LAHFH staff member Katie McCormick says “Farewell”

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Program & Marketing Manager Katie McCormick has announced her resignation and accepted the Communications Coordinator position with YWCA Cass Clay. Below, Katie reflects on her time with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity.

As I look toward the next step in my career, I will always look back with a fondness for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and the mission of this organization.

Katie McCormick accepts a check from Bremer Bank with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Executive Director Rob Rich in 2012.

I began my career at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity in the spring of 2007. Since that time, the affiliate has accomplished a number of great things. We completely overhauled the Family Services program- implementing a stringent Family Selection process, strengthening the Family Mentor program, and developing an in depth Homeowner Education Curriculum. In 2011, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Family Service Program received the Best Practices in Family Service Award from Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota. This high honor recognizes the local affiliate for having the strongest and most comprehensive Family Services Program in the entire state. The volunteers and donors who make this program possible are truly some of the most selfless individuals that I have had the pleasure to work with.

Also during my time with this affiliate, we dove into social media. We joined Facebook, started tweeting, found YouTube, jumped into blogging, and most recently joined Pinterest. I had the privilege of working with some amazingly dedicated volunteers to share the mission of Habitat for Humanity with our community.

Katie McCormick with members of the 2013 “Home is where the Art is” planning committee.

We celebrated our 20^th anniversary as an affiliate in 2011 and spent the year reflecting on all the success we have had in our community. From the ReStore expanding to a significantly larger retail space at 210 11^thStreet North in Moorhead in January of 2008 to 47 families who have a place to call home- Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity has so much to celebrate.

This affiliate has done so many great things over the past 6 years and I am certain that it will continue to do great things in the future. I would like to thank all of you who have contributed your time, talent and efforts to help make the work of Lake Agassiz possible. It has been my honor to work at this organization and the mission of building homes, communities, and hope will always be near to my heart.

Katie McCormick

Join us in thanking Katie for her years of service at an Open House in her honor:

Where: 210 11^th Street North, Moorhead

When: 11:30am until 2pm on Friday, March 8, 2013

Giving Thanks

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

As you know, it’s that time of year again for us to count our blessings and give thanks. Admittedly, this Thanksgiving message may seem a bit cliché, but at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, we have so many things to be thankful for that we didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to acknowledge the following people:

Thank you for partnering with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity!

Partner families: Thanks to those who have partnered with us to build simple, decent and affordable housing to provide shelter and safety for their families.

Volunteers: Of course, the heart and soul of Habitat lies in its volunteers. Whether they help out at the ReStore or on the build site, we’re extremely grateful for each and every person who has volunteered over the years.

Committee members: Committee members are volunteers, too, but they work behind the scenes to help with marketing, family selection, resource development, church relations and more.

Staff: To make everything happen, we have a few key people on staff. They’re all very talented, dedicated individuals who put in countless hours to keep our organization running to provide housing for those in need.

Thank you for coming together to build homes, communites and hope.

Donors: Building homes isn’t cheap. It takes a lot of funding to keep us going. Fortunately, there are many wonderful individuals and businesses that support our efforts by donating money and building supplies to us.

The community: Finally, our organization needs support from the entire community to carry out our mission. We’re very thankful that the community has whole-heartedly embraced what we do.

Simply put, to everyone who has helped support Lake Agassiz Habitat Humanity, thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for Giving to the Max!

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

Thank you for opening doors for families like this on Give to the Max Day and every other day of the year!

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity is excited to announce together we surpassed our Give to the Max Day goal! We are thankful to all of those who answered the call to amplify your giving and help families in our community discover the impact a simple, affordable – and permanent home can have in their lives and in the lives of the generations to come.

You have made this Give to the Max Day the best one yet for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity; we can’t thank you enough! In just 24 hours, 33 donors took advantage of the matching gift provided by Wells Fargo to raise a total $6,225!

The thoughtful donations that were given can make such a huge impact in someone’s life. It is great to hear why people choose Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity for their Give to the Max day organization. Here is what a few people shared as their reason for giving:

“[Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity] brings hope to many deserving families, giving them a chance to realize the dream of home ownership. Through the generosity of donors and volunteers in our community, we have been able to partner with dozens of families over the last 20+ years.” -Joshua Hoper

“An organization close to my heart. Thank you Habitat for all the wonderful relationships and great memories.” -Searle Swedlund

The donations raised in this one day will open many doors for families in our community. Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity sincerely thanks everyone for their support on Give to the Max Day and throughout the year.

Amplify Your Giving with Give to the Max Day on Nov. 15th!

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity makes a difference every day by building homes and hope in Cass and Clay Counties. Now more than ever, your generous support means the world to families in our community who want to give their children a safe place to call home.

Join us on Thursday, November 15 for Give to the Max Day, and help us maximize our impact in Cass and Clay Counties. Together we can help families like the Nelson family.

April Nelson and her children on the front steps of their new North Fargo home.

Five years ago, April Nelson and her two children escaped violent relationship and were living in a shelter. April was unsure if she’d ever be able to give her children a safe place to call home.

Your generosity makes it possible for the Nelson family, and others like it to experience the difference that a simple, affordable – and permanent home can have in their lives and in the lives of the generations to come.

“Habitat is amazing! One of my biggest dreams has been to own my own house,” April says. “This house gave my family a stability we’ve never been able to have before. My kids have a yard to play in and rooms of their own. And I know we are all safe at night.”

Visit GiveMN.org on Thursday, November 15, 2012 and type in Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity to make your donation or bookmark our giving page. During Give to the Max Day, you can amplify your giving in a number of ways:

Matching Gifts! The first $3,000 in gifts to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity on Give to the Max Day will be matched $1 for $1 by Wells Fargo- doubling your impact in this community.
Win a Golden Ticket! $1,000will be given to a random donor’s charity every hour. A supersized donation of $10,000 will be donated to a random donor’s non-profit at the end of the day. You could be that donor!
Put us on the Leader Board! The 10 nonprofit organizations that receive the most dollars in 24 hours during Give to the Max Day will receive $12,500, $5,000, $2,500 or $1,000 (4^th through 10^th place) prize grants.

Together, we hope to raise more than $6,000 on Give to the Max Day and we’re counting on your help! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter so you can share in the excitement of the giving day and remember to give November 15.

Habitat ReStore Celebrates 6th Anniversary—And You’re Invited!

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

Over the past 6 years, everyone at Habitat ReStore has been working hard to make a difference for people in our local communities and fulfill our mission:

To generate funds to support Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity in building simple, decent, and affordable homes in partnership with families in Cass and Clay counties
To keep usable building materials, home improvement products and appliances out of local landfills
To sell new and gently used home improvement materials and applicances at affordable prices

And over the past 6 years, with the help of generous donors, shoppers, and volunteers, we’ve done just that. This past year, we’ve raised $ 335,327 for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and diverted 1,057,687 pounds of usable materials from local landfills! These great accomplishments have positively impacted our community, our partner families, and our environment, and they wouldn’t have been possible without you. That’s why we’re inviting you to celebrate with us!

Handy the Habitat Bear appreciates your support of Habitat ReStore!

Stop by the ReStore from Monday, July 16th through Sunday, July 22nd for our 6^th Anniversary Sale. You’ll find special deals on new and gently used home improvement materials, appliances, and furniture during our biggest sale of the year! Then join us for food and fun at our ReStore Appreciation Picnic on July 20 from 11a-1p. It’s just a small way for us to show you our appreciation—and to kick off many more years of success!

Habitat ReStore is located at 210 11th St. N. in Moorhead and is open Monday – Saturday 10-6, Sundays 12-4. All proceeds from Habitat ReStore support Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s programs and local building projects. Material donations are welcome! For more information, call 218-284-5253 x1 or visit our website.

Learn New Skills While Volunteering with Habitat!

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

Are you interested in getting involved with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, but haven’t found the right volunteer opportunity? Have you thought about working on the Habitat build site, but have never worked with tools before? We’ve got a great project for you!

Next Tuesday, July 17th, from 9am -12pm, Habitat ReStore is hosting a Picnic Build Day as a part of Habitat ReStore’s 6th Anniversary Celebration.

Our Build Site crew leaders will work alongside of volunteers to build simple, quality picnic tables to be used for the ReStore Appreciation Picnic at the end of the week. After the event, the tables will be sold at ReStore to benefit Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity. The activity will take place outside of Habitat ReStore, 210 11^th St. N. in Moorhead.

Volunteers will get to learn the basics of construction with our experienced crew leaders as well as help us to get ready for our Anniversary Celebration. It’s a great activity to take part in no matter your level of experience or involvement with Habitat!

If you’re interested in volunteering for this learning activity, please sign up at VolunteerUp or contact Shelby Cochran, Shelby@lakeagassizhabitat.org, 218-284-5253 x2.

Interested in build site opportunities? There are still openings for volunteer build days this summer. Visit our VolunteerUp Project Calendar to sign up!

Letter from the New Executive Director

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

As I step into my new role as executive director at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, I’d like to thank everyone for their support. Though I’ve been with the organization for several years, I’m excited for this new position to take on the new challenges and opportunities that lie before me.

For those of you who don’t know me yet, I joined Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity as a construction intern in April 2008. After just a few months, I was hired as the construction manager. Since then, I’ve been overseeing the entire building process—from setting the schedule to working on the houses myself.

Rob Rich on a Habitat build site.

I’m very passionate about the mission of Habitat, and I’m looking forward to playing an even larger part in the organization. Taking from my construction experience, I’ll be working closely with the board of directors to achieve common goals- including growing the Habitat ReStore and building more homes- which means serving more families- in Cass and Clay counties.

With the new build season approaching quickly, we’ll be needing your help again soon. I hope you’ll continue to partner with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and help us embrace our mission of building simple, decent and affordable housing in our community.

Sincerely,

Rob Rich

Looking Back on the 2011 Builds

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

As 2011, we’re very thankful for the past 20 years of building simple, decent and affordable homes in our community. And we’re extremely grateful for the hundreds of volunteers and donors who have made it all possible. So as we look ahead to building homes in 2012, let’s also take a look back at our progress from 2011.

The Fronning family at the wall raising celebration of their home

On June 1^st, crews began working on a single-family home at 605 10^th Avenue SE in Barnesville. Not only was this the first build of the 2011 season, but it was also the first home we’ve ever built in Barnesville. We received great support for this build, and the Barnesville community was wonderful to work with. The Fronning family moved into the home in August.

The Hamilton family at the dedication celebration of their new home.

Soon after starting the Barnesville home, Habitat started work on the Women Build on June 15^th. This house is located at 326 6^th Avenue W in West Fargo. Like always, our women volunteers came out in strong numbers, bringing with them a desire to help a family in need and to learn more about home construction. The Hamilton family moved into the home in October and was able to welcome trick-or-treaters in their new home.

Trivent Finanical for Lutherans Representatives and the Bichler Family raise the wall on the 3rd home of the season.

Next, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans was gracious enough to sponsor another build in 2011 as part of the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity program. The organization helped provide funding and engaged Lutheran volunteers for the Habitat home at 1205 2^nd Avenue S in Fargo. Construction on this home began on July 27^th and the Bichler family was able to celebrate their first Christmas in their new home.

Volunteers work on the 4th and 5th homes of the 2011 Build Season.

The final build of the year was a duplex located at 407 Morrison Street in West Fargo. The duplex design allowed us to serve the needs of two families, while keeping costs to a minimum. This project began on September 6^th, and we’re currently in the process of finishing up the home. The Brackins and Melvin families look forward to a home dedication early 2012.

Thanks again to all who helped make 2011 a success. We look forward to working with you again in the New Year!

Get Your New Year’s Resolutions Ready

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

New Years is approaching…Are you ready? And no, we’re not talking about your New Years Eve party plans. We’re wondering if you’ve started thinking about your resolution.

Sure, you could try losing weight, but that’s so cliché. (Not to mention, the gyms get awfully crowded this time of year.) So for 2012, maybe you can consider doing some volunteer work. There are a lot of good organizations in our community that would love to have your help, and Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity is one of them. Here are some of the ways you can volunteer for us:

ReStore volunteers move new product to the sales floor.

Work at the ReStore: The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Moorhead is open year-round, and we rely on volunteers to keep regular store hours. Whether you can run the register, stock shelves, or help pick up donations, we have plenty of ways to put you to work. We have openings for individuals or groups to volunteer throughout the week. Remember that your efforts at the ReStore help raise money to support the construction of homes for families in our community.

Join a committee: There are several committees that work behind the scenes at Habitat. You can help recruit volunteers, promote our organization, or take part in selecting our partner families. For a complete list of our committees, visit our website.

Family Mentor Margaret Haglund visits with her Partner Family.

Become a Family Mentor: Each year, Habitat partners with local families to make the dream of homeownership a reality. Family Mentors serve an important role in supporting these Partner Families through the homeownership process. Habitat will provide you with training and the Habitat staff and Family Support committee are always available for assistance, should a mentor need it.

Help on the build sites: The next build season will be here before we know it. And, like always, we’ll be looking for many helping hands to build new homes for deserving families in the community. You don’t need to have experience…just a desire to help.

If you’re interested in volunteering with us in 2012, visit our website at www.lakeagassizhabitat.org, and click on the “Volunteer Up” link to view available volunteer opportunities. You can also contact us directly for more information on joining a committee or becoming a Family Mentor by emailing: habitat@lakeagassizhabitat.org or calling 218-284-5253 ext 2.

Letter from Shirley

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

As many of you know, earlier this week I announced my resignation from Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity to pursue new opportunities. As I look toward the next step in my career, I will always look back with a fondness for Lake Agassiz Habitat and the mission of this organization.

I started at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity in November 2007. Since that time, the affiliate has accomplished a number of great things. We established a partnership with Barnesville which led to the first Habitat Barnesville build in 2011. In 2009, the affiliate built our first 4-plex- maximizing our resources to effectively serve 4 families. We held our first “Home is Where the Art Is” event, an art auction featuring recycled materials from the Habitat ReStore. Speaking of the ReStore, in January 2008, our ReStore completed its expansion into a significantly larger retail space at the current location at 210 11^thStreet North in Moorhead. All of these things were possible because of our organization’s wonderful and dedicated volunteers, donors, partner families, and staff.

Shirley presents the Stoldt Paul family with the keys to their new home in 2009.

This affiliate has done so many great things over the past four years and I am certain that it will continue to do great things in the future. After all, in the past 20 years, Lake Agassiz Habitat has provided 45 families with a place to call home. I am confident that the staff and board will continue to carry out the mission of Habitat to build decent, affordable and safe housing for the people of Cass and Clay counties.

I would like to thank all of you who have contributed your time, talent and efforts to help make the work of Lake Agassiz possible. It has been my privilege to lead this non-profit.

Building Homes, Building Hope

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity: building simple, decent, affordable homes since 1991.

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