||| Back at Sidney this Saturday - Landscaping |||
||| Build Safety Orientations |||
||| Neat Note of the Week |||
||| Sidney Dedication Feb. 23 |||

||| Back at Sidney this Saturday |||
Alright so we’re back at it for Sidney this Saturday, January 26th - all of you wonderful folks who have been itching to do some landscaping, well this is the week for you! Derek, our Construction Manager, has informed us that 12 trees need to be planted and some topsoil needs spreading. The work will be starting at 9:00 a.m. Please RSVP back to this email by Thurs. January 24th at 12 p.m. Hoorah!

||| Build Safety Orientations |||
Habitat for Humanity Victoria is pleased to confirm that Camosun College will be partnering with us to provide Build Safety Orientations for our exciting new build project that we are planning - the Bethune Flex-Plex! This project is a more complex build than our previous homes - 5 houses attached with 3 smaller units below. Build Safety Orientations are required for folks participating on this build. Mark Swanwick, Camosun College’s Carpentry Instructor is volunteering his time to bring you all sorts of safety goodness.

We currently have three dates you can choose from. Please note that we do have a maximum capacity of 30 folks for each Build Safety Orientation, please register with me (vhfhresource@shaw.ca or 480-7688 ext. 101) by noon on the Monday before each date - confirmation of your registration will be sent via email.

Dates: (please note you only need to attend one Safety Orientation)
1) Wednesday, January 30th 6:30-8:30 p.m.
-OR-
2) Wednesday, February 27th 6:30-8:30 p.m.
-OR-
3) Wednesday, March 26th 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Location: All Build Safety Orientations will be in the Lecture Theatre (room 124-A) in The Campus Centre Building at the Camosun College Interurban Campus at 4461 Interurban Road.

||| Neat Note of the Week |||
I thought I’d throw in a quick neat note of the week - there are so many amazing stories that float around our organization about volunteers, families, other Habitat for Humanity locations around the globe, I thought I’d bring one to you this week. Habitat for Humanity volunteers get involved for a variety of reasons all of which are pretty amazing. One of our new volunteers signed up to help with our Habitat for Humanity Bethune Build Project - and well, the reason she signed up - because she lives on Bethune Avenue. It’s great to know that neighbours are helping future neighbours in helping to achieve safe, decent and affordable housing. Welcome aboard to our new neighbor!

||| Sidney Dedication |||
Don’t forget that our Sidney Duplex dedication ceremony is just around the corner: Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 2008. Mark your calendars as information will be a-coming!

Thanks for reading and cheerio until next week!
_________________________________
Kate Hollefreund
Office Manager/Resource Coordinator

Habitat for Humanity Victoria
2100 Douglas Street Victoria BC V8T 4L3

Office Phone: 250-480-7688 ext 101 | ReStore Phone: 250-386-7867
www.habitatvictoria.com

Building Homes. Building Hope.

Hello Volunteers!

Here is your weekly Habitat for Humanity Victoria Update:

||| Sidney Build |||
||| What’s Next for Habitat Victoria |||
||| ReStore Renos |||
||| Thank You is in Order |||

||| Sidney Build |||
We are looking for a few heavy lifters for this Saturday, Jan 12/08 to finish up the second half of the driveway out in Sidney. We’re almost finishing the final bits and bobs - so please email back if you can provide a helping hand (and a set of safe lifting arms) this weekend.

||| What’s Next for Habitat Victoria |||
Well, with the final touches being put on Sidney, we’ll be doing some planning for our next exciting project - the Bethune Flex-Plex - a 5-unit house in Saanich. We’ll be keeping you up-to-date via email when we’re heading into this next project - so keep your eyes on the email for updates!

||| ReStore Renos |||
The ReStore is our homebase for Habitat for Humanity Victoria - and we’ve been closed down all week to do some re-organizing and some renovations - tres exciting! We’ll be back in action on Saturday and we think you’re going to like what you see! The ReStore is located at 2100 Douglas Street (the corner of Douglas and Pembroke) and is Habitat’s biggest fundraiser. We sell new and used building and renovation supplies - and these funds go to help build homes for local families.

||| Thank You |||
Well, it’s 2008 - and you may notice that I’m not Miles sending out the email. Our lovely Miles has been heading up our great email updates for quite some time now and we would all like to say a very large THANK YOU to our good friend Miles for volunteering his time to keep all of you wonderful volunteers informed! Best wishes and thanks to Miles.

And well… that leaves me - your Office Manager and Resource Coordinator sitting in the top corner of the ReStore building…writing this update to you and wishing you the best. I look forward to working with you all soon — and don’t forget to check your Habitat updates, because I’ll keep them coming each week.

Over and out for Jan 9 — Thanks to all!!!!!

Kate Hollefreund
Office Manager/Resource Coordinator

Habitat for Humanity Victoria
2100 Douglas Street Victoria BC V8T 4L3

Office Phone: 250-480-7688 ext 101 | ReStore Phone: 250-386-7867
www.habitatvictoria.com

Building Homes. Building Hope.

Hello Volunteers,

Another short update to confirm that we will be out at the Sidney site on Saturday, and can use all the painters we can get. So, please let me know if you are able to help out, and be sure to bring clothes you don’t mind getting paint on!

Thank you to all those who are braving this less than stellar weather to help out… we are nearing completion of the duplex, and this will likely be the last weekend we are out before the new year (hoping to have the carpets installed in the next week or so). I will send an update next week to confirm.

Also, if anyone happens to be available tomorrow (Friday) morning, we could use some help clearing/moving some debris that needs to be hauled off the site in a dumpster. If you are available between 8:30 - 10:00 am please contact Derek at 889-7815.

Thank you!

Miles.

ps - check out the new page on the blog about the new Habitat family in Argentina, and see pictures of the build. Look at the menu on the right side under the “General” Section.

Hello Volunteers,

A few quick updates for this week:

SINDEY BUILD
We are marching towards completion of the Sidney duplex, but we still need your help to finish up. Work continues inside and out… We will be there on Saturday, and throughout the week. If you are able to help out this Saturday, please let me know by return email. If you would like help out during the week, please contact Derek at 889-7815 to confirm when you are coming out.

PENINSULA SINGERS - DECEMBER 7,8 & 9
The Peninsula Singers are doing a benefit concert with proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity Victoria (specifically our Sidney Build) so we’d like to spread the word! This is the second year they have supported HFHV.

· The Peninsula Singers present Spirit of the Season - Friday, Dec 7 @ 7:30pm, Sat, Dec 8 @ 7:30pm & Sun, Dec 9 @ 2pm. Live at the Mary Winspear Community & Cultural Centre in Sidney, BC - 2243 Beacon Ave, Sidney (656-0275). Tickets are $18 for adults, $10 for children and are available through the Mary Winspear Centre. Proceeds to: Habitat for Humanity Victoria, Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation, Times Colonist Christmas Fund, and non-perishable donations to the Sidney Food Bank are gratefully accepted. More info at: http://www.peninsulasingers.ca

GINGERBREAD HOUSE EVENT
Finally, don’t forget to stop by and vote for your favourite gingerbread house(s)! The Gingerbread event is taking place now through Saturday on the main level of the Bay Centre, with all the proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity Victoria. It’s a great chance to support our cause, and also to find out more about HFHV!

Miles.

Hello Volunteers,

Just a quick reminder that work continues on the Sidney build site on Saturday and into next week. It looks like the weather might cooperate for a change, and allow us to do some outside tasks (clear but cool). So, if you are able to help out, please let me know. Be sure to bring some warm clothing.

Also, a big thank you to everyone who took on a shift at the Gingerbread House Event, and to everyone that dropped by to have a look. By all accounts it was huge success!

Have a great weekend,

Miles.

Hello Volunteers,

A few quick updates for this week:

SIDNEY BUILD
We are marching towards completion of the Sidney duplex, but we still need your help to finish up. Work continues inside and out… We will be there on Saturday, and throughout the week. If you are able to help out this Saturday, please let me know by return email. If you would like help out during the week, please contact Derek at 889-7815 to confirm when you are coming out.

PENINSULA SINGERS - DECEMBER 7,8 & 9
The Peninsula Singers are doing a benefit concert with proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity Victoria (specifically our Sidney Build) so we’d like to spread the word! This is the second year they have supported HFHV.

· The Peninsula Singers present Spirit of the Season - Friday, Dec 7 @ 7:30pm, Sat, Dec 8 @ 7:30pm & Sun, Dec 9 @ 2pm. Live at the Mary Winspear Community & Cultural Centre in Sidney, BC - 2243 Beacon Ave, Sidney (656-0275). Tickets are $18 for adults, $10 for children and are available through the Mary Winspear Centre. Proceeds to: Habitat for Humanity Victoria, Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation, Times Colonist Christmas Fund, and non-perishable donations to the Sidney Food Bank are gratefully accepted. More info at: http://www.peninsulasingers.ca

GINGERBREAD HOUSE EVENT
Finally, don’t forget to stop by and vote for your favourite gingerbread house(s)! The Gingerbread event is taking place now through Saturday on the main level of the Bay Centre, with all the proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity Victoria. It’s a great chance to support our cause, and also to find out more about HFHV!

Miles.

Hello Volunteers,

Just a couple of updates for this week:

GINGERBREAD HOUSE EVENT
Thank you to all the volunteers who are already putting in shifts at Gingerbread Event next week at the Bay Centre. We still have a couple of needs:

Tuesday, November 27 - 5pm - 7pm - we could use a couple more volunteers to help with the set up (some lifting required)
Wednesday, November 28 - We need volunteers to help with 3-hour shifts (between 10am - 5pm) to meet and greet people and help with the gingerbread raffle
Saturday, December 1 - 5pm - 7pm - We need several volunteers to help with take down (some lifting required)

If you can help out at one or more of these time, please contact Kate at vhfhresource@shaw.ca.

SIDNEY BUILD
We made great progress last week, in spite of the weather, and the push is on to finish the duplex as soon as possible.

We will be out on Saturday, and during most of next week. Please email me if you are able to come out. We start at 9am. There are lots of odds and ends to do, both inside and outside if the weather holds up.

Thank you,

Miles.

Hello Volunteers,

SIDNEY BUILD
There is still quite a bit to do to at the Sidney duplex… exterior painting (weather permitting), finishing trim, and deck work, plus a lot of odds and ends. Please let me know if you are able to help out this Saturday, by return email. Also, just a reminder that we are out on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. If you would like to help during the week, please contact Derek (our project manager) directly at 889-7815.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE EVENT
Thank you to those who have already offered to volunteer for shifts for the Gingerbread event.

We are also looking for volunteers to help package gingerbread cookies for the Gingerbread Build event Nov 28 - Dec 1. We’ll be putting each gingerbread person in a cellophane bag and sealing it with a self-stick label.

Dates: Wed Nov 21 and Thurs Nov 22 (you only need to volunteer for one of the nights)

Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Location: Simply Elegant Cuisine kitchen facility at 3130 Napier Lane (behind the SPCA, just off Burnside)

RSVP: By Monday Nov 19th, please contact Kimberly Anderson at kimberly@twosl.com or phone 704-0128, if interested in volunteering. Please include your name, phone number and date you’d like to volunteer for.

We still do need some help with shifts between Nov 28-Dec 1 (at the Bay Centre). If you would like to volunteer for a shift (3 hours), please contact Kate Hollefreund by email at vhfhresource@shaw.ca.

Thank you!

Miles.

Greetings Volunteers,

Sidney Build

Thankfully, the weather held up quite well last week. Once again, I would like to thank the folks from UVic (Faculty of Business) who helped out over the past 5 Saturdays, and by my rough estimate must have provided at least 400 volunteer hours during that time. Your help was greatly appreciated!

This Saturday, we are back to normal, and all volunteers are welcome. Again, the weather forecast isn’t very promising, but there is enough inside work to do that we should be able to accommodate everyone who would like to help. We are also looking for volunteers next Tuesday and Thursday. Please let me know by return email if you are coming.

The Great Gingerbread House Build

Habitat for Humanity Victoria in partnership with the Canadian Culinary Federation of Chefs and Cooks is proud to present The Great Gingerbread House Build 2007! Starting at noon on Wednesday, November 28th until the Grande Finale at 2:00p.m. on Saturday, December 1st, 2007 at Centre Court at the Bay Centre in downtown Victoria. Approximately 40 Gingerbread houses will be on display for silent auction as a fundraiser in support of affordable home ownership for families in need. Half of the houses are built by professional chefs and cooks, the rest are built by Habitat for Humanity sponsors & supporters and some of the Habitat families themselves!

We are looking for tons of our Habitat volunteers to help out at the event here’s what we currently need:

· Tues. Nov. 27 6p.m.-9p.m. Setup - Strong lifters and unloaders for tables, G.bread houses, layout

· Wed. Nov. 28 - Display helpers (talking with public at the event) 9am-12pm, 12pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm

· Thurs. Nov. 29 - Display helpers 9am-12pm, 12pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm, 6pm-9pm

· Fri. Nov. 30 - Display helpers 9am-12pm, 12pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm, 6pm-9pm

· Sat. Dec. 1 - Display helpers 9am-12pm, 12pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm

· Sat. Dec. 1 - Takedown crew - Strong lifters and loaders - 6pm-9pm

Please RSVP to Kate in the office at vhfhresource@shaw.ca by 12pm on Friday, Oct 16th.

We also encourage you to spread the word - this is a great family event that supports a great cause! Building Gingerbread Homes. Building Hope.

Global Village Team Update

Our former Resource Coordinator, Brandy Patterson, is now on her way to Ghana - for the Global Village Team Build (part of Habitat for Humanity Canada). If you would like to receive posts from her trip please sign up here: http://groups.google.com/group/building-for-ghana - We can’t wait to hear her stories and see photos when she gets back - Stay Tuned! Also, if this sort of thing inspires you - then you can find out more about the Habitat for Humanity Global Village program here: http://www.habitat.ca/homec206.php

Hello Volunteers,

Usually when I send an email out this late, it’s because we are in desperate need of volunteers… this time it’s actually the opposite!

We have a couple of large groups that have previously committed to come out on Saturday, and unfortunately there won’t be enough tasks (or space!) to accommodate most of our regular volunteers.

Our construction folks have assured me that there will be lots to do in the coming weeks, so please consider this Saturday a ‘day off’ for good volunteering!

We do still have a need for volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the ReStore can use all the volunteer help it can get throughout the week (including Saturdays). If you would like to find out more about volunteering during the week, or at the ReStore, just let me know.

Thank you,

Miles.