Summer/Fall 2010

Vol. 7, No. 3

A Whole Host of New Families!

Debbie Cooper first came to know about LowCountry Habitat for Humanity through her work as a volunteer. Working in the ReStore, the Mint Farm job site and the main office, Debbie learned the qualificationsand sacrificesof being a Habitat homeowner. This led her to apply to the program herself, where she was accepted in April. sharing bedrooms with her four children. She was then accepted into the Beaufort Housing Program and lived with low monthly rental payments. Her move from renting to homeownership through Habitat will not only benefit her, it will open another spot for someone in subsidized housing. For Debbie and her kids, the best part of the Habitat experience will be an end to her housing instability, which is what initially led her to apply. We needed a permanent home, somewhere we didnt have to leave that would give us peace and stability. Debbie is also experiencing growth in her job as a nurse at the Beaufort County Detention Center. She received her LPN degree earlier this year and is planning on working towards her RN in 2011. LaSaundra Holmes was accepted into our program at the same time as Debbie, and you will hear more of her story in a newsletter to come. As if welcoming Debbie Cooper and LaSaundra Holmes and their families were not enough, with the help of our Family Selection Committee, we also recently welcomed five more new families into our program, the most at one time for our affiliate. More on their stories will be coming in our next newsletter! Stay posted something exciting is always happening at LowCountry Habitat!

(l-r) Destiny, Debbie, Jerdyn, Pertiali and Saniyah Cooper

My family and I had been bouncing around for a year and a half, she said. Debbies situation included living with relatives and sometimes
Our Mission
In response to Gods love, LowCountry Habitat for Humanity creates long-term partnerships to build and renovate affordable housing with volunteers and responsible families in

Five new families learn they have been accepted into the Habitat program in August.

Debbie has already started working on her sweat equity hours, and work will begin on her houseone of the three Neighborhood Stabilization Program houses renovated by Habitatin September. For Debbie and her kids, the Habitat program provides, in her words, the perfect opportunity to start over.

Our ReStore
LowCountry Habitat ReStore was created to help fund LowCountry Habitat for Humanitys House Construction Program; to provide a source for donated new and used items at reasonable prices; and to reduce the amount of construction material waste in local landfills.

need.

BLUEPRINTS

A Note from the Executive Director...

In August of 1990, conductor Leonard Bernstein performed for the final time with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. East Germany and West Germany announced they would unite later that year. The film Ghost reclaimed the top spot at the box office from Presumed Innocent. And in Beaufort, eight community-minded citizens of northern Beaufort County met with an interest in forming an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. This group felt strongly about the need for safe, decent and affordable housing and immediately formed committees to begin the process of applying to International. By October, that group had grown to 18 dedicated local residents. In April of 1991 they received word that their affiliate application had been approved, and the first three families were accepted into the program. In November, the first house built by LowCountry Habitat for Humanity was dedicated. We are deeply indebted to those founding membersLee Hundley, Sister Sheila Byrne, Emory Campbell, Bill Cochrane, William Galloway, Russ Diller, Brantley Harvey and Bob Cuttino. They blazed a trail for many dedication celebrations to follow. HABITAT WELCOMES NEW EMPLOYEES! We would like to welcome our two newest employees, Jennifer Shaffer and Tamika Shiggs to LowCountry Habitat. Tamika works in our front desk position Monday through Friday
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Many, many more generous volunteers and donors have followed down their path. Since that beginning in 1990, our first homeowner has paid off her mortgage and 30 more families have experienced the joy of their house dedication. Nineteen of these houses were built in the last ten years, and over 100 parents and children have made them their homes. We continue to grow. And as you can see in our cover story, our founders work continues at full speed ahead! As we move into our next decade of service, weve already started out with our busiest year ever. Three renovated houses will be dedicated in the next few months, with three new construction projects starting at our Penn Village location. In the last six months, weve added seven new families into our program. We thank you all for your support and prayers over the last 20 years. Please stay with us as we continue to build on the strong foundation laid out in 1990!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bob Albon Steve Andrews Ted Becker Lawrence Buddy Coleman Russ Dimke Jim Gibson Benjamin Gillens Nancy Gilley Susie Gombocz Pastor Steve Keeler Jim Laughnane Freddie Lawton, Sr. Pastor Leon Meadows Edward Smalls

Brenda Dooley Executive Director

OFFICE 616 Parris Island Gateway Beaufort, SC 29906 522-3500

from 9 am-1 pm, while Jennifer works in the same front desk position from 1-5 pm. Both Tamika and Jennifer come with experience from working in the private sector, and Tamika will focus on working with mortgages and families while Jennifer will work with publications and volunteers. Please stop in our office and welcome them both aboard!

RESTORE 612 Parris Island Gateway 525-0055 The ReStore is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00am until 5:00pm. Donations may be dropped off on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Pick-up of large items can be arranged by calling the ReStore.

Summer/Fall RECEIVING HELPTHEN GIVING BACK

She would like to make additional trips and even help organize a group Spring break is traditionally a of Habitat homeowners and their chiltime for relaxing on a beach or dren to do a similar volunteer expericatching up on lost sleep for most ment in Beaufort. college students. It was not so this past spring for Shay Petersona I wanted to help because someone rising sophomore at UNC- had helped me, she said. Pembroke and the daughter of THOMAS LEADS INTERNATIONAL homeowner Roberta Peterson.
GROUP ON HABITAT BUILD IN POLAND

members. Once we got back into to Krakow, there was some type of local celebration taking place in the square. Later, I found out that it was the anniversary of the uprising. Later in the evening, we had a team meeting and headed off to a lovely dinner. This was our last chance to try the lard served with the bread. I finally tried it and actually enjoyed it. This week zipped by so quickly and its hard to believe that its over. Ive been through some rough patches in my life, which have taught me to appreciate a blessing when it comes my way. I honestly believe that being part of this team was such a blessing. With such a diverse group, I learned much from everyone on the team. Each team member has so much beauty to add to the world, which inspires me to do more once I return home.

Shay joined with six other students and advisers from UNCPembroke to embark on a weeklong journey that took them from Philadelphiawhere they helped renovate a house for a homeless person, to New Yorkwhere they helped serve Meals-onWheels, back to Washington, D.C.where they helped a group that counsels AIDS victims. The experience allowed Shay to give back in the same way that she had been given. Instead of coming home for break, I thought, why not volunteer my hours to help someone experience what Ive experienced.

Barbara Thomas, former director of LowCountry Habitat for Humanity, recently led a group of volunteers through Habitat Internationalon a trip to Gliwice, Poland to build Habitat houses from July 24th through August 2nd. Below is a portion of the team diary, recorded by team member Susan Kim: Today was our final day in Gliwice. Once the bus arrived, we started loading up our luggage and I was hit with the realization that this would be the last day that I would see most of our team

c $100 c $50 Yes! I want to help keep building homes and commu- c $500 nities here in Beaufort! c Enclosed is my check for $ Name: Address: City,State/Zip: :Email: Phone:

c $25

payable to: LowCountry Habitat for Humanity 616 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort, SC 29906 c Please charge my gift of $ Visa / MasterCard Account # Exp. / /

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Summer at the LowCountry Habitat for Humanity ReStore has proven to be just as busy as the other facets of Habitat. In fact, with two part-time truck drivers, we are now fullyequipped to handle picking up donationsas well as continuing to offer our free deconstruction services. As summer turns to fall, perhaps you have a renovation project on your mind. Maybe you want to replace old furniture or appliances? If so, please call us at (843) 525-0055 to see how we can assist you with making a tax-deductible donation to our store and helping further the mission of LowCountry Habitat for Humanity. As always, thank you for your patronage of our ReStore, and visit us soon and oftenour inventory changes daily!

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY! Thank you for your support!

616 Parris Island Gateway Beaufort, SC 29906

Partnership Matters.
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