Souper Bowl - May the odds be ever in your favor

The Souper Bowl is by far our staff's favorite fundraiser throughout the year. While we might have coined our favorite fundraiser after the notorious NFL sporting event, the only thing we are tackling is our hunger. We have the luxury to spend the day with local churches and businesses as they prepare and cook the most mouthwatering Chili and Soups around Saline County. The Souper Bowl is an open event and walk-ins are welcome. There isn't a belly that goes home hungry. Chili and Soups will be topped off with the most decadent desserts, and if you are feeling lucky you will have the opportunity to peruse over 25 silent auction baskets.

To mark our 4th Annual Souper Bowl Chili and Soup Cook Off, AmeriCorps member, Lacey Brooks has outdone herself. She has solicited over 25 teams to compete in the Cook Off. Attendees will sample all Chili or Soup and then vote on their favorite recipe. All proceeds raised will go toward the 2014 Apostle Build.

For the last 2 years First Security Bank has been voted the Souper Bowl Champion. Will they remain the raining champ and experience a three-peat or will we have a new victor? Come help us decide!

To the 26 teams, "May the odds be ever in your favor!"

Souper Bowl
Friday, January 31, 2014
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
First United Church in Benton
200 N. Market St.
Benton, AR 72015

Everyone Deserves a Home for the Holidays

During the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season, it is easy to get caught up with our own agendas. As we are rushing around to get last minute gifts, dodging the bell ringers for what seems like the 100th encounter, or obsessing about how much weight we are gaining this holiday season, we often forget the true meaning of Christmas and not to mention people who are less fortunate than us. The reality of getting caught up by our own agendas is crippling for  nonprofit organizations who rely heavily on volunteers and donors. This holiday season make a resolution to give a gift that impacts others and leaves a lasting effect on future generations.

Habitat for Humanity's goal is to provide a simple, safe, decent, affordable home for everyone. However, this is only an achievable goal with your help. Habitat Saline County's impact revolves around its volunteers and donors. Visit www.habitatsalinecountyar.org to see how you can make a impact this Christmas.

Imagine a Christmas without a place to call home. You have all the power to transform Christmases around the world! Give the gift of a home for the holidays!

So What Exactly is #GivingTuesday?

Thursday is the new Friday, Small Business Saturday, Hump Day Wednesday, Black Friday, Sunday Funday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday. In the height of Social Media, hashtags, and Social Campaigns we don't blame you if you're overwhelmed. We are too!


Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been notorious shopping days that consumers celebrate to kick off the Holiday Season. 92Y's Interim CEO Henry Timms wanted to encourage the country to give back after two days of spending. 92Y is a world-class nonprofit community and cultural center that connects people at every stage of life to the worlds of education, the arts, health and wellness, and Jewish life. Timms launched the Giving Tuesday social campaign in September 2012. The campaigned was designed to kick of the end-of-the-year giving season. In its inaugural year, Giving Tuesday became a trending topic on Twitter (#GivingTuesday), had over 2,700 partners driving Giving Tuesday conversations on Social Media sites, and ultimately aided in raising over $10 million for various participating non-profit organizations.
Join us on December 3, 2013 as we participate in a movement that not only swept the nonprofit world, but the country as well. Habitat for Humanity of Saline County's Youth United is raising the remaining $50,000 for the 2014 Youth United Build. In hopes that the #GivingTuesday campaign will help fill the gap in the building funds, the Youth United students are using the campaign to promote their Christmas Card Fundraiser and the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Youth United members are reducing the Holiday Stress by sending Memorial and Honorarium Christmas Cards. To purchase Christmas Cards you may click on the previous link or visit our website. The students are also promoting the Kroger Community Rewards program on #GivingTuesday. You can help by registering your Kroger Rewards Card with Habitat for Humanity of Saline County using the NPO number 81536. Kroger will donate 5% of your grocery bill to Habitat for Humanity of Saline County.

Not a Kroger shopper and already have your Christmas Cards taken care of? No problem! The Youth United Students are also asking for monetary donations to be made at Habitat for Humanity using the Online Giving link.

Help us drive the #GivingTuesday conversation. Help us Build a House! 

Remembering the Day You Will Never Forget

It is one of those days that you will never forget. You know exactly where you were and who you were with. For many of us it started out as a regular day filled with birthdays, anniversaries, school, work, concerts, practices - just your average day filled with mundane activities. In the horrific hours following, it was as if the country stood still, and yet you remember every moment of that stagnant day. All of your plans changed, and none of those mundane activities seemed significant. As the county clung together, ready and willing to help in any way possible, a true sense of patriotism fell over the United States of America.

By 2002, Americans had readjusted to a new way of life, yet they still had strong sense of patriotism. The family members who lost loved ones in the attacks on September 11 believed that engaging in service on September 11 was a productive and respectful way to honor the sacrifice of those lost and pay tribute to those who rose up in service. By 2009,
September 11 was designated as the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Habitat for Humanity of Saline County is participating in the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. Habitat will be installing American Flags for residents in Partnership Village with the help of students from Our Lady of Fatima. The Catholic High School JROTC will be presenting The Colors for the Remembrance Ceremony. Veterans and Service Members throughout Saline County will be present for recognition for their service. Habitat will conclude the ceremony by dedicating Navy Veteran Susan Myers with the 2013 AR REALTORS Build Home. Lunch will be provided by Hot Dog Mike.

The ceremony is open to the public. We would like to invite you to participate in the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. Help us leave a legacy in Saline County.

Carpenter Club ... It's a Simple Plan

It's truly a simple plan, and it is way more relevant than that French-Canadian Rock-Pop band, Simple Plan, from the 90's. (we doubt that you even remember their tunes.) Our simple plan doesn't even require you to lift a hammer to help. It all starts with a tiny donation, and yields a hefty sum of money. No, we aren't talking about a pyramid scheme, we are talking about the Carpenter Club. The Carpenter Club is made up of approximately 250 members, who pledge to donate $25 for every house that we complete throughout the year. This year we have planned to complete 5 houses. Therefore, we will ideally raise a little over $31,000.

We have just completed our second house for the year, which coincidentally is our Carpenter Club Build. This will be the 7th Carpenter Club house. The Carpenter Club was founded in 2005, and the club broke ground on their first house in 2006.

On Sunday, August 4 at 4:00 pm in Partnership Village Habitat for Humanity will celebrate it's 55th Dedication. Ella Stokes will be the proud new homeowner of the 7th Carpenter Club house. It's a simple plan that has made a significant impact.

At the risk of sounding cliche' your $25 donation will help build a house for a family in need of a hand up.
Our goal is to have 500 members so that we can fully fund a Carpenter Club house every year. Why wait, Join Today!

http://www.habitatsalinecounty.com/carpenter-club/

Why We Serve

At a glance, the Millennial generation often gets a bad wrap for being considered lazy, entitled, or for having an instant gratification mentality, and yet, at a glance, there are few who unabashedly dare to break the mold. By hosting the 2013 Habitat Learn and Build Alumni Experience, Habitat for Humanity of Saline County has had the luxury to spend the week with students from around the world who are radically dispelling the generational stereotypes. The Learn and Build Experience is a unique build. These volunteers aren't merely learning construction skills, they are also learning about the world-wide housing crisis and how they can help on a national and local level. The students have submerged themselves into the Saline County community, and then, in return are making a direct impact in the community by volunteering not only with Habitat, but with other Non-profit organizations throughout Saline County.

In addition to breaking the mold, they are giving others a "hand up" along the way. The group has broken ground on Saline County's 57th Habitat home, which is being built for one of our partner-families, Hayley Hicks and her three sons, Payton, Preston, and Parker. Hayley has summed up her experience with the LBE group in three simple words, blessed, grateful, and emotional. She is grateful that the LBE students are building a home for her family, and blessed that
they are also building a life for her family, a yard for their dog, and a place for her sons to play basketball.

To learn more about Habitat Learn and Build Experience visit Habitat.org.
 Why We Serve

Watermelon Social

Nothing signals Summer more than the vine-like flowering fruit, Watermelon, which has long be known for being a staple to any "good" Fourth of July Party. Nothing breaks the heat like a Watermelon Social. And nothing can compare to Arkansas Watermelons.

As the canoe full of watermelon rolled in and the water slide inflated, residents in Partnership Village eagerly anticipated an evening full of fun, fellowship, and of course, watermelon. Although we didn't break Arkadelphia, Arkansas' Lloyd Bright's record for the heaviest watermelon (weighing in at 268.8 lbs, recorded at the Annual Hope, Arkansas Big Watermelon Contest on September 3, 2005), the evening was a hit. 

We would like to extend our gratitude to First Baptist Church for hosting the first and hopefully annual Watermelon Social in Partnership Village. It was a great to way to kick off the Apostle's Build recruitment season and welcome students from around the world as they arrive in Saline County to participate in the only Habitat Learn and Build Alumni Experience Build for 2013. We are anxiously awaiting for next year's Watermelon Social.