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.