Newsletter - Fall 1998

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HVRHS SENIORS HELP OUT

In fulfillment of a "senior health project contract," seniors at Housatonic Valley Regional High School recently worked one afternoon helping to clear debris from Habitat's Lime Rock Station site. Five truckloads of tires, three of mattresses and furniture were collected and loaded by the volunteers and teacher Denise Dower. Afterwards, the seniors completed reports on their work. Here are some of their responses.

" I like the idea of a group of people helping others," wrote Brie Giunta, who added that working on the site "made me appreciate Habitat's community service even more."
David Wright thought he was going to do actual construction, but wasn't bothered when he found that the job was clearing debris, "because I know that a good site prep is just as important as the actual building." He especially appreciated the opportunity of "doing my part in letting somebody else's dream come true."

Adam Rosenbeck reported that this first experience with community volunteer work made him realize "how if a lot of people get together for a common goal it can be easily accomplished."

"I learned that there are a lot of people who do help out in the community, and that there are a lot of people who need help," Paige Hart wrote.

Kim De Angelis summed up the experience of them all, in response to the question of what she had learned that was of benefit to her: "That volunteering makes you feel pretty good about yourself."

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Letter from the President

Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut is deeply committed to working together with all people regardless of their faith, and we appreciate the support of our board members, volunteers, and donors who, whatever their convictions, are committed to Habitat's mission, method of operation, and principles.

In light of recent events and discussions within our local board, however, I would like to share with you a few words about Habitat as an expression of Christian ministry. As defined by its Covenant and publications, Habitat for Humanity "is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry that welcomes to its work people of all faiths." (www.habitat.org)

This definition raises two tangible points.
First, Habitat was founded on and is grounded in Christian experience. Activities such as prayer, the presentation of Bibles to our partner families, and a close connection with our local churches are all essential to the spiritual well-being of our affiliate and to the larger Habitat organization.

Second, and equally important to its well-being, Habitat is an embodiment of the spirit of inclusiveness. To work alongside people of different faiths and belief systems, to act on our own beliefs in order to eliminate substandard housing and homelessness, and to develop relationships, partnership, and community for the benefit of the world in which we live, are all primary goals of Habitat.

Regrettably, these two aspects of Habitat sometimes clash. Over the past year, some of our supporters have felt alienated from Habitat because of its Christian expression. This is unfortunate. In the future, we, as the board of the Northwest Connecticut affiliate, will seek to be more understanding of those who do not wish to participate in our Christian sharing. It is only through working together, with all the world's diversity, that we could ever hope to achieve our goal of eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide.
-- Rev. Dale H. Azevedo
President, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut

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FUND RAISING

1998 has been a memorable year for us, and we're pleased at how well things have gone. Our season got off to a fast start with the annual beach party, hosted by Paul and AnnMarie Nonkin, and their neighbors, Ben and Desi Zalman. Perfect weather and food contributed to the party's success, whose highlight was a competitive croquet game.

Our annual tag sale was again conducted at St. Joseph's Parish Center in Canaan. Due to the efforts of our hard-working committee, headed by Judi Moore, Kathy Mera, and Barbara Thibodo, we were able to raise significant capital. Memo to those thinking about future donations: contributions of furniture are accepted throughout the year, and we are always on the lookout for additional storage space for these items.

At summer's end, Bunny Williams and John Rosselli combined their talents to host a truly memorable "Twilight in the Garden" party in Falls Village.ยท Over 200 lucky guests reveled in the splendor of a most creative setting, while enjoying outstanding food and hospitality.

We are indeed fortunate that all of these people have been willing to give so much to assist the Habitat program. It is also amazing to see the range of financial support for our organization, from the pennies collected by children at local summer Bible Camps, to the substantial checks written to us by individual donors. Funds raised from all the Habitat events will go toward the purchase of building materials for our Falls Village home.

Habitat's last event for 1998 will be the Family Skating Party, to be held on November 27th, at Salisbury School's Rudd Rink, from 1:00 PM. until 3:00 PM.

For next spring, plans are under way for an "Artists Known and New" show at the Paris-New York-Kent gallery. Sandra Boynton and Sam Waterston have graciously agreed to serve as honorary co-chairs for this specialevent. Look for details about the date, very soon.

Again, this year, this newsletter serves as our annual appeal. A tear-off and a return envelope are included. Please give generously. With your support, Habitat can continue to build affordable homes with and for our neighbors in need.
-- John Pogue,
Chair, Fund-Raising Committee

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UNUSUAL GIFT TO HABITAT

As we reported in last year's newsletter, in November of 1997 we received a gift from an anonymous donor of 90 acres on Lime Rock Station Road in Falls Village. There were no strings attached to the gift, and no time frame established in which we had to develop the land. So we decided to take our time, and, using planners and other experts, determine the best use for this most unusual gift.

Presently, we are talking to the Yale University Planning Department and others, and are also working with the Falls Village community. In the near future, we hope to come up with a development plan for the site that will be in accord with the Habitat approach, and that will also suit the needs of Falls Village and of the broader community of the entire Northwest corner area. In the meantime, we are continuing our building activities on our other Falls Village site, on Sand Road.

We do expect that there will be substantial costs incurred in surveying and planning the 90-acre property, and to defray these costs we will need all the help we can get from the friends of Habitat for Humanity.
-- Paul Barren,
Director and Past President

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NORFOLK INFORMATION SESSION

A Habitat for Humanity information session was held on Sunday, October 18th, 1998, at the Church of Christ Congregational in Norfolk, Connecticut. Various members of the Board of Directors of our Habitat affiliate, and other friends, participated in the session, which was part of the church's morning worship service.

Ric Olsen handed out hammers and blocks of wood to the children, so they could provide accompaniment to the singing of "If I Had A Hammer." Sharon Olsen spoke eloquently about the history and philosophy of the Habitat movement. Additional speeches were given by Habitat homeowners Treasa Pattison and her daughter Shawna, and Claudia Doodick. John Pogue summarized the needs of Habitat and asked those in attendance to participate in the work and support of Habitat.

The session was greatly enhanced by the music of the Canaan Folk Group, which consists of Corey Bush, Joanne Kerr, Ric Olsen, Sharon Olsen, Linda Peppe, Cathy Stupak, Skip Stupak, and Cathy Wheeler.

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PASSING IT ON

Habitat homeowners Treasa Pattison and Claudia Doodick are not content to sit back and enjoy their new homes. Both are committed to passing on the benefits of Habitat. In a letter to the Lakeville Journal, Ms. Doodick pledges that when the next home is built, she will be there to take part in the construction, because "The only way I know to show my gratitude to everyone who generously and tirelessly saw our home through to its completion is to pass on to someone else a bit of the incredible blessings showered on me and my family, and to help carry on the work and the spirit of Habitat for Humanity."

Among the most important and responsible tasks of Habitat is selection of families as home-owner partners, in an October, 1998, issue of the Lakeville Journal is a notice of Habitat seeking a home-owner partner for the house about to be constructed in Falls Village. Applications are to be obtained from and sent to Treasa Pattison, chair of the Family Selection Committee.

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  Habitat's first home was completed in 1994 in Cornwall Bridge. It is a two-bedroom Saltbox which is home for a single mother and her two daughters. The land for this home was donated to Habitat by the Cornwall Housing Corporation. The group's second home is a three-bedroom Cape in Salisbury which was built for a single mother and her children. This land was a gift from Mary Ann Miller with the support of the Canaan National Bank.

 The group is currently negotiating with the Town of Falls Village in the hopes of obtaining a building site on Sand Road. If successful, the construction of a three- bedroom home will commence in the fall of 1998.

 

 
 Page last updated 10-26-2004