Help Us Build!

May 6
Good Morning!

Are you ready to swing a hammer, drive a nail and help us build? If you are, we have times available for volunteers to come on out and help us build the first two Annapolis Valley Habitat for Humanity homes. We will start taking volunteers on Saturday May 14 and from this time onward we will be requiring volunteers every Wednesday and Saturday. Our first project will be building decks. There will be many different tasks as time goes on and no one will be expected to do anything which requires skilled tradespeople. You will be supervised, provided with all tools, hardhats and safety boots so all you need to do is wear appropriate clothing for working on a build site, and bring a smile, some water or drink. We even have a BBQ set up for lunch. Work days start at 9 AM and go to around 3 or 4 depending on the job. If you would like to help out please contact our volunteer coordinator, Judy Rafuse at judy.rafuse@hotmail.com.  She is the lady who will slot you in. Please give her a week's notice. We will need 8-10 volunteers per day, at least.

So come along and be part of something big, something worthwhile - an experience you will never forget!

All the best,

Belinda Manning
Project Administrator
HFH NS Annapolis Valley Project

May 1 Update

 Hi folks,

Just a quick note regarding our current situation.

We had a great work day on Sat. We're getting near the end of our electrical work. Jason [our electrician] will finish his paid work this Friday and will be giving us all of his time starting next Mon. Hopefully our inspection will take place late next week  allowing us to really get going with sheet rock work.

I'm meeting our landscaper tomorrow to plan for the outdoor work. We have a bulldozer coming in a week or two that will be pushing dirt around and levelling things out as best we can.

I've made a number of presentations lately and I'm optimistic that we'll get some adopt a days as a result. We've also had a few donations come in.

Ticket sales for auction continue to go well. Please do your best to help us with this.
I met a cabinet maker this morning who wants to help us with trim work, a contractor yesterday who wants to help us out and have lined up a fellow who will do our crack filling for us when we're ready. Much to be thankful for.

Greg

An Update from Belinda

With winter now past and the cold snowy days behind us, we are forging ahead with the first Habitat for Humanity build in the Annapolis Valley. The students from two classes of NSCC, lead by their instructors, Mike Fiefield and Brian Rideout did an amazing job all winter, in all types of weather conditions, leaving us with a roof tight build! We cannot thank them enough for their outstanding work and dedication. Recently, Paddies in Wolfville helped us honour them with a small but well deserved celebration of their remarkable achievement and support. One of the families who have been selected to purchase this build was along to say thanks!

The students are not the only locals who have shared their time and skills with us. Teams from RBC, TD and Mud Creek Rotary have all shared in the excitement of being able to say they have been a part of this project through our Adopt a Day fundraiser. We are soon expecting another team from Valley Credit Union to join the ranks and come along for a day which is an experience unlike any other ! We are still accepting groups for our Adopt a Day events and if you can form a team of up to ten people and wish to help by raising some funds as well as swinging the hammer please let us know. Information about our Adopt a Day project is available by visiting our web site.

We are accepting all volunteers whether you are a part of an Adopt a Day group or not on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Please contact us prior to coming. We provide everything from the hard hats to the boots and tools and all you need to bring is a good attitude and a smile for the day ahead! No skills are required, we will teach you all you need to know and treat you to a great day!
The build on Maple Avenue will have all electrical work completed this week and we will be working on some inside building tasks such as dry walling, painting, plus some landscaping, building decks and pathways so there is plenty still ahead and we wish to invite the all in the community to become a partner in this build.

We are still raising funds for this project and our biggest fundraiser is fast approaching. The“ Building Dreams” auction—aptly named by one of our families—is being held on June 11th, 6 pm at the Apple Dome in Berwick. Tickets are still available by contacting us or dropping by the Town of Wolfville Office. The auction promises to be an exciting evening with many items up for bid, a roast beef supper and entertainment.

Habitat for Humanity provides a “ Hand up not a Hand out” to the working poor in our community, we invite you to join us and be a part of a worthwhile community project.

Web site is http://www.habitatav.com/
Contact information habitat.av@gmail.com

Belinda Manning
Project Administrator
Habitat for Humanity, Nova Scotia, Annapolis Valley Project

"Mommy . . . can’t I have another piece of bread?"

 

    Helping one another is more important than ever ... and that's what we love doing at Habitat for Humanity!  Join us as we work to ensure affordable housing for everyone!  This article today in the Chronicle Herald shows how difficult it is becoming to make ends meet (add to that the soaring cost of oil).  The report says that many Nova Scotians can’t afford to eat nutritiously with food costing more and more each year and income not matching the rise in costs.  In June of last year, the cost of a basic nutritious diet for a Nova Scotia family of four was $770.65 a month.  Having to choose between food and housing is not a choice we want anyone to have to make.  This is a wonderful time to build community and join together as we help one another here in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.  Join with Habitat for Humanity today!  Our first build is nearing completion.  You can help us take our next steps!

Mud Creek Rotary April 16th

Members of The Mud Creek Rotary Club from Wolfville took time to lend a hand to Habitat for Humanity, Nova Scotia, Annapolis Valley Project on Saturday April 16. They were a pleasure to have work with us! Not only did they help with building Habitat's first Valley build, they helped by also raising funds through the Adopt a Day program. Support from groups like Mud Creek Rotary is a great example of how local communities can work together to build a better tomorrow for others and for their community. Habitat thanks all of them for their support and their interest in the project.

TD Bank Adopts FIVE Days!

Teams from TD bank came out for five days, participating in our Adopt a Day, to lend a hand with building the valley's first Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia, Annapolis Valley home. TD employees are able to say they helped build the home for two valley families, brought hope, a team spirit together with a real sense of social responsibility! 
  The Adopt-a-Day program is a great team-building experience for your organization. Also, an excellent way for your group to also help Habitat for Humanity with our goal of building simple, decent affordable housing in partnership with families in need.

Build Update from Greg

Hello everyone,
Much exciting news to share.
We'll start plumbing ,heating, electrical work on Sat and both tradesmen are totally donating their time. Likely a donation equal to 12-$14000.
And ....after donations of $900 from one electrical supply company and $700 from another our total bill for wiring both homes will be $2300.
And....Our students will be putting siding on this next week after another incredibly generous bargain was provided for us from a company in Halifax.
I met Karol the other morning, one of our families and it was wonderful to sense her excitement.
Belinda and I are having great luck getting auction donations. I continue to be amazed by the generosity of our business community.
Ticket sales are also going reasonably well. Please let us know asap if you're planning to attend and if possible pay for your tickets now as our coffers are getting low. Also talk this up with friends please and help us sell tickets.