Unorthodox? Not quite sure...

The New Britain Rock Cats and Stanley Black and Decker are teaming up tonight in a fundraising event called "Pitching In Together" to benefit Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity. 

There has been a small (very tiny) uproar from some of our supporters about why we join ventures like this one.  It's plain and very simple.  We need to raise funds in order to continue building.  If there are no funds, we can't buy materials, pay our Affiliate's bills, pay salaries or run our program. 

Hartford Habitat sends out appeal  letters twice a year to our donors and volunteers.  The return from individual donations is very low and has been even lower in the last two years, mainly in part because of the economy.  We understand and don't judge anyone or even hold it against anyone.

However, we need to keep building.  We need to continue fighting poverty housing because it is linked to so many other social maladies like hunger, depression, stress, lack of education, domestic violence, etc.  We need to keep doing what we do because the more families we help, the more we can help our neighborhoods by revitalizing our communities, by bringing in tax dollars, by bringing in families who will invest in their properties. 

So, when opportunities to raise funds do come up, we have to seize them and run with them because every dollar helps!  I wonder if anyone feels the same way I do...

Hugs,
AVJ

Following in Mom's steps...

I had to go to the hardware store today to get some "S" hooks I need for the golf tournament and ran into another Hartford Habitat homeowner.  She has worked at the hardware store for yeeeears!  Madeline moved into her condo about two years before I moved with the girls to our house.  Madeline and I lost touch because we had to do other "stuff" with our lives...

One of the things I remember vividly about Madeline was her never-ending fear of driving.  She either walked or took the bus everywhere she went.  Today, while catching up, she told me she had gotten her driver's license and that she owned a car.  She was so excited!  She also told me that her daugther got married and moved out of her house.  Her daughter and her daughter's husband live in a house they bought in Bloomfield.  I am sure that if Madeline had not bought her own place and continued renting, her daughter would have followed in her steps... but because Madeline did, her daughter followed Madeline's example of becoming a homeowner.

Lynette, another Hartford Habitat homeowner, helped her daughter LaToya to buy her own condo a couple of years ago.  I was so happy when I heard about that!  Especially, because the rents are so high in this area and I knew that if Toya ended up getting an apartment, she'd fall in that cycle...

Anyway, I hope that my girls will follow my example and become homeowners in their own time because it will teach them about the same things I've learned, including that there is no place like home.

Hugs,
AVJ

Time is money!

I just looked at the calendar and in the words of my daughters: "OMG! Where has time gone?"  I just got a message from the Washington DC Habitat affiliate with more details on my upcoming trip to build with President Carter, his wife and over 60 volunteers.  I only have 40 days left!  This is crazy!  I guess I need to start setting up a checklist for things I need to do as I get ready for yet another life-changing experience!

One of the very first things to do is to raise money... and so, personal appeal letters will be going out to a few people I know whom I am sure I can count on...  and the other thing is to make it easy so people can donate, right?  So, here is the widget for dontors to contribute safely online - thanks to my girl McKinley, for the lead! I really hope this works!



All/any proceeds received after my goal, will go towards our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Hartford.  I can't wait to see the outcome of everything that's happening around me!  This is too exciting!