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.

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Dedicates Home Builders Care Build

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

April Nelson with her children on the day the first wall went up on her future home.

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and Home Builders Care Foundation will hand a new homeowner their house keys for the first time at tonight’s Home Builders Care Build with Habitat Dedication. At 5:30 pm, volunteers, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity representatives, Home Builders Association representatives and members, Home Builders Care Foundation representatives, and, of course, the excited partner family will gather at 902 27^th Street North in Fargo to honor the hard work, the generous financial backing and the community support that made this home possible.

The homebuyers—April Nelson and her children Blake and Brooke—are more than a little eager to move into their new home. They have completed more than 250 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build the home, a basic tenet of Habitat for Humanity. They will repay the no-profit mortgage over a period of 30 years, illustrating Habitat for Humanity’s objective to give families a “hand up” rather than a “hand out.

“It is amazing. One of my biggest dreams has been to own my house. We have had to move so much. My daughter has been in five different schools,” April Nelson says. “I can’t wait to move in to my house!”

The Nelson Family on the steps of their new North Fargo home.

This new home is a result of a partnership between Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and the charitable arm of the Home Builders Association of Fargo Moorhead- the Home Builders Care Foundation of Fargo Moorhead. Called the Home Builders Care Build with Habitat, this build was made possible thanks to generous donations of materials, funds, and labor from Home Builders Association members as well as countless volunteers from our community. Many of these volunteers were able to work alongside the new homeowner as April Nelson contributed her “sweat equity” hours.

“If it weren’t for the [Home Builders Association] members and Habitat, I would have never been able to buy a home,” Nelson shares. “I would like to thank the members and volunteers and donors so much. This means the world to my kids and me.”

You’re invited to join the Nelson Family and Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity at the dedication.

When: Monday, October 15^th at 5:30 pm

Where: Home Builders Care Home: 902 27^th Street North, Fargo

Meet the Nelson Family

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

April Nelson has never owned a home. In fact, she and her children briefly lived in a Grand Forks women’s shelter to escape a violent relationship. The Home Builders Care Build with Habitat will help provide some stability that has been lacking in their lives the past few years.

Originally from Warren, Minn., Nelson moved to Grand Forks, got married and had two children. Five years ago, she divorced her husband and became involved with an abusive man. The relationship spiraled out of control and into a regular pattern of domestic violence.

“We lived in a shelter in 2009, which was right before I moved to Moorhead. I either had to leave that relationship or lose my kids. Social services had been called because of the violence, and I didn’t want my kids in that anymore anyway,” she says.

Today, Nelson lives in a rented Moorhead townhome with daughter Brooke, age 10, and son Blake, age 6. She has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and depression, her daughter suffers from anxiety and her son has ADHD, anxiety and cerebral palsy. Nelson says some of the mental health issues are lingering after-effects of the domestic violence they suffered.

April Nelson with Brooke and Blake on the build site for their new home.

Nelson learned about Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity through Lakes & Prairie Community Action Partnership last year and sent in an application.“I never dreamed that they would actually call me!” she laughs.

But that’s exactly what happened. Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity called Nelson and the process for helping her achieve homeownership began early this year. Nelson has been working alongside members of the Home Builders Association of Fargo Moorhead, the Home Builder Care Foundation and volunteers from the community all summer to make her dream a reality. On Monday, September 24^th at 5:30 pm Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity will dedicate the Nelson Family’s new home.

The home will be handicap-accessible to help accommodate her son’s disability. In a few years, doctors say he will be a candidate for surgery called dorsal rhizotomy to help increase elasticity in his legs, but the procedure will leave him wheelchair-bound for about one year.

“It is amazing. One of my biggest dreams has been to own my house. We have had to move so much. My daughter has been in five different schools,” she says. “I can’t wait to move in to my house!”

Like all families that partner with Habitat for Humanity, Nelson will not receive a “free” home, but instead will purchase the home with an interest-free loan to be repaid over the course of the mortgage. Nelson has contributed more than 250 “sweat equity” hours working on her home, the homes of others and in the Habitat ReStore as a requirement for becoming a Habitat homeowner. She is also required to attend 20 educational classes to learn about topics such as homeownership budgeting, home maintenance and home safety.

Nelson expresses thanks for the Habitat program, Home Builders Care Foundation and the HBA of F-M, “If it weren’t for the help from your members and Habitat, I would have never been able to buy a home. I would like to thank your members so much. This means the world to my kids and me.”

You’re invited to join the Nelson Family and Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity at the dedication.

When: Monday, September 24^th at 5:30 pm

Where: Home Builders Care Home: 902 27^th Street North, Fargo

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.

Thank you from the Bichler Family

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

The Bichler Family at the front door of their new home.

Each year, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity partners with countless volunteers, donors, and supporters to make the dream of homeownership come true for our partner families. In 2011, our organization partnered with the Bichler family and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to complete the Thrivent Builds Home in Fargo.

Jennelle contributed more than 250 hours of “sweat equity” on the construction of her future house and the future homes of other Habitat Partner Families and by presenting her story to the community. Jennelle and her three children moved into to their new home in early December and the family was able to celebrate their first Holiday season in their new home.

Below is a note from Jennelle expressing her thankfulness for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and all of those dedicated volunteers and donors who made her home a reality. We hope you enjoy reading this note as much as we do!

Many in today’s world go about life living the dreams they have and never stop to smell the roses. Many of us don’t stop to lend a helping hand to the hungry, homeless, parentless, or even sightless. So many of us are afraid that more will be required of us or think we don’t have what they need. However, through this past year I have been blessed with many opportunities to meet and get to know people, organizations, and churches that have taken the extra mile to help those around them without thinking twice about whether or not they could.

My family can’t find the right words to even express our thanks and gratitude. There are not words to make each person truly understand how each hand that has touched our home in one way or another means more to us then ‘Thank you’ can ever cover. You’ve given us not just a chance to own a home, but hope and love. The hands that have worked with my family through this year are now a part of our family forever. They have shown and taught each one of us something about how much one person can truly do with the right heart and mind.

I could say ‘thanks and we are truly grateful,’ but honestly these words can never truly express how my family feels. So I must just add that I pray that Christ blesses each person, family, organization, and church that has helped in the process of making a home for my family. That the love and kindness that has been extended to my family, will be extended and multiplied for each one of you. May all the blessings be given to you all, for your work has given us the precious gift of a home.

In Christ name and with Love,

Jennelle, Jabaz, Damarha, and Chaz

Thank you Habitat!

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

The Brackins Family at their Wall Raising celebration in September.

Each year, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity partners with countless volunteers, donors, and supporters to make the dream of homeownership come true for our partner families. In 2011, our organization is partnering with the Brackins family on a home to be completed in December. Below is a note from the family expressing their thankfulness for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, its volunteers, staff, donors, and supporters. We hope you enjoy reading this note as much as we do!

Dear Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity: I just wanted to say how thankful I am. My family and I are very thankful for the many coutless blessings that God has provided. Being chosen out of many for a new home is a dream that has come true! With that being said I want to thank every volunteer, every staff member, and every supporter of Habitat for Humanity, this couldn’t have been done with all the help and the support. This home has truly opened so many more dreams and opportunities. So I have a lot to be thankful for and that is why I will give our heavenly father thanks and praise for allowing Habitat for Humanity to cross my path; for making the look’s impossible, possible; for a bigger and brighter future, even for just the hands of those who sacrificed their time and who worked hard to make this home possible! So I say unto you again: Thank You!

Sincerely,

Tonette, Samantha & Anthony Brackins

Thrivent Build Home Complete!

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

Today will be an exciting day in Fargo, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity will dedicate the 2011 Thrivent Build Home. At 5:30pm this afternoon, the future homeowners, the Bichler family, will gather with representatives from Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, donors, volunteers, and friends to celebrate the completion of their future home. The Bichler’s future home marks the 3^rd home completed by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity as part of the organization’s 2011 Build Season.

The Bichler family stands in front of their future home- built in partnership with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

The Bichler family is eager to move into their new home. Jennelle Bichler is a single mother of three children with special needs. In 2005, Jennelle was in the process of adopting her daughter when she was diagnosed with 2 rare conditions which caused her to lose her sight. She became completely blind days after daughter’s adoption was finalized.

“It is an honor to partner with a family like the Bichlers to build a home,” said Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Shirley Dykshoorn. “Jennelle is such a strong woman who has been through a great deal. She truly deserves a place for her and her children to call their own.”

The Bichler family, like all families that partner with Habitat for Humanity, will not be receiving a free home, but instead will be purchasing the home with a 0% interest free loan that will be repaid over the course of the mortgage. Jennelle contributed more than 250 “sweat equity” hours working on her home and the homes of others as a requirement for becoming a Habitat homeowner.

The home was built as part of a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International, known as Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. Thrivent Builds is designed to involve Thrivent members and Lutherans in helping provide a “hand up” to people who lack decent shelter, offering them a path to greater economic independence. Since 2005 Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity has constructed nearly 2,500 homes worldwide, with the most recent Thrivent Build home right here in Fargo.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans representatives and the future homeowners raise a wall on the 2011 Thrivent Builds home in July.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has been partnering with the local Habitat affiliate since 2004. During this year’s build, all of Fargo’s financial representatives participated in the build, including Steve Oakes, Steve Asche, Al Fabricius, Paul Holtan, Carla Braaten, Shad Connor, Bruce Saum and Todd Schaffer.

At the dedication, there will be a short program where Shirley Dykshoorn, LAHFH Executive Director. Jennelle Bichler, the new homeowner, as well as representatives from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will be available for comments.

If you’re interested in attending the Thrivent Build home dedication:

Where: 1205 2^nd Ave South in Fargo

When: 5:30pm on Monday, November 14, 2011

For more information on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity visit: www.lakeagassizhabitat.org

For more information on Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity visit: www.thriventbuilds.com

For more information on Thrivent Financial for Lutherans visit: www.thrivent.com

Habitat for Humanity Women Build: Women Empowering Women

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

Today will be an exciting day in West Fargo, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity will dedicate the Women Build Home. At 5:30pm this afternoon, the future homeowners, the Hamilton family, will gather with representatives from Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, the Women Build planning committee, donors, volunteers, and friends to celebrate the completion of their future home.

Dedication ceremonies are always exciting, but as the 2011 Women Build Home, this home is different. Women Build is a program through Habitat for Humanity International with the mission to bring together women from all walks of life to address the housing crisis facing millions of women and children worldwide.

Volunteers flex their muscles at LAHFH’s 2011 Women Build site.

The Women Build program started in 1991 with a group of women in Charlotte, North Carolina who completed the first women-built Habitat for Humanity house. With this event, the seeds for Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program were planted and became an official Habitat for Humanity International initiative in 1998. In 2007, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity completed the first local Women Build project by building a twin home in South Fargo.

Women Build believes that decent, affordable housing is not a feminist issue. It is a quality of life and basic human dignity issue facing families everywhere. Women Build is about empowering women to take action against poverty housing conditions.

North Dakota First Lady volunteering with Women Build

North Dakota’s First Lady, Betsy Dalrymple, lends a helping hand on LAHFH’s 2011 Women Build.

Women Build is not about excluding men. It is about including women and opening new doors of opportunity. Men are often involved in training programs and build projects in supportive roles.

Women Build events have helped to construct more than 1,900 houses worldwide, with the most recent Women Build home right here in West Fargo. The West Fargo Women Build home was built by over 150 local women who rolled up their sleeves and offered their service to help a local family realize a dream of affordable homeownership. The build was planned and organized by an all women committee of volunteers. The home is the 4^th Women Build home completed by the local affiliate and second home completed by the organization in 2011.

Even though construction on the Women Build project is complete, you can still support Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity. The local Women Build would not succeed without donations and the committee welcomes any and all donations from you and/or your organization. To invest your valuable time and energy, you can check the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity website for work days on other build sites. To support Women Build financially, visit the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity website or contact us via phone or email. Check with your employer to see if they have a matching donations policy.

Women Build Partner Family on the build site.

If you’re interested in attending the Women Build home dedication:

Where: 326 6^th Ave. W. in West Fargo

When: 5:30pm Monday, September 26, 2011

For more information on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity visit: www.lakeagassizhabitat.org

For more information on Women Build visit: http://www.habitat.org/wb/

Celebrating 20 Years of Building Homes, Hope and Futures

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

A home is an amazing thing. It’s a shelter, a refuge, a sanctuary. To the families that Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity has helped over the past 20 years, it’s also a dream come true.

It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago we started building simple, decent and affordable homes in partnership with families in Cass and Clay counties. So here’s a little bit about us, where we came from and where we’re heading.

Volunteers work together to raise the roof on a LAHFH Build

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity began in 1991 when Concordia College Pastor Phil Holtan heard former President Jimmy Carter speak about Habitat for Humanity. Inspired by his words, Holtan began a Habitat chapter on Concordia’s campus. Interest in Habitat quickly grew and Holtan decided a local affiliate was needed. On June 1, 1991, Habitat for Humanity International officially accepted Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity as the 609th affiliate in the U.S.

In October 1991, Habitat’s Board of Directors selected the affiliate’s first partner family. Three months later, construction was completed and the first Habitat home in Cass and Clay Counties was dedicated with more than 75 people in attendance.

This past summer, Lake Agassiz Habitat celebrated 20 years of building in Cass and Clay counties. Since its 1991 beginnings, Lake Agassiz Habitat has served 40 families in five communities around the area. 2011’s Barnesville Build will mark the sixth community Habitat has served.

Habitat Board Members, staff, and volunteers are joined by Chamber Ambassadors and local mayors at the 20th Anniversary ribbon cutting.

For the 2011 build season, the organization received a record 150 requests for applications. Of the 41 applications Habitat received, five families were chosen to receive new homes. We’ll begin work on the last of our 2011 builds on September 10 with the wall raising for the duplex.

So what have we learned these past 20 years? Well, a lot. But one lesson sticks out. What we do transforms lives. We’re building safe, affordable, well constructed homes. Those things are life-changing to these families.

Want to learn more about Lake Agassiz Habitat and how you can get involved? Visit www.lakeagassizhabitat.org.

Building Homes, Building Hope

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

Tag Archives: family