Building Homes, Building Hope

VIDEO - SLIP & SLIDE Start of Aerospace Games Obstacle Course

2011-11-07T07:52:00.000-08:00

Reggae music and 65 foot slip n slide...Where were you?

2011-11-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

On October 22, 2011 Bay Area Habitat, the Hamlin family and many Aerospace companies teamed up to celebrate community and kick off the Build for the Hamlin family home, at the first annual Aerospace Games! It was a day of celebration and outrageous competitions. Spectators settled in with drinks and BBQ to cheer and jeer messy games of Egg Toss, a vicious Tug of War battle, showy sand volleyball tournament and the challenging, yet hilarious mile-long obstacle race in which competitors had to overcome a 65 foot slip n slide, haybells, NASA trivia, Kayak race and 30ft moon bounce! The day finished off with live Reggae music from Houston's local band, D.R.U.M and the award ceremony for the winning teams, NASA and Boeing.

Can't wait for next year! Read more about the Games in the Bay Area Citizen: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bay_area/news/aerospace-companies-team-up-to-help-league-city-family-replace/article_cb3222ce-7d21-5e18-ab92-69ef424533ff.html

Dow and Habitat Team Up!!

2011-10-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you for Dow Chemical for a $65,000 full house sponsorship! Dow Chemical has 20-30 volunteers each week coming out to help with construction at 501 N. 7th Street in LaPorte. The new home is being built for Margarita Rene and her three children.

Dow is a finalist for the 2011 Best Partnership Award from the Business Civic Leadership Center. Everyone can vote and read about their remarkable story at http://bclc.uschamber.com/best-partnership-award-finalist-dow-habitat. See what Dow is doing all over the country!

2011-09-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

Felicia Rich and the Groundbreakers Club

Today we sent out a mailing to all of the Groundbreakers Club members to introduce our latest homeowner to the program, Felicia Rich!

Felicia a single mother of twin boys has begun the adventure building her Habitat home! Last week Felicia joined the BP, St. Christopher Church and the Regulars as we raised the walls for the next Habitat home in Dickinson. Felicia works hard as a care taker at Hope Village Home for mentally retarded adults. She is described by her peers and co-workers as a hardworking reliable and a "super" person! We feel very blessed to partner with her to build this new home.

If you would like to join the Groundbreakers Club and donate $25 every time we break ground on a new home, visit our website!http://www.bahfh.org/donate/index.php

Laura Santos and Mary Kay Are Trying to Help Habitat Win A FULL House Sponsorship!

2011-05-31T12:54:00.000-07:00

Mary Kay Representative, Laura Santos, approached Bay Area Habitat for Humanity with an AMAZING opportunity!...

Mary Kay has decided to hold a contest in which the main prize is a FULL House Sponsorship for an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. This is a HUGE deal! Our homes cost approximately $65,000 to build, and initial funding is not easy to come by. Having the security of knowing someone will sponsor an entire build allows us to continue our mission of building homes in partnership with hard-working, low-income families in our community with more hope and less stress!

We can accomplish this by having as many women as possible agree to get "made-over".

Laura has been amazing in organizing groups and striving to have as many women as she can sign up for this opportunity to help.

The cost to enter: 15 minutes of your time and the willingness to have your "before and after" photos reviewed by a small panel of judges.

What you receive: A FREE Mary Kay makeover, entry into the individual grand prize of a $2500 vacation getaway and $2500 to donate to the charity of your choice, and the chance to offer a life-changing opportunity to a homeless family in your community.

There is no obligation to buy any Mary Kay products, and your photos will not be shared with anyone who is not connected to the judging of the contest.

"Getting Beautiful" has never been so easy and so rewarding!

To "Get Beautfiul" and give back, please join us at our "Mary Kay Makeover Event" scheduled for next Friday, June 10, from 11am-6pm.

Location: TBA (tentatively League City United Methodist)

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Laura Santos:
lsantos@marykay.com
281-332-1339

All other questions, comments, and concerns, please contact the BAHFH office:
281-337-3590

We Need YOU! Won't you help?

BAT Blog #2 and AmeriCorps Awareness Week

2011-05-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

The AmeriCorps are back and in the full swing of things here at Bay Area Habtiat for Humanity. Rhia, Nathan and Jackie spent one week working with Pensacola Habitat to build 3 homes and raise the walls on 3 more!! They worked alongside Pensacola staff, homeowners and dedicated volunteers, as well as a group of Blue Angels! What a rewarding week!

Rhia worked with Family Services AmeriCorps members and staff to compile a welcome packet for new homeowners. Nathan and Jackie worked on the construction site. The affiliate had materials prepared for the crew to build 3 homes, but everone's expectations were exceeded! The last day, more walls were delivered and the skeletons of 3 more homes were put up. One of the homeowners received their address that Friday morning, and when they came to the worksite, they were pleasantly surprised to see a group of AmeriCorps members and Blue Angels raising their walls! The wife and husband team, along with their five children, thanked all of the volunteers and work crews at the closing ceremony Friday afternoon. At the ceremony, the Navy choir and colorguard performed, Pensacola's first Executive Director who just retired her position this year came to show her support, and the homeowners received hardhats that were signed by all of the AmeriCorps members present.

It was a long week full of blisters, bruises and hardwork, but it was well worth it for the AmeriCorps members. Though that week is over and our 3 AmeriCorps are safely back home, this week marks the 3rd week of the 2011 AmeriCorps Build-A-Thon. This week is also National AmeriCorps Awareness Week! We would like to invite everyone to learn more about the AmeriCorps program, how it works, who can benefit from it and the amazing things that get accomplished when a group of people decide to dedicate their lives to serving others. Please take a minute to visit the AmeriCorps Build-A-Thon website to read stories and see pictures of Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps taking action around the country. After that, head over to the official AmeriCorps Awareness Week website to see what else and where else AmeriCorps are involved!

"This year of service has been the most formative year of my life. College wasn't working for me. I got to a point I needed to refocus my time and energy into something good, something more meaningful than myself. With my year almost over, I feel confident that I am ready to go back to school and start the next chapter in my life. AmeriCorps did that for me." - Jackie Moran, AmeriCorps VISTA Member

BAT Blog #1

2011-05-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

Greetings from sunny Pensacola, FL! The 2011 AmeriCorps Build-A-Thon is well under way! This year is the first time Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps are meeting in 8 different locations over a 3 week period to help over 80 families in North America through new home construction and rehabs. This week, approximately 60 Habitat AmeriCorps members from the southeast region of the country are working with the Pensacola affiliate to construct 3 new homes for local families. The 3 homes are just the beginning of 240 homes Pensacola Habitat has promised to build over the next two years! Bay Area Habitat's own Rhia, Nathan and Jackie feel blessed and honored to be a part of it!

Arriving late Sunday evening, the AmeriCorps members bonded over dinner and making beds in their dormitory accomodations, graciously provided by the University of West Florida. Monday and Tuesday were long days of building and Community Mapping. Nathan and Jackie raised walls, secured hurricane clips, installed trusses and tar-papered roofs, while Rhia scoped out local schools, hospitals, churches and other "need-to-know" places; The location information compiled by the Family Services crew will be put into a new welcome packet for the future homeowners. The progress they have made in just two days has been incredible! It has been wonderful for them to work with other Habitat AmeriCorps members, get to know their styles and the best (and not so successful) practices of their affiliates.

Fun Fact: Nathan and Jackie have been working under two Pensacola Crew Leaders who are Habitat homeowners turned full-time Habitat employees!! Way to go Rich and Cal! Y'all are awesome!

Each night on the UWF campus, HFH International and AmeriCorps team members have prepared fun activities for all of the "worker bees". Monday night was karaoke and board games. Tuesday, baseball and wings!

Wednesday is a much needed day off! No work, all play! Members will enjoy an agile and aerodynamic performance of the Blue Angels in the morning, and spend the rest of the day soaking up the Florida sun on the beach.

We will continue to keep you updated on Jackie, Rhia and Nathan's Build-A-Thon adventure throughout the week!

Please keep them in your prayers as they work to help fulfill the mission of Habitat for Humanity that have learned to love. Please pray that they are safe in their work, travel and play.

Thank you and God Bless!

Women Build Event = HUGE SUCCESS

2011-05-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Flowers arrangements on the worksite? A gourmet Salad Buffet? Over 70 Women "getting their nails done" at our Dickinson worksite? This only means one thing - National Women Build Week!! This past Saturday, over 70 women volunteered and raised all 4 walls of the Women Build home. It was an incredible day and the Bay Area Habitat crew would like to send out an extra special thanks to our Women Build Chairman, Kay Davey who worked tirelessly to make sure the day was not only organized, but also rewarding for all of those involved. Also, a huge thank you to our Construction Manager and Construction Assistant, Tom and Nathan for allowing us to invade their construction site with our pink hammers! Thank you to our "regulars" for being such great mentors week after week no matter how many volunteers we schedule, you are all a blessing to Bay Area Habitat and we couldn't do it without you!!

Don Zimmerman: Forever Building Hope

2011-04-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, we blessed the "Spring Building on Faith" Home on 26th Street in honor of Don Zimmerman.

Don was a dedicated Bay Area Habitat for Humanity construction volunteer. He was a hard worker and a problem solver. No problem was too big for Don. Calmly, he would consider a situation and come out with a solution. He was patient and kind and worked well with all of the passing volunteers, especially the younger ones. He offered his opinion when necessary, but trusted the instincts and craftsmanship of his fellow "regular" volunteers. Don never complained. Even to the very end, he made it a point to help out on the worksite in any way he could: cleaning up, doing a few odd jobs here and there, and continuing to spread joy and hope to everyone he encountered.

Ann Zimmerman, Don's wife and also a BAHFH volunteer, and his two sons, joined the crew on the worksite last weekend. Don's family and other volunteers who worked alongside Don for many years, shared stories of their time together. It was a bittersweet ceremony as everyone reflected on this great man and the impact he had on their lives. He has touched the lives of so many people in this community, and he is greatly missed. But the legacy he left behind will forever shine wherever BAHFH builds. Even though he is gone from this world, his memory continues to build hope in the community he cared so much for and committed his days to serving.

You were, are and will always be a blessing to this world.

We love you, Don. Rest in peace.

Click the photo above to view other pictures from the ceremony and build day.

Science and Technology Meet Nitty Gritty!

2011-04-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

Last week, a group of students and teachers from the Denver School of Science and Technology flew down to the Texas Bay Area to spend some time getting "down and dirty" helping to get our final house on Florida Street ready for it's new homeowner! The group consisted of 34 high school students and 6 of their teachers.

A few facts about the school from which they hail:

Denver School of Science and Technology is the #1 high school in Denver!

The school is made up of a very diverse group of students and teachers of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. "100% of its first class of seniors was accepted into a four-year college or university last spring. The 100% acceptance rating is particularly inspiring considering the diversity of this Senior Class, which included 62% minority and 40% low income students. Additionally, 50% of this first graduating class is first generation college students." (Facts taken from the school's website: http://www.dsstmodel.org/) All of these students went on to continue their studies at the top schools in the nation.

Their enthusiasm and energy were hard to miss as they assisted us in working on many of the finishing touches on our last home on Florida street. Paint was spread on walls, ceilings, sheds, and clothing! The students matched the houses as they left the worksite, making them a walking testimony for the project they were working on. All of the grass was laid out in a beautiful brick pattern surrounding the house. What normally takes us up to two weekend workdays to accomplish, was done in two hours of work by this speedy group, quickly transforming the structure from a pile of assembled building materials on a construction site to a HOME.

The arrival of the students also marked the beginning of our transitional period from Florida Street to our new "build home" on 26th street. Old beat-up storage containers were emptied; materials were sorted and organized; good wood was transferred to the new site, and bad wood was carried away to the mulch yard. Another very cool project some of the students and teachers got to help with was learning how to lay rebar in preparation for pouring our next two concrete house slabs! They literally got to "lay the foundation" for the futures of our next two Partner Families :)

Through all of the labor intensive work, the group still took time to play! Their Art Instructor molded small, yet detailed, creations out of the clay of the earth. Here is a picture of the elephant he constructed on their second and final day with us:

In the midst of digging trenches, a game of Dirt Clod Baseball broke out, and some students made new friends with a couple of the local "freeloaders":

The students were so wonderful. Smart, funny and unique. One girl had a special connection to the project as a Habitat home recipient. She and her family are so grateful for their home, and she was happy to be a part of creating this opportunity for someone else.

It was such a joy having this group share their time and talents with us! We hope they enjoyed their time working with us and exploring the wonderful sites in Galveston and the Houston Bay Area!

To all of you who came out from Denver School of Science and Technology: We cannot thank you enough!

Much Love and Thanks, The BAHFH Crew

The Arrona's Express Their Thanks

2011-03-31T08:41:00.000-07:00

The Arrona family wrote their own biography and their feelings on partnering with Habitat. Read their story below:

The Arrona Family is made up of Salvadro, Deborah and Aria. Salvadro is a Skilled Plumber Apprentice in the Maintenance Department of Pasadena Independent School District. Deborah is a wrok-from-home mom, who works as an Avon Independent Sales Representative. They have a seven year-old daughter, Aria.

The Arrona's heard about Habitat for Humanity in general, but they did not know, or understand the scope of the homeownership program. In January 2011, Salvador's cousin-in-law, Desire'e Jenkins, e-mailed Deborah information about a Homeownership Information Meeting Bay Area Habitat for Humanity was having at the La Porte Neighborhood Center. Salvador, Deborah, and Aria went to this meeting and received a full application after a short interview at the conclusion of the meeting. This full application was completed and submitted to Bay Area Habitat for Humanity in February.

In March, Bay Area Habitat for Humanity called Salvador to let him know that the Arrona family had been approved for a wheelchair accessible home to be built in La Porte, Texas. Deborah and Aria happened to be in the room when this phone call (that they had all been waiting for) was received. They could tell by the look on Salvador's face that it was good news. Once Salvador confirmed what Deborah was thinking, everyone screamed with greaty joy! Salvador danced with Aria in her wheelchair, and Deborah started calling, texting and emailing everyone she could think of to share the good news. After the sigh of relief, as their lifelong dream, since they've been married, was finally becoming a reality.

The Arrona family currently lives in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Pasadena, Texas. The conditions are not dire, but considering the multiple special need that their daughter, Aria, lives with on a daily basis, their apartment is not sufficient. Aria, as a result of a micro-preemie birth, lives with spastic cerebral palsy, cortical visual impairment, epilepsy, and is fed through a feeding tube - just to name a few. Her multiple special needs require the use of durable medical equipment (such as a wheelchair, stander, and suction machine) and supplies (such as syringes, formula, and diapers) for her care. All of these items take up a lot of space in the family apartment, leaving little room for Aria to get around in her wheelchair. For access to the bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen, Aria must be carried because her wheelchair will not fit through the small hallways and door openings. This will become more difficult as Aria becomes older and larger. The sidewalks at the family's apartment complex are not wheelchair friendly, and Aria's wheelchair can barely fit through the entry way. Other issues their apartment has are persistent plumbing problems, drafts from the bedroom windows, and water damage caused by Hurrican Ike that has yet to be corrected. Having a brand new, wheelchair accessible home will eliminate and improve all of these issues.

Salvador and Deborah honestly believe that only good and positive changes can come from moving into their new Habitat home. Their new home will provide more space, security, stability and independence for Aria and the multiple special needs she lives with daily.

If the Arrona family could say one thing to the donors and volunteers working on their home, it would be, "Thank You!" Thank you for helping them realize their dream of homeownership. Thank you for giving them an opportunity to become part of a great community they have always desired. Thank you, above all else, for helping them make a home that will honestly be Aria's best chance to freely grow and flourish in a way she has not been able to before. Thank you for all you have done and do for families like them.

Thank you

Welcome Our Newest Families!

2011-03-22T07:35:00.001-07:00

This past month, three new partner families were selected to join the BAHFH family. Letha Frederick, Betty Hall, and Salvador and Deborah Arrona are excited for the opportunity to work on their sweat equity, build their new homes, and create more stability and a better future for their families. They all have already begun puting hours into building homes for other families in the program.

Letha is a single mother of one teenage son. She struggled this winter living in a trailer with inadequate heating. She is excited to have a home she's helped build and watched being built, offering her a sense of security in the quality of her home. It will be wonderful to have a place where her son and extended family can feel comfortable staying with her and visiting.

Betty, also a single mother, is working hard to move her two teenage sons and stepfather out of an unsafe neighborhood and a crowded, two-bedroom, mold infested apartment. The boys are happy to be getting their own rooms, and Betty is happy to provide them with a safe living environment.

Salvador and Deborah Arrona are a happily married couple with a special needs daughter. Little Aria is a wonderful girl, who needs extra special care and attention. Her wheelcahir does not make it past the front door of their apartment, and her bedroom is overcrowded, as it doubles as a storage area for her medical supplies. The Arrona's love their daughter and want very much to finally have a home where she can move around freely and gain as much independence as she possibly can.

If you would like to meet any of these amazing families and learn more about their stories, come volunteer with us at the worksite! We build in Dickinson on Thursdays and Saturdays, and in La Porte every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

For more information, visit our website www.bahfh.org, or call the office at 281-337-3590.

Meet the New BAHFH Mascot!!

2011-03-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

SAM

Meet the newest member of the BAHFH team: SAM

He's a Beta Fish, and he is happy to be the new Bay Area-Houston

Habtiat for Humanity Mascot!

Donning the Habitat colors, blue and green, we knew Sam would be a perfect fit from the start.

He enjoys spending time in his "habitat", swimming, eating,

and making "fish faces".

Since Sam has been in the office, we have seen employee work production increase by 110%.

"He is such a joy to have around. Everyone smiles a little more, works a little harder. Just fantastic. What a fish!" Tom Gongora, our Construction Manager, commented on Sam's arrival.

If you would like to meet Sam and welcome him to the area, feel free to stop by the office anytime between 8:30 am and 5 pm, Monday thru Friday.

First Habitat Homeowner Pays off Mortgage!!

2011-03-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Maria Bedolla and her family partnered with Bay Area-Houston Habitat for Humanity (BAHFH) in June of 1991. Previously, she, her husband and two young daughters had been renting a small, 2-bedroom house with a leaky roof, a sunken porch and inadequate utilities. Unable to apply for a traditional home loan, Maria felt she had no other options than to continue living in this way. That was until she discovered the mission of Habitat; a program designed to help people like Maria who are hard-working, dependable and determined to create a better future for themselves and their family.

After investing hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” into building their home, Maria and her family moved in on December 15, 1991. For the next 20 years, Maria made every mortgage payment on time. February 28, 2011 marked a memorable day in BAHFH history: Mrs. Bedolla made her final payment!

We are so proud of Maria and cannot be more thankful to her for setting such an amazing example for future homeowners.

Does Anybody Hear Me??

2011-03-02T12:26:00.001-08:00

Hey out there!

Is anyone following us???

If you are, leave your comments below! Let us know how you've been affected by Habitat.

Likes, dislikes, joys, challenges, favorite moments...it's all valid and worth being heard. Habitat is more than just building homes. It's building relationships, creating experiences, and sharing in the awesomness of helping others.

Speak now, and please don't hold your peace!

Women Build 5K is HERE!!!

2011-02-25T05:48:00.000-08:00

The 3rd Annual Women Build Project is about to begin. It will be kicked off THIS SUNDAY, February 27th, with the Women Build 5K (Walk or Run, whichever you prefer!)...

Women and men alike have been tirelessly fundraising and advocating for the past few months for this truly life-changing event. Why get involved? Can you imagine the impact you can have on someone's life? By donating your time and money ($35 registration fee. Feel free to fundraise more if you like!) you will be a part of not only building a house for someone, but building a better life for them and their family. We are told to give more to those who have less. The Women Build Project allows us to give love, hope, and peace to someone whose life up until now has been nothing shy of chaotic, rushed and rarely peaceful.

Our staff is setting the stage for an awesome event this Sunday! Come check it out!

Women Build 5K
Sunday February 27, 2011
3-5PM (arrive by 2:30 to register day of...)
University of Houston, Clear Lake

Registration Fee: $35

What does the fee get you?: A Women Build T-shirt (Mens and Womens available), the chance to Walk for a Cause and Changing Someone's life forever.

For more information, you can visit our website: http://www.bahfh.org/

See you there!

You Go Ahead On Wisconsin!

2011-01-14T07:45:00.001-08:00

"Empty lot"

"Framing up"

"Plywood and TYVEC"

University of Wisconsin Helps Habitat!(Click above to see pictures of the group at work)
Last week here at Bay Area-Houston Habitat for Humanity, we had a group of 11 students from the University of Wisconsin out on the worksite helping us build our first house of 2011.

The group drove 20 hours straight through in 3 cars, leaving their school Saturday morning and arriving in Dickinson sometime early Sunday afternoon. Dickinson United Methodist Church was so kind to offer them a place to stay and hot meals for the entire week. The "badgers" (University of Wisconsin's mascot) came ready to work!

Full of energy and excited to do something good for someone else, they worked full 9 hour work days Monday-Thursday in the blustering cold (40-50 degree weather...that's "blustering" to Texas folk, people!). On the first day, they endured a two-hour long safety briefing and tour of the site, cleaned up the slab that was full of random pieces of wood, siding and other building materials and started framing the house. By the end of the second day, the whole house was framed! Wednesday and Thursday, the group "blocked" and secured the structure, attached hurricane clips and ceiling joists, and had the entire outside covered in plywood and tyvec! Even the framework for the family's shed was finished. Impressive!

A shout out to Cici's Pizza and Richard Ainsworth's Famous Chili for supplying the group with lunch for their last two work days. Thanks so much!

This group is going to be a hard act to follow, as we have more Collegiate Challengs groups signed up to help us during their school breaks, continuing this week with the University of Maryland, College Park. Our regular volunteers had a blast working with this energetic, fun, quick-learning group! Tommy G, our Construction Supervisor, was completely impressed. They worked him hard all week, but he never complained. As he would say, "You go ahead on, Wisconsin!"

You go ahead on, Wisconsin...Thanks for stopping here in Dickinson. We hope you had as amazing a time working and visiting with us as we did with you!

On another note:

Today is the 25th Anniversary of MLK Day. We hope everyone is out volunteering their time today to someone or some organization that might need it. In honor of MLK Day, we had a special day on site with our current Collegiate Challenge group. Tune in tomorrow to see what we did...

Thanks blogger fans! We appreciate your eyeballs :)

New Year, New Beginnings!

2011-01-10T07:50:00.000-08:00

It is officially the year 2011, and a lot is happening at Bay Area Houston Habitat for Humanity. We finished off 2010 by moving 3 amazing families into brand new homes right before the Christmas holiday. This year, we are excited to work with 8 new families toward making their homeownership dreams come true.

Today, we have a group of college students out on the worksite, coming all the way from Wisconsin, to help us start the new year off right! They will be working alongside our regular construction crew this week to establish all of the framework for our next house. We are so excited to have them here! Next week, a group from Maryland will be here to continue where this group leaves off. Follow our blog this week and next as we travel through the journey with them!

Thank you to all of our followers for all you have done with us throughout this last year. May God bless you and keep you safe, healthy and prosperous throughout this next year, as you continue to bless and support us and our families!!

Dear Santa, I Want A House With My Own Room For Christmas...

2010-12-22T14:21:00.000-08:00

Ho Ho Ho! The Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Santa delivers: three new houses for three amazing families this Christmas!

Last Friday, after months of hard work from thousands of volunteers, and donations from fabulous and caring members of the community, the Ordonez, Viera, and Burns Families each received the keys to their new homes on Florida Street! It certainly was a time to celebrate, and celebrate we did. Volunteers, donors, friends and family were "dancing in the street" (which up until that night had no sign, and now is equipped with a street name and a stop sign!). The Habitat staff spoke words of gratitude and appreciation and shared stories of the time it took to fund and build the three homes, the homeowners received the customary gifts of bread, wine, salt, and a Bible, the homes were blessed, and the families got the gift of a lifetime: their own home. While the families took their first looks inside their houses, the rest of the crowd enjoyed hot chocolate, chili, hot smokies, and homemade tamales, while the choir from Whitcomb Elementary School sung carols. In front of the now 5 homes on the street, which were decorated with Christmas lights and handmade wood cutouts (Thanks to Tommy's girls!), the site turned into a magical Winter Wonderland (minus the snow, of course)! We couldn't have asked for a better night.

It has been an amazing few months, working alongside our newest homeowners and getting to know them and their families. The end result is not just a house constructed with wood and nails. It's a home for someone who has worked so hard to have what they have and who cares so much for their family that they are willing to do what it takes to give them the best future they possibly can. We are so lucky to be able to be a part of helping them do that. And this year, we got to do it 3 more times! I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present than to see these families cry tears of joy as they opened their doors for the first time.

We love you Amber, Salvador, Sarah, Jacob, Pedro, Cassandra, Pedro Jr., Jonathan, Sariah, Jackie, Ta-Shea, and Delvin. Thank you for making this a Christmas we'll never forget.

God Bless.

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Freebirds = Success!

2010-12-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

With so many amazing, hard working and dedicated volunteers supporting our affiliate, we really wanted to do something special to let them know how much we truly appreciate them. One day, as we were brainstorming some ideas on how this could best be done, we got a call from Freebird World Burritos, letting us know they were opening a new restaurant and they wanted to partner with our team to do something nice for us and our supporters. How awesome is that?? A total God send. So, last night, Freebird World Burittos on 646 in League City opened their doors to us and lavished our volunteers with all the free wine, beer and burrito's they could fill their belly's with! The place was donned in true Freebird style with tin foil decorations, awesome painted murals on the walls and the Freebirds "Mystery Van" out in the parking lot. They also had a rockin' band (that might have been a little too spirited for some of our long-time regulars, but still wonderful) setting the mood throughout the night, and Guitar Hero set up on a big screen out front. Speeches were made, and gratitude and appreciation showered over everyone. Overall, it will go down in Habitat history as a great success, as people left fed, full and happy :)

A big thank you to Freebird's owners, managers and staff, for hosting the night, and another big thank you to all of our Volunteers! You are all so amazing, and we couldn't function without you!

You Rock N' Roll, Freebirds!

2010-12-10T14:20:00.000-08:00

This past Wednesday, an awesome crew from Freebirds Burritos "rolled" onto the worksite in style, ready to get down and dirty with Habitat. The day was muddy and cold, but there were no complaints, as our trusty volunteers moved heavy building materials, hauled large debris to the dumpster, and helped us get our three houses ready to be moved into next Friday!

For lunch, they brought in the truck, and fed us burgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers, hot off the grill! The store owners stopped by with donuts for dessert and to take a look around, looking seemingly impressed with our operation.

After lunch, everyone spent a few more hours cleaning up and clearing out. We couldn't have asked for a better group of volunteers on a cold, blustery day in Dickinson.

Thanks Freebirds!! You Rock!

P.S. Help support the Habitat/Freebird partnership by eating at the Freebirds Burrito's Grand Opening on 646 (by the Lowes), on Tuesday, December 14th. A portion of the proceeds for the day will be donated to the Bay Area Habitat for Humanity Affiliate. Stop by and get your burrito on!

'Tis The Season To Get Your Gifts Wrapped!

2010-12-06T18:59:00.001-08:00

Alright everyone! Our Gift Wrapping Fundraiser has officially begun. We are at a bit of a disadvantage this year, because we are not in the mall...

But we're close!

This holiday season, we accepted the very generous gift of a free store front on the outskirts of the Baybrook Mall parking lot (Thank you Davis Holdings!). Down near the Dillards/Forever 21 end of the mall, you'll find us just a few doors down from Catherine's Plus Size. One of our adorable life-size (if you're less than 4 feet tall) playhouses is sitting out front, donned with Christmas lights, mailboxes and a big banner.

So, if you're at the mall, or happen to drive past with gifts in the car, stop by our store and let us wrap them for you. By making a small donation this year, you will be giving the gift of a new home, a better life, and a brighter future for one family next Christmas.

Our visibility is limited, so please spread the word!

Bay Area Habitat for Humanity

Gift Wrapping Store

Baybrook Mall Strip

7 Days a Week

Sat. & Sun: 12pm-6pm

Mon.-Fri.: 10am-8pm

For inquiry or directions, call 281-337-3590.

A Brush With Kindness = SUCCESS

2010-11-23T07:32:00.001-08:00

"A Brush With Kindness helps low-income homeowners who are affected by age, disability or family circumstances and struggle to maintain the exterior of their homes. Through ABWK, they are able to reclaim their homes with pride and dignity. ABWK works as a partner with the Habitat core building program, enabling us to serve more families, increase opportunities for volunteers, and expand our base of sponsors. Most importantly, ABWK is part of Habitat's broader community development strategy called the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. The NRI is designed to pursue our strategic imperative of helping to transform and strengthen communities so that those who reside in them will be able to live and grow into all that God intends for them." (A Brush with Kindness Program Guide, Habitat for Humanity International)

On Saturday, November 20, Bay Area Habitat for Humantiy held a pilot project for A Brush With Kindness. To say the least, it was a total success!!

We selected Ms. Georgia Williams to be the guinea pig for this new program. She has been a homeowner partner with us since 1996, when her home was bulit. She has been a proud homeowner for almost 15 years, and her home was in need of a little love.

So, after spending two days prepping - replacing rotten trim and siding, cleaning, and caulking - we were ready to paint! Saturday morning, more than 30 volunteers came to lend a helping hand, and we went to work! Everyone worked from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm, making sure the job was done (breaking only for lunch from Chick-fil-A). Here are some progress pictures from throughout the day!

And, after one, hard day of work, Ms. Georgia had brand new curb appeal!!

Thanks again to all of the volunteers who came out on the 20th! This Kick-Off was a total success, and we look forward to doing more A Brush with Kindness projects in 2011!

Working In The Rain

2010-11-19T11:11:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday was not the prettiest day in Dickinson. It was rainy, cold and windy. The day was dark and dreary, and the worksite looked like a giant mud pie; one of those days when you want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers up real tight.

When I arrived on the site at 7:30 am, Tom, our Construction Manager, and a few of the "regular crew" were out there, trying to complete any little job they thought they could. Because of the thick mud and the slick roofs, there wasn't much exterior work that could be done, even though all that was planned for that day was putting up siding and nailing down shingles. I asked Tom what the plan was. He replied by admitting it just wasn't a great work day, and that he was telling the volunteers who called for confirmation just to stay where they were. He and the regulars were going to do what little they could, and planned on leaving in a couple of hours. I offered to go get them some fresh kolaches, and when I came back, I was greatly surprised to see the whole street lined with cars and pick-up trucks! Some of the volunteers decided not to call ahead, and showed up to help in any way they could.

Over 20 volunteers from Wyle Labs, Hope Lutheran, Peace Lutheran, and St. John's Lutheran, completely committed to their designated day of service, decided to face the elements and were willing to do whatever was needed. At 12 pm, two hours later than any of us thought we would be out there, two of the homes were completely cleaned and swept, insulation was brought over and installed, windows were hung and decking put up in the rafters. Overall, it was an extremely successful day! Some volunteers headed home early after completing their specific jobs. Others stayed and helped with more cleanup. For those who were still there at 11:30, lunch was provided by three wonderful ladies from St. John's. They brought a huge spread of hot dogs with all the fixin's, chips, cookies and drinks. The ladies asked me to take pictures of them serving the food at the site, to take back and show to the rest of the congregation. They wanted to emphasize the point that there are so many different ways people can volunteer to help Habitat besides picking up a hammer and saw. And that is so true!

A big thank you to all of the volunteers who came out, when they rightly could have justified staying indoors where it was warm and dry. We truly appreciate your commitment and willigness to serve.

For more information on how you can use your talents and abilities to help Habitat (both on and off the worksite), please contact our office: 281-337-3590; developmentteam@bahfh.org.

AmeriCorps Get "Schooled" in Talladega!

2010-11-15T13:27:00.000-08:00

This past week, Rhia, Nathan, and I, Bay Area-Houston Habitat for Humanity's 3 resident AmeriCorps members, were shuttled off to the National Service Leadership Conference in Shocco Springs, Alabama. We spent our days discussing, brainstorming and learning; shifting from one classroom to the next to be taught a lesson in what it is to be an effective AmeriCorps member. It was quite the event, with over 600 service members and staff gathered together to share exciting new ventures their affiliates have taken on, or not so exciting struggles they have come up against in the months and weeks they have been in their positions. It was a long week, and we are still trying to digest all of the information (and all of the snacks they fed us! It was a non-stop smorgasbord of free chips and cookies...brainfood, as we liked to call it!) that was given to us by some of the best and brightest Habitat for Humanity International and National Service staff members.

While our days were filled with an overload of information, night was ours for the taking! The conference center accomodated many activities on site, such as indoor movies, outdoor campfires, rock-climbing, and ultimate frisbee, just to name a few. But the real action took place about 1 mile away from the conference center, at the Talladega Bowling Alley! The only happening place in the area open after 9 PM, the bowling alley offered us a haven of rest and relaxation from the day's mentally exhausting class schedule. And after 9 PM, it was a definitely a site to see, as the majority of the Conference attendees gathered to eat, show off their bowling skills (or lack-there-of), and just "hang out".

There is something to be said about a group of similarly minded individuals gathering together, whether it be to learn more about the things they deem important, or just to spend time with one another, talking and enjoying each other's company. All AmeriCorps members share a common goal: to serve. To serve our communities; to serve our nation. No matter what the cause or the reason behind it, we feel compelled to make a difference in our lifetime. It is our privilege and honor to be a part of this program.

Overall, our trip has left us rejuvinated and excited, and ready to put what we've learned into action to help serve the families of the South East Harris and North Galveston Counties to the best of our abilities, to fulfill as many of their needs as we can.

Thank you to Shocco Springs Baptist Convention Center for hosting us and feeding us, to the Habitat for Humanity International and National Service employees who helped make this all happen, to Talladega Bowling Alley for offering us a place to get away from it all, and most importantly, to the amazing members of the Bay Area-Houston Affiliate, including its' staff, volunteers, and partner families, for giving us a chance to make a difference, and for accepting and supporting us as we try to do just that.

Sincerely,

Your Loving and Grateful AmeriCorps
Rhia, Nathan, and Jackie

2010-11-14T11:18:00.001-08:00

Bay Area Habitat for Humanity will have our second annual Christmas Gift Wrapping event this December! Last year we had over 300 different volunteers work with us! We hope to have the same response this year. We will not be inside the mall this year. We will be in the outside mall across from Plato's Closet. So, this year, we need volunteers to help us gift wrap, but also to help us advertise! We will need to get word out about our location - as we are not going to be as visible as last year! The calendar is below - to volunteer - contact the Bay Area Habitat for Humanity office.

2010-11-13T13:37:00.001-08:00

Test Run: Just got on Ping.fm to link our social media updates. Let's see if it works, folks!

BAHFH's Back Online!!!

2010-11-05T07:21:00.001-07:00

Wow! What a crazy couple of weeks! I can't believe everything is finally settling back in.

We moved into our new office last Thursday. All last week was spent packing, unpacking, painting, cleaning, organizing, re-organizing, and hauling heavy pieces of furniture around Dickinson. Thanks to great support from homeowners and some awesome volunteers, it all went smoothly...EXCEPT for the internet transition. Our servers and network connections were down for a whole week! But we're finally back online!!!

So, sorry to our dedicated online followers. We weren't ignoring you; we just had no way to reach you! But never fear! Now that we have everything under control, we will be blogging, facebooking, tweeting, and updating our webiste on a daily basis!

As part of that, if there is anyone out there who has any great, personal Habitat stories that they would like to share with the online world, e-mail us: developmentteam@bahfh.org. We would love to share your stories, comments, praises, concerns, etc..

Thank you again to all of the volunteers, homeowners, and friends who helped with the move! A big thanks to Joe Jones for running all of the wire and making it possible for us to have phones and electricity, and to Bev and Pete Trivanovich, our affiliate manager and her husband (the computer guy!), for staying late and working diligilently so that we could get back online and access all of our important documents! We are unbelievably blessed with the most amazing staff, funders, volunteers, and partner families!

From the bottom of our hearts (and the tips of our fingers)...THANK YOU!

United Health Care Works with Habitat!

2010-10-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to the volunteer team who came out last Friday from United Health Care! United Health Care has been a committed partner with Bay Area-Houston Habitat for Humanity for two years now. Working hard at the site, this amazing group of women, led by their fearless boss, Gary, were able to finish a multitude of important jobs. One crew worked up in the heights of the exposed roof of a house, hammering in hurricane clips under the hot sun. Another group worked tirelessly on a different house, painting the siding on the house and shed, and laying grass in the yard. In just a few hours, the property was transformed from basic and raw, to charming and homey!

We had a lot of fun working with this crew, and from the comments we heard, so did they! Many of the women seemed really excited about taking part in our Women Build Project this spring. We hope they do! They have already proved that when a group of women get together, things get done; transformations happen; houses become homes.

Thanks again UHC! We are so happy to have you as part of the BAHFH team!!

Thank You Priscilla Ennis!

2010-10-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

Priscilla Ennis has been a long term supporter of Bay Area Habitat for Humanity. Every year she hosts a ladies luncheon at Bay Oaks Country Club and makes a donation to Bay Area Habitat for Humanity! Her support of our organization is a true blessing! Thanks Priscilla! (Pictured - Natalie Ainsworth & Priscilla Ennis)

LaPorte United Methodist Church Serves with Bay Area Habitat for Humanity

2010-10-14T07:27:00.001-07:00

Thank you to all the hard working volunteers that came out to help build in LaPorte last Saturday. Members from LaPorte United Methodist Church came out and worked along with students from Deer Park High School and our newest LaPorte Partner Family Member, Regina Riley.

Bay Area Habitat for Humanity - Volunteer Spotlight!

2010-10-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

Bay Area Habitat for Humanity would like to honor and thank Kay Davey, volunteer extraordinaire! Kay Davey has been involved with our organization since 2008 and works with the BAHFH's Development Team! Kay is the Chairwomen for the annual Women Build 5K Walk and is the reason our Women Build program is such a huge success! A mother of two daughters and a new grandmother, Kay lives with her husband Chris (who is also a great volunteer) in the Clear Lake area and attends Clear Lake United Methodist Church! If you see Kay in or around the Habitat work site, make sure you tell her what a great job she is doing to serve our families.

World Habitat Day!

2010-10-04T10:47:00.001-07:00

Today is World Habitat Day! Click the link above to read our World Habitat Day Article!
To donate to Bay Area Habitat for Humanity - visit our website at http://www.bahfh.org/ and click the donation button in the upper right corner! Thank you for all of your support and time!
Without our volunteers and supporters, we would not be able to continue to serve God's people in need!

$10 Sale Tomorrow!!!

2010-10-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Saturday, October 2nd, 2010, Bay Area-Houston Habitat for Humanity is having our first ever $10 Sale!! We'll be selling Seasonal Craft Items, Home Decor Items, Antiques, Electronics, Gift Cards to local restaurants, and so much more! Come over to Clear Lake Baptist Church tomorrow from 9am-2pm to take a look around. And while you're there, stop by our Snow Cone station for a cool treat!

BAHFH $10 Sale

October 2nd, 2010

9am-2pm

Clear Lake Baptist Church

15700 Space Center Blvd.

Houston, TX 77062

Many of our items are worth more than $10,
so come out and find yourself a bargain!!

All proceeds benefit Bay Area-Houston Habitat for Humanity.

Thrivent Build Wall Raising 9/18/10

2010-09-21T08:26:00.001-07:00

What a great day at the worksite! We had around 50 volunteers working on 3 houses, 2 sheds, and 2 playhouses. Our volunteers worked quickly and with great care. Through their efforts, many projects were completed. The homeowners for all 3 of the houses were present and working hard! One of the greatest accomplishments of the day (and the main reason for this blog post): Thrivent Build Recipient Jackie Burns, and her family, were there to help build, and witness the raising of, all four of their home's exterior walls!! Oh, what a feeling!...A big thank you to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for partnering with Bay Area Habitat for Humanity, and funding Jackie's home! Also, thank you to Hope Lutheran Church, St. Bernadette's Church, and all of the amazing volunteers who came out to work. You all are truly a blessing to one another, to this community, and to Bay Area Habitat for Humanity. Peace, Love and Hope.

To see more pictures from the day, click on the picture above. It will link you to our Picasa photo album. Also, don't forget to check out our Facebook Page: "Bay Area Habitat for Humanity", and our website: www.bahfh.org.

9/11 Service & Remembrance Day!

2010-09-14T09:43:00.001-07:00

Thank you to the US Air Force, US Customs & Boarder Patrol, US Coast Guard, US retired Army, Air Force and Marines, United Space Alliance and our "Regulars" for making the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance a huge success! It was an honor to have you guys on our worksite! Also a special thank you to our sponsors of the day:

Hooters NASA for providing and service an awesome lunch and for providing t-shirts for all the volunteers!!

Darte Consulting Group
Charles Schwab - Clear Lake
Harbour Insurance
Gulf Freeway Acura
Captial One - Bay Colony
LaPorte Rotary Club
Digitex - League City
Phi Delta Chi
The Bunko Babes of Clear Lake

Introducing the Groundbreakers Club

2010-09-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all our Partner Families, our AmeriCorps Volunteer - Jackie and newest intern - Sarah for helping stuff envelopes for our Groundbreakers club mailing!! Watch out in the mail for your invitation to join Bay Area Habitat's newest club! Members of this club donate $25.00 everytime we break ground on a new Bay Area Habitat home. For more information, call Natalie Ainsworth at the Habitat office # 281 337 3590!

Help Us Raise $10,000 in 5 Hours!!!

2010-09-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

Donations Needed for Bay Area for Humanity's $10 Sale - Help Us Raise $10,000 in 5 Hours!!

October 2nd 2010, Habitat for Humanity will be selling 1000 items for $10 each !

How can you help? Come and shop October 2nd from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Also, help us spread the word by sharing this email with your co-workers, friends, neighbors and family!

We also need our faithful volunteers to donate items that we can sell!

We are looking for new or gently used items including:

* Arts/Crafts

* Seasonal Items

* Potted Plants

* Homegoods (vases, artwork etc.)

* Merchandise / Restaurant Gift Cards

Natalie, Kay, Jackie or Rachel will be at Access Storage at 15800 Space Center Blvd. (Next to Clear Lake Baptist Church) to accept your donations the following times:

* Friday, September 10th 4-7 p.m.

* Wednesday, September 15th 4-7 p.m.

* Friday, September 17th 4-7 p.m.

* Wednesday, September 22nd 4-7 p.m.

* Friday, September 24th 4-7 p.m.

* Wednesday, September 29th 4-7 p.m.

* Friday, October 1st 4-7 p.m.

Meet Lela Chaney!

2010-08-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Lela Chaney, our newest homeowner candidate! Lela along with her son Ronnie 19, and daughter Kendell 14, will begin their partnership with Habitat for Humanity this month. We are excited to have them aboard. Come meet Lela Chaney and her family on the work site when we begin building again on September 18. We look forward to new friendships amidst God's blessings in our community!

Perez family wall raising in La Porte!

2010-08-26T08:49:00.001-07:00

We would like to thank all the wonderful volunteers that came out Saturday August 21, 2010 for the La Porte Perez family home wall raising! Our service to the community is only made possible through your ongoing partnership with us.

Volunteers in Service to America

2010-08-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

We have a new addition to our familiy here at BAHFH!

Meet Jackie Moran our new AmeriCorps Vista volunteer from Pennslyvania, who will be serving with us for the next year as part of the Resource Development team. Jackie is a long time volunteer of Habitat for Humanity and through her positive experience decided to make her part-time commitment, a full time commitment to the Bay Area team."Even though its so hot my car door knobs are melting off, I am looking forward to see great things happen for the community this year building homes with Bay Area Habitat for Humanity."

Bay Area Houston Magazine

2010-08-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

Kathleen Statham from Bay Area Houston Magazine interviewed Kay Davey, Volunteer Extraordinaire Jackie Moran, VISTA Resource Development Assistant, Natalie Ainsworth and Tiffany Gilmore, Habitat Women Build Homeowner on Wednesday! Kathleen was excited to learn about our 2011 Women Build project. Check out the Back Bay Barker in Bay Area Houston Magazine in the October issue. To learn more about Women Build and our 5K Walk scheduled for February 2011 - Call Natalie or Jackie at the Habitat office! # 281 337 3590

How Can YOU Help Habitat this month?

2010-08-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Volunteers are needed to help raise the walls of The Perez Family home this Saturday September 21st 2010! We will start at 8:00 a.m. and work until 1:00 -2:00 p.m. If you can help, please call the Habitat office and get signed up # 281 337 3590 or, email Natalie at nainsworth@bahfh.org.
Thank you for all you do!!!

Adios Aliah!

2010-08-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

For a year now, Aliah has faithfully served as our Family Services AmeriCorps volunteer. However this Friday, is Aliah's last day as part of the Bay Area Habitat for Humanity team. Although Aliah's work here ends soon, her service to others will continue for years to come. Aliah will begin training on September 7, to become a linguist in the United States Airforce. We are so thankful for the amazing contribution Aliah has made to Bay Area Habitat for Humanity, and proud to know that her strength of charcter and intellect will take her far in life.

Lowes Supports Bay Area Habitat for Humanity

2010-08-10T08:54:00.001-07:00

Lowes Home Improvement donated $70,000 to Bay Area Habitat toward building two homes this year! The Women Build Home (The Tiffany Gilmore Family) was dedicated July 31st 2010.

Lowes not only helped fund this special home, but also sent volunteers from the League City location to help build it!!

We have just started construction on the our Youth United home that students from Clear Lake, Clear Springs, Clear Creek, Clear Brook and Dickinson high schools will have the opportunity to build this fall. Lowes employees will also come out and join these enthusiastic students and help build this special home! Students worked all school year long and raised a portion of the amount needed to construct the Youth United Home, Lowes funded $35,000 toward this home and State Farm Insurance provided a matching grant for $4,000. The Youth United Program is a nationwide venture of Habitat for Humanity International, the mission of this project is to engage and empower a diverse group of young people while they fundraise and build an entire Habitat for Humanity home. For more information about our Youth Program and the 2010 Fall Youth United Home, contact the Development Team at Bay Area Habitat - # 281 337 3590

Habitat Service and Rememberance Day 9/11

2010-08-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

As we reflect on our nation's struggles and triumphs over the past several years, in is important that we make a conscious effort to commemorate the lives lost during the tragic event on September 11, 2001. Bay Area Habitat for Humanity would like to honor victims of this attack as well as our local, state and national public safety officials. We will be having a special day of building at our Dickinson and LaPorte work sites for local public safety members (firemen, police men, Coast Guard, US Customs and more) to volunteer and be recognized during Bay Area Habitat for Humanity 9/11 Service and Remembrance Build Day. Businesses and organizations are asked to call Natalie Ainsworth at the BAHFH office for information about being a sponsor for this day. Sponsorship and building opportunities are available for both LaPorte & Dickinson worksite.

The new 2011 Women Build shirts are here!

2010-08-03T12:33:00.001-07:00

Last week the new 2011 Women Build t-shirts were delivered! The women of Bay Area Habitat for Humanity show off the new t-shirts above. Come by our office and pick one up and help support the 2011 Women Build! The Women Build is one of our annual events to promote the involvment of women in the construction of Habitat homes. Over 450 Women Build homes have been built world-wide through Habitat for Humanity. To raise funds for the Women Build, we will host our Women Build Charity Walk on February 27, 2011. Last year, RE/MAX Space Center League City, Capital One Bank Bay Colony, BAHA Delta Sigma Theta, Webster Presbyterian, University Baptist Church, St. Bernadette, MRI Technology, University of Houston Clear Lake, Clear Lake Presbyterian, St. Clare Hands and Feet, Clear Lake United Methodist and many others participated in the Walk. So come join us, and pick up a sweet shirt!

2010 Women Build Dedication

2010-08-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

The Dedication of the 2010 Women Build Home was Saturday July 31st at 3007 Florida Street in Dickinson Texas. Tiffany Gilmore and her 3 children were given the keys to their new home. This is the second year Bay Area Habitat for Humanity constructed a Women Build Home. The Women Build program, underwritten by Lowes, recruits, educates and nurtures women to build - and advocate for - simple, decent and affordable houses in their communities. Bay Area Habitat for Humanity recieved a $35,000 grant from Lowes to build the house. The work of these wonderful and compassionate women throughout our community has made the dream of homeownership a reality for the Gilmore Family. The additional $35,000 needed to fund this home was raised during our 5K Walk February 21st 2010. Teams raised donations and then came out in teams to help build this home.

Platinum Teams:

Clear Lake United Methodist Church

KK's Kool Krew

St. Clare Hands and Feet

KK's Kool Krew

Pure Energy

Gold Teams:

Tough As Nails

Clear Lake Presbyterian

Ainsworth's Hearts and Hammers

Priscilla Ennis - RE/MAX Space Center

University of Houston Clear Lake

Webster Presbyterian

Keller Williams

Silver Teams:

St. Bernadette Catholic Church

MRI Technologies

BAHA Delta Sigma Theta

Captial One Bank - Bay Colony

Peggy Balwin Friends and Family

RE/MAX Space Center - League City

Plans for the 2011 Women Build Project are underway! The walk will be February 27th 2011 at UHCL - the Women Build Home will be constructed in Dickinson during the spring of 2011!

For more information about how to get your Women Build Team registered call Natalie Ainsworth - Director of Development or Rachel Ward - Resource Development Associate at the Habitat office - #281 337 3590.

More pictures of the Gilmore Family Dedication and the 2010 Women Build can be viewed on our website http://www.bahfh.org/.

The construction of the Youth United home is underway!

2010-07-28T12:25:00.000-07:00

The Marshall Family Moves In!

2010-07-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Saturday July 24th 2010 - Angela Marshall and her 2 children were able to move into their new Habitat for Humanity Home in LaPorte. Refreshments were provided by St. John's Episcopal Church Youth Group and The Blessing of the Home and Benediction was done by Father Mike Besson also with St. John's Episcopal. Volunteer groups have worked hard along with Angela and her family to help build this home. View more pictures of this special day by clicking Here

A huge Thank You to the House Sponsors:

City of LaPorte

The Gene Kranz Foundation

Bill and Helen Crowder Foundation

The Christmas Gift Wrappers

The Christmas Donations

Mr. & Mrs. Jon Hodges

2010-07-22T13:14:00.001-07:00

This is a crazy week for us here at BAHFH! In true over-achieving fashion, we decided that we would add to the long list of things to do and start our own BAHFH Blog!! This week we had a Youth Group from Pilgrim United Church of Christ drive down to volunteer with us from Wisconsin! So how are they handling the heat? All the off and on again rain we've had this week, has helped to keep our construction site cooler than it normally would be in July. On the other hand, it's made it a complete mud pit! The group came down and helped us finish painting Angela Marshall's house. The big project that they have been working on has been building 2 playhouses "Mini Habitat Houses" for a fundraiser we will be doing this fall. A few years ago BAHFH auctioned off Playhouses in Baybrook Mall, we will not be able to use the mall this year, but stay tuned ~ as soon as the houses are completed we will be selling raffle tickets online. The houses can be viewed along with our "real" Habitat houses on Florida Street in Dickinson. Saturday July 24th at 10:00 a.m. we will be dedicating The LaPorte Spring Build home, Angela Marshall and her two children have partnered with BAHFH to help build this special home. Come and congratulate her on Saturday - the address is 208 N. 6th Street in LaPorte.