Fall 2013 - Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity

Fall
2013
Christi Roden, Family #42, accepts the keys to
her new home from board president, Traci Pondick. The dedication was held Sept. 20, 2013 at the
family’s home in Adams Park. Christi’s home was
built with funds raised during the 2012 Habitat
Dragon Boat Festival. Christi says that she and her
two daughters look forward to the holidays in their
own home. Christi completed more than 300 hrs. of
“sweat-equity” hours which included monthly
Homeowner Partnership Classes, numerous workdays at a building site, assisting with fundraisers
and more. She also
participated in the
IDA program sponsored through United Way of Central
Alabama which
matched her savings
for her downpayment two-to-one. “It
was great having
that extra money to
put toward my
down payment,” she
said.
Families & Volunteers
GSCC AC/Refrig. Class
ATTENTION! Volunteers Needed We are looking
for volunteers with some construction or carpentry skills to
help build houses. House #43 is under construction.
Meeting ~ to learn more and see how you can help!
 Mon., Oct. 21, 2013
 5:00 pm—6:00 pm
 3644 Rainbow Dr. (HFH office)
 Come and bring a friend!
Welcome Aboard!
Marisa Moehr joined our
volunteers as Habitat’s first
paid staff member. She is
serving as Administrative
Assistant. Marisa is a 2013
graduate of JSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Family and Consumer Sciences. Marisa will be working closely with partnership
families and assisting with
other office responsibilities.
House #43 is under construction for Melissa Taylor
and her son, Brayden. The new 2-bedroom home is being
built on LaSalle St. in Rainbow City. Melissa’s father,
Keith Patterson, donated
the property. The house is
sponsored by Habitat for
Humanity funds, a Mary
Alvey gift, and a grant
from Wells Fargo. GSCC
Carpentry Class will be
working on the house
throughout the process
and Alabama Power associates will frame the
house in October.
L-R: Takeyia Lipscomb, Steve Scharfenberg, Jerry Mills
This summer, Jerry Mills presented the “EarthCents” award on
behalf of Alabama Power for superior energy performance for Habitat House #41 in Adams Park. Habitat was also awarded the Energy
Star Rating Award for the first such house in Etowah County. Homeowner, Takeyia Lipscomb, says she is delighted with her electric
bills since she moved in. “Very affordable,” she said.
Steve Scharfenberg, Construction Coordinator, said, “Jerry
Mills, Senior Marketing Specialist with Alabama Power, gave us
outstanding assistance in this project. He worked with construction
leaders from the beginning and discussed in detail advanced framing
techniques.” Steve continued, “Jerry met with us four times at the
site to help and encourage our first attempt to “go green”. He really
provided us a great measure of technical and motivational support.”
Jerry has worked with G-E Habitat for Humanity since the first
house was built in 1998. He organized five “Blitz Build” projects
involving many members of the Greater Gadsden Homebuilders Association. Jerry recruited all the participants, scheduled them and
coordinated the five projects, producing well built houses in two to
three days. Thank you, Jerry!
We’ve moved to 3644 Rainbow Dr., Rainbow City.
Congratulations!
Bertie & Michael Jacobs
received the 2013 1st Runner
Up Beautification Award in
Dist. 4, Attalla. The Jacobs
Family takes great pride in
maintaining their beautiful
home. You will often see them
fly the American flag on their
full size flag pole on their front
lawn. A beautiful site!
Office Hours
9:00 -4:00 M-F
256-543-1898
Ribbon Cutting
June 13, 2013
Thank You!
Donations April 1 - September 9, 2013
Individuals
Elizabeth Barnett
Cassy M. Cameron
James & Tania Cody
Ben Johnston
Joan Leach
Pudden McArthur *
Juanita Miller *
Frances Patterson *
Jane Petty *
Elizabeth Simpson
Churches: First United Methodist of Gadsden
Memorials: Tom Batey, Robert McMurry,
Bob Belotti, and Cheryl Aldridge
by Steve & Suzanne Scharfenberg
Businesses:
Wells Fargo
In-Kind:
Rainbow Pipe & Metal
Alabama Power
Tim Watwood
B D Welch Construction* Jerry Yarbrough
A-1 Exterminating
Mike Chapman
* Given more than once this period
Habitat Dragon Boat Festival 2013
Major Sponsors ~
State Farm
The Gadsden Times
City of Gadsden
WQSB/WKXX
Festival Partners ~
Tourism Board
Dist. 30, Sen. Phil Williams and
Rep. Mack Butler and Com. Members:
Jon Jones & Karen Thomas
Etowah County Hotel Association
Hospitality & VIP Supporters ~
Chick-fil-A (mall)
Dad’s BBQ
Rivertown Coffee House
Top O’River
Jack’s
Winn Dixie
Cothran’s Bakery
Thank You!
Supporters ~
Simmons Sign & Graphics Robert Smith
Glen Williams Agency
Buffalo Rock
Signs, Designs & Awards
Alley’s Carpet
Chili’s Restaurant
Coca-Cola Co.
Ximena San Vicente
Kyuka Water
Trent Thrasher Const.
Academy Sports
Rebecca Talafous
Sheriff’s Dept.
Goodyear Tire Co.
Dean’s Sausage
JSU Steel Drum Band
Gadsden EMA
Supreme Beverage
Hardin CCA
Steve Ausborn & Friends
David Parker
Rainbow City Fire Dept.
Brian Cox
Gadsden Budweiser
Gadsden Golf Carts
Collier-Butler Funeral Home
Support Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity ~ Volunteer Highlights ~
G-E Habitat for Humanity
P.O. Box 7002
Rainbow City, AL 35906
I wish to support Habitat for Humanity. Enclosed is my tax-deductible
donation in the amount of $ ___________ in support of building houses
and building lives by funding the following:
1 sheet floor decking $20 ___
1 box of nails $30 ___
1 square foot of house $40 ___
1 roof truss
$60 ___
1 window
$120 __
1 tub/shower $280 ___
Paint
$375 ___
Insulation
$800 ___
Foundation
$1,500 ___ Floor system $2,000 ____
Your Name
_________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________
City/ Zip________________________________
Phone # ________________________________
I wish to make my gift:
In Honor of: ____________________________________________
Occasion: ________________________ (Birthday, Anniversary, etc.)
In Memory of:
__________________________________________________________
Send gift acknowledgement to:
Name _____________________________________________
Address ____________________________________
City/Zip ______________________
Special thanks to volunteer and
board member, Stan Wagar. Stan
has volunteered many hours tutoring families seeking to complete
their GED or necessary courses to
secure a better job. Stan also shares
his wood-working talents by making decorative boxes and chopping
blocks for housewarming gifts. He
is also a volunteer at worksites.
~ FAMILY ACHIEVEMENTS ~
Congratulations April Cowgill, homeowner #4 who
recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from GSCC
with her degree in accounting. She also received the
James L. Brown Free Enterprise Scholarship, Superior
Academic Achievement Award and Who’s Who
Among Students in American Colleges & Universities
Award. April said, “If I didn’t have a stable home to
come home to, it never would have happened. Becoming a Habitat for Humanity homeowner has given me
opportunities and blessings that have helped me to
achieve my goals.” April’s home was built in 2000.
In Loving Memory of Bob Belotti a
generous, long-time Habitat volunteer
who passed away in July, 2013.
2013 Habitat Dragon Boat Festival—August 17, 2013- RESULTS
Winners!
1st —Brute Fitness & NE Orthopedic
“Team Brute Neo”
2nd -Absolute Fitness & Hampton Inn Gadsden
“The Motley Crew”
3rd —CrossFit Rabid
Best Team Spirit –University of Alabama Alumni
Club
Best Drummer Costume - Tracy Brooks, Choice
Fabricators
Best Decorated Tent - Etowah Country Board of
Realtors
1st Place o”
rute Ne
“Team B
Thirty-three (33) teams participated on an unusually chilly, but great Saturday. Several thousand
spectators joined in the fun. Concessions, crafts
and activities for all ages made it a perfect day
to come out and watch the dragon boat races.
Teams consisted of 20 paddlers, 1 drummer, 3
alternates and a steerer. With Dynamic Dragon
Boats managing the races and dozens of local
2nd Place
volunteers supplying multiple support tasks, it
Absolute —
Fitness
was a successful event raising $50,000 to contin- “Th
e Motley
Crew”
ue the work of building affordable houses for
qualified families in need.
Special thanks to our sponsors, supporters, teams
and paddlers for helping make a difference in the
lives of families in need of simple, decent and
affordable housing in our community.
Thank You, Participating Dragon Boat Teams!
Absolute Fitness
Advanced Imaging
Alabama Alumni Club
AL. Power & Rainbow City
Barclay Contracting
Blazin’ Nostrils & Ring of Fire
Brute Fitness & NEO
Choice Fabricators
Coosa Outfitters & City of Gadsden CrossFit Rabid
Elite Bus. Systems
Episcopal Church of the Resurrection
Exchange Bank of AL
E.C. Board of Realtors
E.C. Bar Association
E.C. Hotel Association
E. C. Sheriff’s Dept.
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Gadsden Orthopaedic
Gadsden State Community College
Gadsden Public Works
Gold’s Gym
Inzer/Cantrell Family
Life Ins. Co. of Alabama
Meadowbrook Baptist
Northwestern Mutual
Prince Metal Stamping
Regions Bank
St. James Catholic Church
State Farm Ins.
Surgical Associates of Gadsden
Team One & N. Glencoe Baptist
Webb Concrete
Volunteers help at paddlers
sign-in table before the first
race. It’s always busy when
750+ paddlers need to get
their wrist bands!
Pepe’s SwingOARS
paddle back to the dock
after race.
3rd Place “CrossFit Rabid”
Rainbow City Fire
Dept. displayed the
magnificent 100’ ft.
American flag at the
venue during the
Habitat Dragon Boat
Festival Aug. 17,
2013
The BluePrint Newsletter
Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity
P.O. Box 7002
Rainbow City, AL 35906
256-543-1898
www.gadsdenhabitat.com
Serving Etowah County since 1996
Building Houses and Building Dreams
Fall 2013
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #124
Gadsden, AL
A Word from the President
Typically you may think of autumn as a time to slow down a little and enjoy the changing of the seasons. But with Habitat and
our volunteers, this is a time to step it up just a notch and take advantage of the not-so-hot (or this year notso-rainy!), not-too-cold weather and work as much as possible on getting some houses off the ground.
The Roden family is in their home now, and we have four more families anxiously anticipating their
own move in dates. Usually we have workdays on Wednesdays and Saturdays every week, and we send an
email to all of our volunteers letting them know when and where to be, and what we’ll be doing that day. If
you would like to volunteer in the actual building process, call our office or email us so we can put you on
the notification list. No experience is required – just the ability and desire to do some manual labor!
Thanks to another successful Dragon Boat Festival we have the funds for materials, and thanks to
wonderful donors and an ideal partnership with the City of Gadsden we have building lots – now all we need
is YOU!
Traci Pondick, President
Gadsden-Etowah Habitat for Humanity
Donate, Volunteer or Apply
Phone & Fax: 256-543-1898
Mail: P.O. Box 7002, Rainbow City, Al 35906
Email: gehabitat@comcast.net
Office: 3644 Rainbow Dr., Rainbow City,35906
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 - 4:00
Website: www.gadsdenhabitat.com
Facebook: gadsdenhabitat
Board of Directors
Traci Pondick—President
Suzanne Scharfenberg—Vice Pres. /Secretary
Pudden McArthur—Treas.
Carol Clokey
Eugenia Cunningham
Ben Johnston
Linda New
Steve Scharfenberg
Craig Scott
Stan Wagar