It's all about thanks.....

I can never say thank you enough to all the volunteers, consultants, professionals and everyday folk that I have had the fortune of meeting while on the job.  We are truly blessed to have so many caring folks who have an interest in our work and in supporting our affiliate.

With that said, special thanks are in order for the 2 gentlemen pictured below.

This is Tito, our Site Supervisor (pictured on the left) and Juan Carlo, photographer extraordinaire for the VC Star (pictured on the right).  Tito is a bulldog and a go-getter and will not stop until the job is done.  Tito's can-do spirit is contagious and we are lucky to have him.  Thank you for being a member of our team.  I don't know much about photography except for the term "point and shoot".  But what I do know is that Juan Carlo is an artist.  His down-to earth style and sensibility are reflected in his work and we are very fortunate to have him capture life happening on our jobsites for the many readers of the VC Star.  Thank you for helping tell our story and for your support!

Landscape with a cause - The Surfrider Foundation

Last Saturday, volunteers installed an "Ocean Friendly Garden" (OFG) at the site of the home our affiliate repaired.  Not to shower our own selves with praise or anything, but the home preservation turned out wonderful, thanks to the City of Ventura, the Westside Community, OFG and ALL the volunteers that came out in full force to assist another deserving homeowner.

The folks from OFG have a really cool philosophy about water retention and we couldn't be more thrilled for the opportunity to have partnered with them on this home preservation project.  There is a true science to looking beautiful and being environmentally friendly.  We are grateful to Morrie, Laura, Tyrone, Paul and Jill for spearheading an exceptional effort that lead to a stunning result!

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to give a special shout out to Lori from the Westside Community Council (WCC) and to the WCC itself for treating volunteers to coffee and morning goodies from Django's.  Thank you Lori and the WCC!  If you are ever in Ventura's Westside, make sure you visit Maureen at Django's.  Their coffee and pastries are simply amazing!

St. Bonaventure High School sets an example to follow

Last Saturday February 2nd, we officially started our Neighborhood Revitalization work in Ventura's Westside.  This is an important undertaking for the affiliate since it encompasses a broader scope of activity as compared to our Preserve a Home program.  But without getting into specifics about community development and home rehab services, I do want to mention our first volunteer group, St. Bonaventure High School, did an absolutely outstanding job on this first day.

This hard-working group of youngsters cleared out an entire backyard and nearly filled this trash bin in less than 4 hours. 

That, is just simply outstanding.  Many thanks to the fine young men and women from St. Bonny's and their coordinator, Katherine Kistler, for their fine efforts and for spending their Saturday with Habitat.

Happy holidays to all!

With the holiday season in full swing, I would like to take a moment to say thank you to all our readers from around the world and to all the volunteers that have helped us out in numerous occasions.  Whether it be in the form of data entry at the office, working at the ReStore, manning a table or booth for us at a special event, or working at one of our construction sites, may all of you and yours enjoy the peace, warmth and happiness this season brings. 

I enjoy Christmas presents just like everybody else does and I am not getting on a soapbox or anything like that, but let's not loose focus of the true meaning of the season.  As much as I look forward to getting a cool present (like a remote controlled helicopter *wink-wink*), I would also enjoy a big, warm, sincere bear hug just as much........if not more. 

Often times, we take things for granted and forget how blessed we are to have what we have.  We will often complain and wish we had more, but we shouldn't forget that there are families that are less fortunate and yet don't complain.  In our daily dealings here, we have encountered a large number of families with untold stories that simply "make do" and press onward in life.  So please take a moment to give thanks for your blessings and also say a prayer for the survivors of the horrible tragedy in Newtown CT.  Sometimes, we just don't know how good we really have it.
 
From our Habitat family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and happy and healthy 2013!

Embassy Suites gives a hand in Saticoy

Thanks to the Debbie Chica and the good folks from Embassy Suites for coming to our Saticoy Preserve a Home (PAH) site the week before Thanksgiving. They did a fantastic job priming and painting the home's exterior. Not an easy job since the wood trim was dry and deteriorated nonetheless, the results were excellent.

Thank your for helping and we look forward to having them return to another PAH site soon!

Strong winds, stronger ladies

Not too long ago, we had a group of lovely ladies from LaReina High School volunteer at our Preserve a Home site in Saticoy.  On that particular Friday, Santa Ana winds were whipping wildly throughout the site.  Unfortunately, all of the day's tasks called for exterior work..........

There is nothing more difficult than working outside in the wind - there really isn't.  That is no fun AT ALL.  Yet this great group of gals toughed it out and carried on despite the adverse conditions.   Kudos to them being troopers and for doing an awesome job!  And that's not just a bunch of hot wind..........

Saticoy's best kept secret

Well, we are finally back to posting after being busy with other projects.  We have a brand new website that is up and running.  Our "Builder's Bulletin" maintains its steady readership base and Lynzi, our hardworking intern, has updated our Facebook page and Twitter account.  So all our media resources are fresh and current.

But all bragging aside, I'm going to completely change direction in this conversation and share one of Saticoy's best kept secrets.....

Before heading out to our Preserve a Home site in Saticoy a few Wednesday's ago, I had heard that a food pantry was operating at the Jose R. Flores Community Center.  When I arrived on site, the Center was buzzing with activity.  Terri Hernandez, a local church volunteer with the Ventura First Assembly of God, was running the food pantry along with a handful of dedicated volunteers.  Terri and her crew have smooth operation going and help feed up to 120 families on weekly basis.  She procures donations, qualifies applicant families and generates a great deal of positive energy around her program.  Terri and her crew are hard workers and they are examples to be followed. 

But I was even more impressed to see that the homeowner currently receiving Preserve a Home services was also volunteering his time and helping others!  Despite his health and limited mobility, the homeowner and his caregiver were fully active in distributing foods to needy families.

This is truly an awesome story.  Many kudos to Terri for doing such a fine job with the food pantry.  And special kudos our Preserve a Home homeowner too, for being such a great example of receiving and then giving right back.  

For more information on how to volunteer at the food pantry or to make a donation, please stop by the Jose R. Flores Community Center located at 11168 Violetta Street Ventura (Saticoy) any Wednesday beginning at 8:30 a.m.  Or you can contact Terri directly at (805) 276-5906.