International1

(January - April)

Connect with us at 'Habitat MontDelco' to check out our "Rock The Block " Pottstown 2018 Photo Gallery!

May 2018Welcome to our Spring Edition! Volume 9, Issue 1

There is an age-old African proverb, “If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far go together”. This year, our “Rock the Block” Community Clean-Up in Pottstown was testament to this fact. Through our newest collaboration as a Pottstown CARES member, "Rock the Block" volunteers and community partners made their largest revitalization impact in Pottstown yet!

Over 200 volunteers joined in Habitat's Neighborhood Revitalization Zone in Pottstown, working together with residents of the community to complete a total of 23 home and neighborhood improvement projects along the 300-600 blocks of Chestnut, Beech, and Walnut Streets.

While Pottstown CARES has always supported Habitat's MontDelco's Neighborhood Revitalization strategy, this year's annual community clean-up event was special.

Volunteers at Habitat MontDelco

Families Impacted By Your Support

Garbage Diverted from Landfills through theReStore (pounds)

843

425

224,685

Almost Home Spring Sessionin NorristownMay 1 - June 7, 2018

Community Meetingin PottstownMay 7, 2018

Community Meeting in NorristownMay 14, 2018

Home Dedication in PottstownJune - See Facebook For Details

Together we unified previously individual efforts to accomplish one common goal: motivating Pottstown residents to take stock in their neighborhood, leading the charge to shape it into a place they may experience their best quality of life. By banding together, we accomplished this, and so much more.

Throughout the morning, volunteers worked alongside residents to help pick-up litter, remove weeds in the community garden, landscape in public spaces, and complete basic home improvement projects with local homeowners.

Coming Together to Make A GreaterImpact in Our Pottstown Community

Your impact

Events

Volunteers help to repair and re-paint a previously damaged fence at one home on Walnut Street.

One volunteer leads his team as they break-up the sidewalk to lay new concrete at a home on Walnut Street.

Over 200 volunteers came together with Pottstown residents to "Rock the Block" on Saturday, April 21st

completing 23 revitalization projects.

2Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware County, PA is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International

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By noon, "Rock the Block" participants accomplished more work in the community than what could have been accomplished over the course of three months.

Receiving so much support from key organizations in their community was an inspiration to Pottstown residents who were reminded that their community does matter. Led by their local resident-headed committee, Pottstown Community Action, neighbors have plans to keep momentum going with quarterly clean-up days within the community.

Habitat would like to thank all of our partnering organizations – DOW Chemical Company, Art Fusion 19464, Borough of Pottstown, Genesis Housing Corporation, Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches, The Hill School, Matt Green at Glocker Realty, Mosaic Community Land Trust, Phillies Fire Company, Pottstown Community Action, Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, Pottstown Downtown Improvement District, Olivet Boys and Girls Club, Pottstown Fire Department, Pottstown School District and the Victory Christian Life Center. Without their support, “Rock the Block” Community Clean-Up 2018 would not have been nearly as successful.

A special shout out goes to each of our “Rock the Block” volunteers. We are so grateful for the time and effort you invested into making our Pottstown community one that residents are proud to call home!

Two Pottstown residents clear yard waste from the home of their elderly mother on Walnut Street

Coming Together to for a Greater

Impact...

With your support, along with the help of our devoted volunteers, generous donors, and members of Horsham Township, Habitat MontDelCo opened its second

ReStore on Saturday, March 17th!

Shop, Donate & Volunteer

at our Second ReStore

NOW OPEN in Horsham

Horsham Municipality members join with Habitat MontDelco for ribbon cutting at the Grand Opening of

our second ReStore in Horsham, PA.

Horsham ReStore HoursShop.

Tuesday – Saturday: 9am – 6pm Sunday: 11am – 5pm

Donate.Tuesday – Sunday: 9am – 5pm

Sunday: 11am – 4pmTo schedule a donation

pick-up online, visit www.habitatmontdelco.org/donatestuff

Volunteer.To learn how you can lend a hand, sign up online or contact Cara, Volunteer and Community Relations Manager at

cara@habitatmontdelco.orgWebsite: www. HabitatMontDelco.org

"Rock the Block" volunteers and community members completed 23 home improvement

projects along Walnut, Beech & Chestnut Streets.

ReStore MontDelco carries an assortment of tools for a discounted price - one customer discovers a

gem in our collection of hand saws.

Volunteers load one customer's SUV with her newly purchased lamp and coffee table.

Store front of new ReStore in Horsham, PA

3Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware County, PA is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International

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For over fifty years, Mrs. Ellen Brooks was an active resident of her community. This was the home where she and her husband built their life together, raised their two children, and made many wonderful memories. Following the loss of her husband and after suffering from a stroke earlier this year, Ellen was devastated to learn that she would soon have to leave.

With new struggles brought on by her health condition, navigating the stairs in her home had become a great challenge. As the demands of her disabilities increased, it became undeniable - on her own, she could no longer live safely in her home. With both of her children located in different states, her only option would be to move into an assisted living community.

Aging at home can be an incredible challenge for seniors like Ellen, who experience life-changing medical events. With your support, Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties helps offset challenges faced by elderly homeowners by providing low-cost Critical Home Repairs which address issues that may threaten their health, safety, and accessibility.

With Help From

The Home Depot,

One Delaware

County Senior Will

"Age at Home"

Through the Critical Home Repair Program, Ellen re-gained her independence and most importantly, the opportunity to be able to "age at home".

Ellen's home modification was provided through a sponsorship between Habitat MontDelco and The Home Depot of Glen Mills. It cost $10,000 and involved demolishing what were previously the living and dining rooms in order to build a wheelchair accessible bathroom and bedroom on the first floor of the house. It also included a set of new windows, cabinets, molding, vinyl flooring, and other small accessibility features.

This project is part of a larger commitment Habitat has made to prevent elderly, Veteran, and disabled homeowners from being displaced from their homes. Throughout the coming year, we looks forward to providing twenty-five more homeowners across Montgomery and Delaware Counties with the opportunity to overcome housing instability with affordable home repairs. Ten repairs will be offered to seniors in Delaware County through a partnership with the County Office of Services for the Aging(COSA) and another fifteen will be made available to qualifying Veteran, elderly and disabled homeowners in Montgomery County.

Now, when Ellen thinks about her future she no longer feels uncertain. There are still many more seniors in Montgomery and Delaware Counties who lack housing security - To serve them, we’ll need your help.

To learn more about Mrs. Ellen Brook’s story, or how you can help another elderly homeowner in your community by supporting the Critical Home Repair Program, please contact Liz, Director of Development and Communications, at ehefner@habitatmontdelco.org.

The entire first floor of Mrs. Ellen Brooks' home

was remodeled earlier this year giving her the special

opportunity to "age at home". Through the Critical Home Repair Program, Mrs.

Brooks received a wheelchair accessible bathroom and bedroom, new cabinets,

windows, and vinyl flooring.

After suffering from a stroke, it became challenging for Mrs. Ellen Brooks to get

around and to maintain her home. Along with accessibility features to accomodate her

disabilities, she also received new cabinets and flooring through the Critical Home Repair

Program. The repair was provided through partnership with The Home Depot (Glen Mills).

Mrs. Ellen Brooks now has a wheelchair accessible bathroom(pictured above) located on the first floor of her home.

6 Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware County, PA is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International

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Rediscover the "Magic" of Stable

Housing for Families Across the

Community

Connect with us on Facebook at 'Habitat MontDelco to check out our 2018 "Magic of Habitat" Gala Photo Gallery!

• Robert Nydick, President• William McEwan, Vice President• William J. Schalleur, Treasurer• Tiffany M. Loomis, Secretary• Joseph Catuzzi• Glenn Coughenour• Carl Friedman• Bill Kerr• Gary Lasher, President Emeritus• Mary Metz• Thomas McCarthy• David Morra• Holly Morrison• Robert G. Muse• Leslie Richards

2017-2018Board of Directors

Ways to get involvedThere’s something that each one of us can do to end poverty housing in our community:

Volunteer! There are opportunities at our construction sites, in our ReStore, in Family Services, as an intern, or on any of our committees. For more information, contact Cara at cara@habitatmontdelco.org.

Invest! Give the gift of Habitat and transform lives. For more information on ways to give, including gifts of services, materials, land or property, contact Laura at lmraz@habitatmontdelco.org.

Advocate! Tell our county representatives, your township, or borough commisionners why preserving homeownership is important to our quality of life. For more information about contacting community leaders, contact Marianne at mlynch@habitatmontdelco.org.

Recycle! Moving, remodeling, or cleaning? Donate your items to the ReStore! If you have items that are in good shape and usable, contact our Donations Coordinator at restore@habitatmontdelco.org.

Habitat sends a special thanks to everyone who made our

“Magic of Habitat” Fundraising Gala a success.Together we raised $61,000!

More than a celebration, the “Magic of Habitat” Gala was a night to re-discover the magic that stable housing

can have in the lives of families throughout our community.

As we ramp up to begin the construction of two more homes in Bridgeport, PA, your support is making it possible for Habitat MontDelco to purchase resources for two more families in our community

to lead stable lives.

If you missed this chance to be a part of our 2018 “Magic of Habitat” fundraiser, you can still make a difference for hardworking families. To learn how you can support our second Bridgeport construction project, make a donation, or volunteer at our ReStore or on-site at another construction project, contact

Liz, Director of Development and Communications at

ehefner@habitatmontdelco.org.

With a mind-blowing performance by Oz Pearlman, World Renowned Mentalist, remarks from Jeff Cole, Award-Winning Fox 29 News Reporter, and heartwarming testimonies shared by new Habitat homeowners Dustin Gray and Terria Brown, our Magic of

Habitat Fundraising Gala on Thursday, April 12th was truly

a night to remember.

Oz Pearlman blows the audience away when he reveals Board Member Joe Catuzzi’s thoughts

Homeowners Terria Brown(L) and Dustin Gray(R)shared their Habitat experiences with Gala guests.

Bob Nydick and his guests join together for a photo with Oz Pearlman (top left) and Oz’s

mother (bottom right) during dinner at the Gala.