Tag Archives: Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

LAHFH staff member Katie McCormick says “Farewell”

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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 20th 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 11thStreet 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 11th Street North, Moorhead

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

Habitat & ReStore at the Home & Garden Show

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If you’re in the mood for home improvement projects, you’ll probably be headed to the Red River Valley Home and Garden Show at the Fargodome this weekend. And if you are going, we hope you’ll stop by the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity booth and say hello. You can find us at booth number C312 in the southwest concourse.  We’ll be there all weekend talking with people about ReStore product and deals. We’ll also be talking about upcoming volunteer opportunities where you can fine-tune your construction skills and learn a thing or two.

Show hours are 3 to 9 p.m. on Friday the 22nd, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday the 17th, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday the 24th.

For more information on the show, visit the Home Builders Association of Fargo Moorhead website.

Get Fit With Habitat

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Do you need a little bit of extra push to get GOING this winter? Sign up for Tour de Habitat on March 9 and start moving! It’s a fun day to spend with your team of friends, family, co-workers, or church groups and will benefit the community.

What We are Racing For

Besides getting some exercise, spend a fun Saturday afternoon leisurely pedaling and cheering on your teammates as you work together to make a lasting difference in the lives of local families.  By raising funds from family, friends, businesses and church groups, you will raise not only much needed dollars to support Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, but also awareness in our community about the families that are in need of a place to call home.

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s goal to raise $40,000 this year through Tour de Habitat to support the construction of homes with low-income families in Cass and Clay counties in 2013.  We need you to help make a difference!

Members of Team Rocky’s Rockettes at the 2012 Tour de Habitat!

Start Planning for Tour de Habitat Now

The annual stationary bike race and fundraiser has teams of six riders taking turns to pedal for 15 minutes. Form your teams now and start training for the event on Saturday, Marcy 9, 2013 at Courts Plus Fitness Center in Fargo. All proceeds go towards building homes for families in need in Cass and Clay Counties in ND and MN.  T-shirts will be given to all participants. Prizes will be awarded for the most money and most miles and more! You may even want to start a friendly competition with an opposing team to see who can earn the most money or pedal the farthest!

Riders of the Purple Sage

Members of Team Riders of the Purple Sage cheer on their team member at the 2012 Tour de Habitat.

Here are some tips to start planning for the race:

  • Form a team of six riders and designate a team captain.
  • Make it fun! Come up with a team name, create a theme, or even challenge another team.
  • Set Fundraising Goals: $250 minimum per cyclist ($1500 for the team). Then ask for help reaching your fundraising goal?  Ask your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, book club members, business associates, Christmas card list, etc. to help you help Habitat.
  • Register the team by March 1, 2013 and set up your fundraising website at www.firstgiving.com/LAHFH.  If you need assistance, call LAHFH office at 218-284-5253 ext. 2

Sign up a team today to help make a family’s dream of homeownership a reality!

Have a great Valentine’s Day with Habitat for Humanity!

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At Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, we are excited to take part in Giving Hearts Day on Thursday, February 14th.  Giving Hearts Day gives individuals an opportunity to prove their record-breaking generosity by contributing to their favorite charitable organizations in North Dakota and western Minnesota.

Giving Hearts Day is a great opportunity to amplify your giving to Lake Agassiz. Western State Bank will match the first $4,000 donated to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity on Thursday, February 14th – doubling the impact your gift can have!

If that’s not exciting enough, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity has partnered with local business in the community who will give a portion of their sales to Habitat as part of Giving Hearts Day- giving you the chance to get your valentine something special this year, while supporting Habitat.

  • Aquablue: Aquablue will donate $10 from the sale of each of these bracelets now through February 14th.  Plus, shop at Aquablue on Valentine’s Day and 5% of your entire purchase will be donated to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity. Aquablue is located at 4955 17th Avenue South in Fargo.
  • Namaste: Sore back from shoveling?  Treat yourself to a massage at Namaste!  Namaste salon’s massage therapist, Dani, will be donating 50% of her gratuities on Valentine’s Day to Habitat for Humanity.  Namaste is located at 5050 13th Avenue Southwest in Fargo.
  • Sweet Dreams Confections: Looking for something sweet for your sweetie?  Sweet Dreams Confections is donating 10% to Habitat from all the long stemmed chocolate roses sold on Valentine’s Day.  Sweet Dreams is located at 4101 13th Avenue South in Fargo.
  • Prairie Petals: Mention Habitat when ordering your Valentine’s Day arrangement by e-mail through Wednesday, February 13th and Prairie Petals will donate 10% of each arrangement to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity on Giving Hearts Day. Prairie Petals is located at 623 N.P. Avenue in Fargo.
  • The Look Salon: Donate to Habitat on Giving Hearts Day, than treat yourself to a day of pampering at The Look Salon, where you can make your donation go even further.  Through the end of February, simply show your thank you for donating to Habitat on Giving Hearts Day, and The Look Salon will donate 20% of your service and/or 15% of your product purchase to Habitat.  The Look Salon is located at 2553 Kirsten Lane South, Fargo.

When making your Valentine’s Day plans, remember the impact you can have with Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity be supporting these local businesses in their quest to give back.  And remember, starting at midnight on Thursday, February 14, you can make a difference in someone else’s life by giving whatever amount you want to see matched on Impact Foundation’s website.  Simply log on and search for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity  Your generosity makes it possible for families in our community 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.

From the Executive Director’s Desk

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The impending winter weather has me wishing that it was summer and I could be spending time out on the Habitat build site with all of you spirited volunteers.  Even though it looks like it will be an eternity before summer is here and we’re back on the build site, it really is only a few short months away.  In the mean time, there are still lots of other ways you can help Habitat.

Consider doubling your impact with Habitat by giving during this year’s Giving Hearts Day on Thursday, February 14, 2013.  The first $4,000 given to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity during this 24 hour online giving event will be matched by Western State Bank- giving you the chance to stretch your donation twice as far.  To make a secure online contribution to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and have it matched, simply go to www.impactgiveback.org on February 14 and search for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity.  As always, all donations are tax-deductible.

Want to do something more active?  Consider joining (or forming) a team for Tour de Habitat. Each year Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity holds Tour de Habitat – a stationary bike race where teams compete against each other to raise money for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity.  Join Habitat for a fun afternoon on Saturday, March 9 at Courts Plus to leisurely pedal and cheer on your teammates as you work together to make a lasting difference in the lives of local families.

If volunteering is more your style, we still have lots of opportunities available.  Consider joining a committee to help with the work behind the scenes.  ReStore is always looking for volunteers- individuals or groups- to price donations, prepare items for sale, receive donations, cashier, and so much more.  If you’re interested in volunteering with Habitat, send us an email at habitat@lakeagassizhabitat.org.

With all of these opportunities to get involved with Habitat, I’m sure summer will be here before we know it.  Thank you for your continued support of our mission to build homes, communities, and hope in Cass and Clay counties.

Rob Rich

Executive Director

Open Your Heart on Giving Hearts Day!

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Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity makes a difference every day by building homes and hope in Cass and Clay Counties and opening doors of opportunities for families. Your generous support means the world to families in our community who want to give their children a safe place to call home. For over 20 years, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity has been building safe, decent and affordable homes for local families.

We are hoping that you will open your heart on Thursday, February 14 on Giving Hearts Day and make a donation to the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, who will open doors for those that need our help in the community. Dakota Medical Foundation’s Giving Hearts Day is on Thursday, February 14. This is a one day event where select area non-profits can participate in this online giving fundraiser and you can give with double the impact. Western State Bank will match the first $4,000 donated to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity on Giving Hearts Day – doubling the love your gift can have! We’re asking that on Thursday, February 14, you make a difference in someone else’s life by giving any amount you want to see matched. Every donation helps!

For more information on Giving Hearts Day or to make a secure online donation to our local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, visit impactgiveback.org and type in Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter so you can share in the excitement of Giving Hearts Day and remember to give on February 14!

National Day of Service: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said,  “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’”

Today, January 21st, people from all walks of life across the United States are banding together to try and answer this question.  The MLK Day of Service is one piece of President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve.  Around the Fargo Moorhead Community, volunteer groups are forming to tackle projects, and here at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, we’re gladly taking part in this national event!

 

Teachers and staff from JPII Catholic Schools spend the morning at Habitat ReStore as part of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Day of Service.

Today we welcome teachers and staff from JP II Catholic Schools in Fargo, who are turning their day off from school into a day on to help out at Habitat ReStore. The ReStore relies on volunteer groups like this one to complete large tasks that would be very difficult to accomplish with our small staff.  ReStore Volunteers help keep our costs low so that we can use all store proceeds to further Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s goal of providing simple, decent and affordable housing for families in Cass and Clay Counties.

“We are excited to make our in service day, a day of service to the community,” said Karin Larson, JPII Catholic Schools. “We tell our students to give back and felt it was important for us as teachers and staff to give back too.”

If you’re not able to take part in a volunteer project for the National Day of Service, don’t worry- Habitat ReStore has volunteer projects available all year long! Whether you are interested in helping out in the store on a regular basis, serving on a committee, or know a group that needs a volunteer project, Habitat ReStore has something for everyone.  To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, visit our website.

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore sells new and gently used building supplies, furniture, appliances, and much more to the general public. All proceeds raised by the store support Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to provide affordable homes for families in Cass and Clay Counties.

 

Announcing New Board of Directors Officers

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Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity congratulates their newly elected President of the Board of Directors, John C. Thomas, Vice President of Engineering with Phoenix International. John has served on the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors for the past three years. He lives in West Fargo with his wife Amanda and their twin daughters.

 

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity would also like to congratulate their additional newly elected officers: Vice-President Judd Graham, Market President with Wells Fargo. This is Judd’s second year serving on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors.

 

Jennifer Quast, Services Practice Manager with Microsoft.  Jennifer has served on the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors for the past 3 years and has perviously served as the Board Secretary.  In addition to her role with the Board of Directors, Jennifer currently serves as the chair of Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Volunteer Committee.

Secretary Josh Hoper.  This is Josh’s second year serving on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors.  In addition to his role with the Board of Directors, Josh serves on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Resource Development committee.

Member-at-Large Angie McCarthy, Platinum Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial. This is Angie’s second year serving on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors.  In addition to her role with the Board of Directors, Angie also serves on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s Resource Development committee.

The Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors has overall governance and fiduciary responsibility for the local Habitat affiliate and ReStore operation. Board members are selected for both their commitment to the mission of Habitat for Humanity and to represent the entire community. We look forward to working with these newly elected officers as we continue building simple, decent, affordable homes in Cass and Clay counties.

One Artist’s Perspective on “Home is Where the Art Is”

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It’s that time of year again. Our third annual “Home is Where the Art Is” recycled art show and silent auction is just around the corner. With tickets on sale January 3, we thought we’d give you a sneak peek at one artist’s journey to their finished product.

This is Josh Thomas’ 3rd year participating in the art show. “The Habitat Art Show is such a unique opportunity to really give back to Habitat,” Josh says. “I love taking part.”

 

Josh chose this unique cabinet from the ReStore as his chosen medium.

 

He brought it home and removed the cabinet doors and began to paint. “Between coats of black paint and right after I painted my first door, I started worrying there was no way I could possibly pull the project off,” Josh said. “I thought I might be better off taking it to a wood studio and trying make something out of the wood before I messed it up any more.”

 

Luckily, Josh kept going and after painting the exterior of the cabinet black, he painted the doors yellow and cream. “I started thinking maybe it wouldn’t turn out so bad,” he said.

 

Josh put the doors back on and added some aged tiles to the top. Here’s a snapshot of the finished product:

“The thing that originally drew me to the cabinet was the lines on the doors,” Josh said. “After I found the yellow and black paint at ReStore, it was already fully formed in my head. I think it would be a great addition to any home as a side table, media storage or even a bar.”

Bid on Josh’s or other pieces on February 2 at the Spirit Room. Tickets are available now online, at the Spirit Room Gallery and at the Habitat ReStore (210 11th Street North, Moorhead.) Learn more about this fun event on our website.

8 Ways to Get Organized in the New Year

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Is “staying organized” one of your New Year’s resolutions? It’s not easy to keep clutter away when life is busy and time is short. Here are 8 ideas to reduce the mess—and the stress—and get your home organized this year.

Give an old cabinet or piece of furniture from ReStore new life as a way to organize your entryway.

  1. Repurpose an old cabinet or buffet as an entryway storage system for mail, notes, keys and more.
  2. Keep your mudroom tidy with a bookshelf-turned-cubby for shoes, sunglasses, scarves and other outdoor accessories.
  3. Hang a whiteboard or chalkboard in a common space for writing lists, notes and messages. Use different colored markers or chalk for color coded organization.
  4. Stack crates of all sizes in your bathroom, bedroom or closet for easy-to-access storage of towels, books, shoes and more.

    Make your own shelves out of moldings and lumber found at ReStore.

  5. Break out the old suitcases you never use and pack extra bedding, towels, or seasonal clothing in them for under-the-bed storage.
  6. Look for multi-functional furniture that contains storage areas to give you both seating and organizational space.
  7. De-clutter your tables and counters by keeping trinkets, picture frames and other décor on floating wall shelves.
  8. Save floor space by hanging baskets on the wall of a playroom, child’s bedroom or nursery for easy storage of toys, blankets, diapers and other accessories.

Habitat ReStore is here to help you cut the clutter this year. Check out the ReStore’s wide variety of gently used home improvement materials and find exactly what you need to get organized.