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. 

Tuesday Mornings

Out of all the days of the week, I'd say that Tuesday could be considered the most crucial day. There's Super Tuesday, Black Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Ruby Tuesday, New Music Tuesday, and then there's the Tuesday Crew.

Bright and early every Tuesday, you can find a group of dedicated volunteers in Partnership Village. They faithfully arrive with hammers in hand ready to work as they fulfill Habitat's mission. We have affectionately coined these core volunteers as the Tuesday Crew. The Tuesday Crew coordinates tasks on the construction site and mentors new volunteers. During Saturday Build days and Build Weeks, they continue mentor new volunteers by giving them basic home construction skills that they can carry with them throughout life. They are more than mere volunteers they are the backbone of Partnership Village, and because of their diligence every Tuesday in Partnership village is considered Transformation Tuesday.

The Tuesday Crew is essential to Habitat's Mission of building simple, decent, affordable housing. If you are interested in joining the Tuesday Crew visit habitatsalinecountyar.org or call 501-315-5434.

No prior skills needed! The Tuesday Crew will mentor you!

It Starts with a Simple PB&J

During our Monday morning staff meeting, we discussed some of Habitat of Saline County's strengths and struggles. While there are "a-bazillion" strengths, we do have some struggles. One of our main struggle is finding new people to donate meals to the construction site. We want to make volunteering on the construction site as easy as possible; therefore, we just ask that volunteers simply show up! In return we provide volunteers with training, Habitat gear, and meals.

One of our staff members proclaimed that we need to show people that it all starts with a simple PB&J. We sat dumbfounded as she launched into her favorite story about her grandmother. Her mother came from a large Italian family of 13 that lived in a three bedroom house. They didn't have much money-by societies standards they were poor, and in fact, if Habitat for Humanity had been active, the family would have been prime candidates.
One hot summer afternoon, a man knocked on the door of the small rundown house and asked for a sandwich. The children were ready say they didn't have any extra food, when their mother intervened and went into the kitchen to make a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. She didn't stop at one, she sent the man home with an extra. When one of the older children asked her why she made another sandwich because he only asked for one, she simply replied that the man probably wasn't going home to an empty house and he probably had a family that was just as hungry as he was. She concluded by explaining that God had given them the means to spare an extra sandwich, and sometimes we are called to give more than what is asked of us.

While our volunteers might have the means to pack a lunch, we don't want breakfast and lunch to stand in the way of someone volunteering on the construction site. We feel if they are donating their time to build a house for their neighbor, the least we can do is feed our volunteers because after all they, too, are our neighbors.They might not be next door, but they are still our neighbors.

Please visit www.habitatsalinecountyar.org or call 501-315-5434 if you would like to donate meals to the construction site.

Merci, Gracias, Arigato, Grazie, Toda, Danke, Thank you

Sometimes a simple thank you just isn't enough to express our sincere gratitude. There is an array of emotions that run through each of us as we embark on a Build Week. We feel everything from anxiety to utter excitement, while our future homeowners feel profoundly grateful.
Arkansas REALTORS Build week will go down in the Habitat for Humanity of Saline County's record book. It was a seamless week full of love and hard work. We had approximately 65 realtors throughout the state of Arkansas volunteer 960 hours to build future homeowner Susan Myers' house.
Associate Director, Amy Bennett said that this build was one of the most successful builds she has seen. Myer's house progressed much further than expected, and that wouldn't have been possible without the enthusiasm and hard work exhibited from AR REALTORS.

From the bottom of our hearts,

Merci, Gracias, Arigato, Grazie, Toda, Danke, Thank you

Why Sale, When You Can build?

At Habitat we often ask the question, "Why rent, when you can own?" Our philosophical question has spawned the Arkansas REALTORS Association to ask their own philosophical question, "Why sale, when you can build?"

In late February the Arkansas REALTORS Association donated $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Saline County through their Hearts and Homes Foundation with the intention of participating in a full build. Tomorrow they will break ground on Susan Myers' house. The Kick Off Ceremony will take place in Partnership Village at 3:00 in the afternoon. Arkansas REALTORS and Susan would like to extend an invitation to you to join in the festivities.

Susan Myers is spunky vibrant women, and has been a joy to welcome into the Habitat family. She is a retired Weapons Technician for the Navy, and has had the opportunity to live around the world. Fortunately for us, she has recently moved to be closer to her family, and called Saline County home for the past four years. Susan is excited about owning her own home through the Habitat Homeownership Program and sees this opportunity as a blessing to serve others.

Habitat's Life Lessons From High School Musical

In the words of High School Musical 2, 

"What time is it? 

Summertime. 

It's our vacation. 

Schools out, Scream and Shout!"  

The High School Musical franchise has taught us so many valuable life lessons through their lyrics, such as: we're all in this together, it's now or never, there's no second chance, and this moment is all we really have. High School Musical, you can "bet on it," your lyrics struck a cord with us. As you scream and shout about your vacation, decide that this summer will be, "the start of something new."  Make the most of your summer with Habitat. Even if you are jet-setting across the world, donate to Habitat for Humanity of Saline County online and earn frequent flyer miles!

Sharpay hit the nail on the head with her simple request of something fabulous and inspiring, and we can't find anything more inspiring than providing everyone with a decent affordable place to live. 

Our "head is in the game," as we kick summer off with the Arkansas REALTORS Build, June 4-8. Realtors throughout the state of Arkansas are flocking to Saline County for their "start of something new," their first annual Habitat for Humanity build through their Hearts and Homes foundation. 

"The Boys are back and here to save the world." Celebrate Superhero dad and participate in the "Build with Dad Day" in Partnership Village on June 8 (16 and up). If dad doesn't want the High School Musical trilogy DVD set, we have him covered for Father's Day gifts with his very own personalized hammer or donate a personalized hammer to the construction site. Help dad clean out the garage and donate all of his gently used tools to Habitat's Father's Day Tool Drive. 

Singing isn't Habitat's only artistic talent. Throughout the summer Habitat will be preparing for our Third Annual "Home is Where the HeArt is" art auction, and will be hosting painting with a purpose events. Painting with a Purpose for ages 5-12 will be June 12 at First United Methodist Church in Benton, AR. Painting with a Purpose for ages 18 and up will be July 25 at Dianne Robert's Studio in Benton, AR

Make the most of your summer with Habitat because after all, "we're all in this together." 

Women Build Playlist Has Been Built!

We have made the playlist of all playlist to celebrate the women across Saline County who are trading in their red high heels for work boots this Saturday, as they take part in Habitat for Humanity's National Women Build Work Day. 

10. Brick House by The Commodores - We might not be letting it all hang out, but we're mighty mighty on the construction site! 

9. Takin' Care of Business by Bachman Turner Overdrive - Habitat is all about taking care of business EVERY DAY. Every day, we are ending poverty housing in Saline County and world wide because everyone deserves a decent place to live! 

8. Happy Little Working Song by Amy Adams- Enchanted was one of our favorite movies, and we learned a valuable construction site rule from our favorite Princess: You can do a lot when you got such a happy little working tune to hum.

7.Independent Women by Destiny's Child - The women empowering anthem struck a cord with all the independent Women Build women. Who else could say: The house you live in, we built it!

6. This Girl is on Fire by Alicia Keys - We are on fire, and we've got our feet on the ground, but instead of burning it down, we're building it up.

5. Just a Girl by No Doubt - 'Cause we're just a girl, all pretty and petite, and it's no big surprise we're rocking work boots on our feet.

4. Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper- The phone might ring in the middle of the night, but don't you worry by the morning light, we'll be having fun on the construction site! We can't think of a better way to empower women and have fun!
3. Man! I Feel like a Woman by Shania Twain - The best thing about being a woman is the prerogative to have a little fun and ... Oh Oh Oh we might not go totally crazy on the construction site, but we know how to have fun!

2. Good Time by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen - Woah-oh-oh-oh Woah-oh-oh-oh We don't even have to try it's always a good time!

1. This One's for the Girls  by Martina McBride - We're all the same inside, from one to 99. This one's for the girls, who've ever had a broken heart, who've wished upon a shooting star, you're beautiful the way you are, this one's for the girls, who love without holdin' back, who dream with everything they have, all around the world, this one's for the girls. Nothing is more beautiful than watching women empower other women. Join us for Women Build 2013!

Our Story: The American Dream

After 35 years of marriage Earl and Bernadine Walker are finally getting the opportunity to live the American Dream. Bernadine says that she would have never imagined in her wildest dreams that she would ever have the means or the ability to own her own home. Earl and Bernadine hail from Chicago, where the cost of living is astronomical, and owning a home was only possible for the upper-middle class. They have lived in Saline County for the past seven years, and learned about the Habitat Homeownership program through an add in the Saline County Courier.

Their journey through the Habitat program has been long and tiring; yet, Bernadine and Earl have captured the spirit of what Habitat for Humanity is all about. The Walkers are not only living their American Dream, they are helping their neighbors live the American Dream as well. Two of their current neighbors will continue to be their neighbors in Partnership Village, the Habitat neighborhood, because of Bernadine's zeal to spread the word about the Habitat program. Since entering the program, Bernadine has held informational application meetings at her current apartment complex. It has been an inspiration to see Bernadine so impassioned about the Habitat Homeownership program.

Their American Dream will be complete in early to mid summer, and they will finally end their journey at home on Glory Cove.

Women Build - Heels, Hammers, and Hair Curlers

I think it's safe to say that if Destiny's Child were still rocking the sound waves, they would send a shout out to Habitat's National Women Build program. How could they not with their Independent Women lyrics?- the house I live in, I built it  (Note: we used our creative license to make a lyric change, but we are pretty sure that if they couldn't buy it, they would have build it!) Despite the lyric change, their anthem has inspired us to grab a hammer, ditch our heels and hair curlers for work books and hardhats, and empower lady friends to take action against poverty housing.

Women Build, an initiative of Habitat for Humanity International, empowers women to be part of the solution to end the poverty housing crisis. Women Build nurtures, recruits, and trains women to build simple, decent, and affordable houses. Lowe's, whose goal is to never stops improving, made one of their greatest improvements by partnering with Women Build. (Well we think it was their greatest improvement.)  Lowe's how-to clinics have "put hammers in the hands of thousands of women" by teaching women basic construction skills. Join us and empower women to make a difference in Saline County.

• Join us for Construction 101 on Thursday, May 9, 6 pm at Lowe's Home Improvement, 2330 N Reynolds Rd, Bryant, AR.
• Join us at the Construction Site - Partnership Village on Saturday, May 11, 8 am for Women Build Workday.

In a sea of daisies be a hammer. Behind every great house stands a women and a hammer.

Don't Be Generic This Mother's Day

Dad is tired of getting ties, and Mom is tired of getting ... well ... let's face it, sometimes we drop the ball when it comes to mom. After all she does throughout the year, she deserves something special! Don't be generic this Mother's Day, skip the flowers, and celebrate the special women in your life this Mother's Day by giving a gift that builds hope for others and leaves a legacy in Saline County. Habitat for Humanity of Saline County would like to introduce Habitat for HumaniKeys. Personalize your HumaniKey, and give the special women in your life a gift that will touch not only their hearts, but the hearts of people across Saline County who are in need of a hand up.

All proceeds go will go to Youth United, a chapter of Habitat for Humanity that mobilizes youth. Our chapter educates youth and adults about housing issues, advocates for affordable housing, and fully funds and builds a Habitat for Humanity house every other year. To date Saline County's Youth United has built four homes. Help them as they help others by building their fifth home in 2014.


For more information please contact the Habitat office 501-315-5434 or visit our website www.habitatsalinecountyar.org. 
We will mail to any HumaniKey necklaces to any location. 
Gift options are listed below.