 One of the most enthusiastic and skilled sub-groups within Habitat is Women Build. Many Habitat affiliates across the country have crews of Women Build volunteers, dynamic women of all ages and from all walks of life who work as a team on Habitat construction sites. Some, like our Indian River Habitat Women Build (ers), also raise funds to sponsor a house AND do the construction work. These VERY construction-savvy women can handle ANY aspect of a build, from roof down. Lowe's is a BIG supporter of Habitat in general and of Women Build in particular by awarding very nice grants so the WB's can purchase materials. Speaking of - just happens that this weekend starts National Women Build Week and our WB bunch, like many others, has scheduled a special event. We are calling Indian River County moms, daughters, sisters, granddaughters, aunts, nieces - OK, you get the idea - to join us this coming Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to noon, at our neighborhood up in Fellsmere (Grace Meadows) where we'll be putting up siding. Interested? Get in touch with Sue Croom (she's the WB chief) sueacroom@aol.com or Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Emily Wicht at ewicht@irchabitat.org to sign up. We had a ball last year, there were lots of mother/daughter teams, and even two or three 3-generation teams. And, of course, a team of women from the local Lowe's who, as you can imagine, really know their stuff. So - JOIN US. It'll be FUN! PLUS, you get SNACKS at 10!! Prepare a pot of coffee the night before so, when that alarm rings Saturday morning, you won't be tempted to fling it our the window. Then, fortified by caffeine, (and maybe a bagle with schmeer) you're ready to hit the road. Wear nice sturdy, close-toe shoes, comfy clothes, a hat, you might want to bring gloves, and sunscreen. We'll have plenty of water. What? You say you are a total construction newbie? You don't know a hammer from a ham sandwich? Not to worry. We have crew leaders who are great at teaching and who will assign you to jobs that won't freak you out. Hey, I"ll see you there!!
 Every year, Habitat houses are going up all over the world. Like other Habitat affiliates in the U.S, Indian River Habitat's main, day-to-day focus, is within the borders of Indian River County, Florida, where poverty housing still, most certainly, exits. For two decades, Indian River Habitat has continued to work diligently to eradicate it, and we gain ground with every new home dedication. Habitat for Humanity is also an international organization, and we are a part of it, as are affiliates all over the world, dedicated to the vision of Habitat founder, the late Millard Fuller, to abolish poverty housing wherever on earth it exists. While here in the US, Habitat houses are built of "sticks" (wooden construction) or concrete block. In other places in the world, however, the building materials must accommodate local conditions, using materials available in snowy highlands, soggy, hot wetlands, barren flatlands, jungles.
Staff and volunteers from our affiliate have travelled to some of these far lands to build with Habitat's Global Village initiative. Each individual pays his or her own travel expenses on these trips. This fall, we're planning to join about 500 other Habitat volunteers on the Everest build, in Nepal, an extremely poor, landlocked country in the Himalayas. Our building materials will be bamboo or sun-dried brick. We will work side by side with volunteers from many other countries, learn a bit about other, very different cultures, and return enriched, knowing we are a small part of something that is impacting the world in a positive way.
Among the 300 or so runners in our recent Habitrot 5K was one of our very own Habitat homeowners, Dawn Harrington of Grace Woods, who crossed the finish line with a couple of friends. (Above) Helping out at the best-ever event were some homebuyers working on their Sweat Equity as they make their way through the program to their own home ownership. We'd just liker to say to Dawn - "YOU GO, GIRL!!"
Have a good one.
 I just found out why onions make us cry. I could have Googled it, I know, but I just never got around to it. Then, this afternoon, our Home Center Manager David (the guy who likes to fish) Sneed noticed the large sweet onion on my desk. He paused. Dave is one of those "fountain of knowledge" guys: the more esoteric a fact, the more likely he is to know it. He explained that onions make us cry because they contain sulfur (an important onion nutrient, apparently) and, when cut, a chemical is emitted that wafts up and reacts with the water in our eyes, basically producing sulfuric acid. Well, dang! No WONDER!
All these years, I have been peeling onions and crying, or putting a piece of potato in my mouth because somebody told me that would prevent the crying. But it didn't. Then my son bought me a pair of onion goggles. (Shown by our lovely model, left, whose initials are - Shirley Reul.) Now I wear my fashion forward goggles when cutting onions and I no longer cry. I laugh!
Another sort of event that can often prompt tears is a Habitat for Humanity Dedication Ceremony, when the homebuyers are officially acknowledged as homeowners. They have finally completed many months of very hard work, have made it through 13 required classes, have completed their 300+ hours of Sweat Equity, have learned new skills, with friends and family working alongside. And now they stand, literally, at their own front door and are presented with the keys to their own, safe, secure home. The volunteers who have worked beside them and the sponsors whose generosity has made it possible, as well as Board and Habitat staff members who have taught and encouraged them all along the way - are all present to applaud their impressive accomplishment and to celebrate with the brand new homeowners. There is also CAKE. Believe me, this is an occasion when tears always flow. Onion-free. They are tears of joy.
Have a good one.
We are blessed to have volunteers all throughout the year - a core group year-rounders who we can call on, pretty much, any time. Beefing up our overall volunteer "corps" are the many and varied groups that can be local businesses, clubs or churches - and non-locals - folks who travel from near and far. Often VERY far. These can be people on "service vacations," or retirees such as our Care-A-Vanners. But, especially this time of year, we get some of the bounciest and most energetic and fun-loving - the Spring Breakers.
Everybody knows that Spring Break is a right of passage for college age people, and the typical Spring Break Plan mostly doesn't include anything resembling work. If you remember yours, like I remember mine, well - you got to be as happy as I am that there weren't cell phones or Tweeting or Facebook back then. Yikes.
Anyway, that said, there are plenty of college kids who travel long distances during their precious Spring Breaks in order to perform service for others, including lots of kids from all over the country who come to Indian River Habitat for Humanity to do serious physical labor in the hot Florida sun. They are full of fun, good natured, eager to learn and VERY hard-working.
I took some pictures, this morning, of a group of young athletes from a church in Louisville, Kentucky, hauling , sorting and stacking lumber, sawing, pulling nails over at the warehouse, which is saw-dusty, noisy and hot. One of our most dedicated senior volunteers, Tony Cecere, was guiding them, teaching tool safety and "directing traffic."
That is what Habitat is all about - all different kinds of people, all ages, from all over the place. That's how Habitat has helped half a million worldwide so far. And with people like these young guys and our octogenerarians and everyone in between - we'll keep building, and helping, and making a difference for a long, long time to come.
Have a good one.  Tony C shares his woodworking knowledge with Spring Breakers from Kentucky
An estimated 774 people are homeless on any given night - right here in Indian River County. This number is up 27% from last year’s count of 606. This startling figure comes from an annual census, called a “Point In Time” survey, coordinated by the Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council. It's conducted on a single day (January 27 this year) and is intended to represent the number of people who are homeless "on any given night."
The mission of Indian River Habitat for Humanity - and of Habitat affiliates everywhere - is to build "homes, communities and hope," with the ultimate goal of eliminating poverty housing. Habitat, therefore, is keenly aware of the homelessness that exists in our own community, as well as of the hundreds who live in substandard or "poverty housing."
Believing, as we do, that most people who find themselves in such ghastly conditions need - and desire - not a freebie, not a hand out, but simply a way to get themselves out of an untenable situation, and back on their own feet, so they can provide for themselves again, and for their family, a means through which they can maintain pride and self respect as they work toward a better "tomorrow."
Remember that saying about how giving somebody a fish is okay (for one meal), but its way better, long term, to teach that person to fish? Same idea.
Speaking of fish. Our Home Center manager Dave Sneed really, really, really likes to fish. He's got fish stuff all over his office - pictures and carvings and figurines, and other such piscine doo-dads. He doesn't actually fish nearly as much as he'd like, though. See, Dave is a strong and devoted believer in the Habitat mission and works diligently - seeking, and gathering, storing and displaying donations of items to sell in the Home Center, thus generating more resources to further Habitat's work.
Dave has a terrific team of staff and volunteers and, together, they have made our Habitat Home Center a real Destination for the budget-wise, in-the-know shopper. Like you, right?
SO - if you have clean and usable items of all sorts, Dave'd LOVE to have them. Bring 'em in. OR, in case that fridge or 8-foot marble countertop doesn't quite fit in your fuel-friendly, 2-door compact, we'll happily come and collect it. Free. In Indian River County.
Hey, its National Read a Roadmap Week.
Pull over first.
Have a good one.
All systems were "Go!" All lists were checked off. Those of us at Indian River Habitat who weren't beachside for the annual HabiTrot *(which was most of us), were up in Noperth Country for Fellsmere's 101st birthday party and parade. I was at the latter so - the pic here is of several of the Habitat families who have or are working on getting Habitat homes, mostly in our Fellsmere neighborhood - Grace Meadows. I like all our various neighborhood throughout the county, but this one is one of my favorites. Fellsmere has a special ambiance, an old Florida vibe, an inland Florida feel to it, with a nice culture mix of native Indian River Countians, farmers, ranchers, horse people and a robust Hispanic population. It's like no other place.  Each year on its birthday, Fellsmere holds a parade followed by a festival on the old school grounds. Habitat always has a float in the parade because we're part of the community and proud to be. AND because its fun. As with all the parades we do, several homebuyer families walk and ride with the float, and staffers and maybe some volunteers hand out candy along the way. As the Designated Parade Nagger, I remind everyone (frequently during the route) to "keep smiling and waving! No cell phones!" ,Makes 'em nuts, I expect, but they're always smiley and goo! We joined the Sebastian High School band, airboats, Shriners, Little Miss and Mr. Fellsmere, the County Sheriff and some deputies, fire trucks, Scouts.....right ahead of us was a banjo picker playing from the back of a pickup truck! It was great!
Also on Saturday was the annual HabiTrot to Higher Educatino 5K run/walk and 1-mile Bunny Hop (both to support our Scholarship/Education Program). It was a smashing success! The most participants EVER, including some very speedy kids in our first Bunny Hop. BIG OL' Shoutout to Jessica Schmitt and her H'Trot committee. There was live music and prizes, free samples, and special custom-made temporary HabiTrot glitter "tattoos". Included among the runners were several Habitat staffers, volunteers and a Habitat homeowner. Check out our website for tons of Trot pix - irchabitat.org.
Its my feeling that one of the best things about Indian River Habitat is that it is so much a part of the fabric of our community.
And (HINT) a great place to volunteer!!
Have a good one.
Since you're reading this (thanks, by the way!) there's a chance it does ring a bell. But maybe not. If I say "Jimmy Carter," many people who know about Habitat for Humanity say, "Oh, sure!, President Jimmy Carter, he was the one who started Habitat, right?" Nope. President Carter is one of Habitat's highest-profile, still active volunteers, no doubt about that, but. . . . . . Millard Fuller was "the one who started Habitat for Humanity" with his wife, Linda, in 1976. The Alabama native rose "from humble beginnings," according to the Habitat for Humanity Web site. He and a college pal began a marketing firm and became young millionnaires. "but as his business prospered, his health, integrity and marriage suffered, prompting Fuller to re-evaluate his life." The couple sold their possessions, gave money to the poor and began searching for a new direction. This ultimately led to the founding of a housing ministry that built modest homes on a no-interest, nonprofit basis and made them affordable to low-income families. So far, Habitat for Humanity has helped to build over 500,000 decent, affordable houses and served 2.5 million people worldwide. Upon Fuller's death in February 2009, Jimmy Carter called him, "one of the most extraordinary people I have ever known. He used his remarkable gifts as an entrepreneur for the benefit of millions of needy people around the world by providing them with decent housing," Here in Indian River County, Florida, our Habitat affiliate has, so far, provided more than 270 houses, WITH qualified families in need. Can I get a big "WAY TO GO, HABITAT!!"
So, there you are. An amazing man. A truly world-changing organization.
While Googling for something completely different, I accidently found out that: "A person cannot fold a normal size piece of paper in half more than 8 times." Try it and report back, okay?
And
"The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows." Well, I don't know how I've made it this far in my life without knowing that.
Have a good one.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,487388,00.html#ixzz1rBpWiC6h" Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,487388,00.html#ixzz1rBgagkajy. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,487388,00.html#ixzz1rBgTcUDz
A pretty good-sized herd of you (who live in the general vicinity of here) are going to be tying on your running shoes come this Saturday for one of our most popular fund-raising events - the HabiTrot to Higher Education 5K Run/Walk. We've had great participation (a couple hundred) ever since the Trot started a few years back. Actually, just about all the local 5K's seem to be successful (and there are a bunch, run by quite a few of our community non-profits throughout the year) . We've got a LOT of dedicated, serious runners in the area, as well as folks who enjoy the Walk part of the Run/Walk and who come out with pals to share a fun Saturday morning and support a good cause. And Habitat's one of the best. Last year we added a 1-mile Bunny Hop and, coming so close to Easter, I wouldn't be surprised if we had some actual bunnies taking part.
Those who won't be trotting or hopping, though, might be heading up the road to Fellsmere for the little town's 101st Birthday parade and celebration. If you're interested in local history at all, check out Fellsmere - fascinating history there. It was a happenin' place way back when the island was a mosquito-filled jungle, accessible only by boat. Indian River County wasn't even a county yet. Habitat will be saying "Happy Birthday, Fellsmere" with a float in the parade. We are proud to be part of the Fellsmere community, through our Grace Meadows neighborhood. So “Happy Birthday, Fellsmere! You look GREAT for your age!” And I hear you're getting elephants! (You might want to Google this one.)
Today, according to one website, is World Pillow Fight Day. Just sayin’.
Have a good one.
Although I have a garden which I enjoy thoroughly, I do not know the proper names of most flowers, and, when I do address the plants in my yard, its usually "Hey, guys! You need some water?" (I read somewhere it actually help the flowers when you talk to them, something about the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange. Makes sense.) It is interesting how much flowers can brighten the mood of, well, wherever they are, and certainly yards.
In our current Habitat construction location in the South County area, Grace Woods West, where there are several finished and occupied Habitat homes as well, there are a current abundance of pinkish purple flowering bushes which are just lovely and whose name, I"m pretty sure, most of you will know right off the bat. I don't, of course. (Check them out in the photo below.)
In all our Habitat neighborhoods, there are homeowners whose yards are a pleasure to see and which show a great deal of TLC. In fact, every so often, we'll give special Pride of Homeownership recognition for those which are really outstanding.
In any case, a pleasant scene such as this is as good a time as any to pause, take a deep breath. . . then Stop And Smell the Whachamacallits.
Have a good one.
 Gracing Grace Woods West
Today was the day the Bloodmobile visited us, setting up right in front, in the Home Center parking lot, visible as you drive by on US 1. (Well, hopefully, you'll stop and check out the always-new and different Stuff at the Home Center.) A few of us usually donate - today we got a belated St. Patrick's Day green blood donor tee shirt. I admit, I typically try to nag my fellow Habitat staffers into sharing a pint. It doesn't actually work but I can't seem to help it. But it got me thinking: some folks give blood and some folks don't. But most folks have something they ARE willing to give to those who need it - it can be funds, or gently used clothing or furniture, it can be a hug or a sympathetic shoulder, a ride, a covered dish - or it can be what we at Habitat have grown to appreciate beyond measure, the gift of hard work, building a simple, decent home WITH families in need. Whatever it is that you give - whether a random or a specific act of kindness - it is worthwhile, it is character building and - it just makes you feel good, doesn't it.
(And, when you give blood, you get soda and a cookie!)
Have a good one.
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