We hope you’ve had a chance to visit the ReStore. It changes weekly and is becoming a regular stop for do-it-yourselfers and treasure hunters.
In order to accommodate a vacation commitment, we need some volunteers to staff the ReStore in October. Days that we need assistance are: 10/1, 10/2, 10/7-9 and 10/14-16. Call the office at 970 367 5127 to sign up.

What’s New With Other Affiliates?

If you just can’t wait to build in Summit County, there’s several options available to you. The Chaffee County affiliate is building in Salida. Call them at 719 395 0482 for information on their build. The Eagle/Lake County affiliate’s busy building in Edwards and is also working on putting together a building trip to Paraguay later this fall.

The Metro Denver affiliate is busy with their Bails Townhouse project. A fundraiser for their Women Build! program that involves a large number of Legos and in Denver, the newest way to meet unattached members of the opposite sex is to participate in their Singles Build! program. Details can be found at habitatmetrodenver.org.

Upcoming Fund Raiser

Plans for a fall fundraiser are underway. We’re looking forward to celebrating with a “Harvest Hoe-Down”, featuring some great bluegrass music, food and family-friendly games. Try your hand at bean bag toss and Bozo Buckets.

The fundraiser is scheduled at the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, Friday October 22nd. This is going to be a very special fundraiser – we’re working with High Country Conservation Center on this event to spread the word about the ReStore.

We need volunteers for games, ticket takers and ushers, along with help spreading the word about the fundraiser. Call the office at 970 367 5127 or e-mail us at executivedirector@summitcountyhabitat.org for more information.

DONATING TO HABITAT?

We love donations from the community. Items that are donated, however, need to be clean, in working order and relatively new. A donation of a 20 year old microwave may be well intentioned, but it’s not something that we find we can sell. Before you donate, please call the office at 970 367 5127 to find out if what you’d like to give us is on our “most wanted” list. Donation pick up is available for a nominal charge.
Right now we cannot accept mattresses, TVs, computers and other electronics along with appliances over 10 years old.

If you are able, bring your items to the Habitat ReStore yourself, on days the store is open. We can take your donation between 10AM and 4PM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Please do not dump your items in back of the Restore. If you do this, you make it extremely difficult for other businesses in our complex to function. In addition, individuals have been dumping items off, only to have them ruined by the rain. This has happened to cabinets, sofas and appliances.

Items that have to be taken to recycling and require a recycling fee are also being left (TV’s for example). This means Habitat for Humanity must take money out of the building fund to pay for this – something we cannot afford to do.

Please, don’t dump. Dumping is illegal. The property is posted “No Dumping”. You don’t want to end up explaining your actions to a member of John Minor’s office.

WHAT IS COMING UP?

On August 26, we are clearing out all the inventory for a “tent” sale. At the same time, we’re having a work session at the ReStore. We have a balcony that needs some reinforcement work. If you’d like to volunteer to work in the store or on the project, call 970 367 5127. We need volunteers for the store, for moving inventory in and out and to do the ever important carpentry work. We’ll also need individuals to circulate signs and posters throughout the county before the sale. In usual Habitat style, catering will be done by Daylight Donuts in the morning,
October 4th is World Habitat Day. This is a time for us to tell the Habitat story. One of the Denver Area affiliates has developed a DVD that follows the story of a family as they work to become Habitat homeowners. It traces them through the process, from application to house dedication. If anyone has any ideas on how to use this to spread the word on World Habitat Day, please call me at 970 367 5127 and we’ll see what we can come up with.

As you can see, we’re busy here at the ReStore.

Stop by during regular store hours when we are definitely open, or call ahead and see if anyone’s working in the office that day. We’d love to show you around and have you join us as we work to build hope AND houses here in Summit County.

Nancy Shockey
Executive Director

ReStore News

There’s an unusual collection of items and customers that come in and out of the ReStore on a regular basis. We’re working with someone building a cement block house and who’s determined to reuse and recycle as much as possible. Another couple is renovating a house just over Boreas Pass in Como and we’ve become one of their favorite suppliers. Landlords have discovered us as a way to renovate or repair their rental properties for the upcoming season.

The most interesting one was the individual who called the ReStore about five minutes before closing and was desperate to find a toilet. How many other stores would stay open until he got there so he could get what he needed?

The ReStore has also been able to invest in a truck to use for picking up donated items. A donation (tax deductible) is requested to cover the costs of this service and averages about $40.00 a pick up. The charge is $20 per work hour. If we send two individuals to your house to pick something up and bring it to the ReStore, and they spend an hour doing that, we would ask for a $40.00 donation. One work hour per person is a total of 2 work hours. Then, 2 work hours times $20 an hour is $40.00.

Asking for donations to cover the cost enables us to make sure that sales proceeds go into the building fund. You can always deliver your own donations to the ReStore during store hours (10am to 5pm) on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Call us at 970 367 5127 to set up a time for other days.

We are still NOT able to accept donations of electronics (TVs, computers, printers) and mattresses. If you have any questions about what we can take, call the ReStore during store hours.

This month we need you to…….
Visit us at the Restore, make a donation and join us on October 22 for our Harvest Hoe-Down.

Peace………

Nancy Shockey
Executive Director

PS. A quick up date on the challenge grant from The Summit Foundation.
We’re closing in on our goal of $5,000. As of the beginning of September, we had deposited $3,000 into the designated donation account. Donations have ranged in size from pocket change to substantial amounts. Together, these are adding up to meet that challenge.
You can send a donation to Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 4330, Breckenridge 80424 or drop it off on your next visit to the ReStore. Thank you for supporting Habitat.

Our Corporate Sponsors

Hearthstone Restaurant/Storm Restaurants. This company has supported us by providing us with meals and meeting space at a reduced rate.

Harvest Catering. While we were doing some building in the ReStore, they provided us with a tent to use for temporary selling space. They’ll also be working with us on food for the October 22 fundraiser.

We are very thankful to Airport Road Auto Repair who have volunteered to maintain our new truck for their cost. This very generous offer has allowed us to greatly improve our service to our generous donors without dipping into ReStore revenues.
Airport Road Auto Repair is helping build houses in Summit County.

Thank You!!!

The ReStore Had A Great First Month

It’s been over a month since the ReStore opened. Here’s some information on how we’re doing.

First of all, for the month of July, we achieved our sales revenue budget. We had five selling weekends and that’s helped that number. As a result, we covered the rent and expenses for the month. That’s a great achievement for a new business.

We’re also making good progress on our Challenge Grant from the Summit Foundation and a donor directed fund. As we announced last month, The Summit Foundation has given us the opportunity to make each $1 you donate to the ReStore $3. During July we were able to deposit $1,000 into that account and we’re well on our way to doing that again this month. When we achieve the total $5,000, we will receive an additional $10,000 in challenge funds. Our success to date is due to the generosity of several individuals who have made specific donations to that fund.
If you would like to join us in meeting that grant, drop your donation off at the ReStore at 196 County Road 450, Suite 108, or drop it into the mail, addressed to Habitat-Restore, PO Box 4330, Breckenridge CO 80424.

If you’re a fan of BreckTV, catch the advertisement for the ReStore. As it turns out, Alison Palmer has participated in Habitat Builds in the Atlanta area, where she worked alongside the Carters. She’s a fan of Habitat and it shows in her enthusiasm.

There’s still a need for volunteers – no matter what your interest. We need individuals to assist customers and sell items, individuals to help move furniture and stock around and helpers to work on cleaning and displaying donations. Individuals to help with pick ups are welcome. If there’s anyone who’s interested in doing some refinishing work on table and dresser tops, we’ve got some projects in that area. Call the ReStore at 970 367 5127 or stop by any Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Volunteer jobs are available almost any day of the week.

What can you do? You can tell at least 5 people about the Habitat ReStore. Forward the link the BreckTV’s commercial to your e-mail contacts and spread the word.

Donate. Buy. Volunteer.

WE ARE EXPANDING ALREADY!!

We’ve run out of physical space at the ReStore. We have now rented space from Breck Mini Storage, just down the driveway from the ReStore. Here we’ll store the donated appliances in their own dedicated department. Right now we have an inventory of ranges, cook tops, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers and microwaves. If you’re building or replacing, stop by and see what’s in.

And, in order to move all of this inventory around, we have invested in a truck. A Denver area construction company underwrote a substantial portion of the purchase price for a Chevy van/box truck for us. Airport Auto in Breckenridge has “adopted” the truck and is donating their labor for any necessary repairs and/or upkeep. This means we will now be able to pick up your donation and deliver your purchases. There is a charge for this service to help us recover the cost of the truck and operating expenses. Call the office at 970 367 5127 for information on charges.

We are very thankful to Airport Road Auto Repair who have volunteered to maintain our new truck for their cost. This very generous offer has allowed us to greatly improve our service to our generous donors without dipping into ReStore revenues.
Airport Road Auto Repair is helping build houses in Summit County.

Thank You!!!

DONATING TO HABITAT?
We love donations from the community. Items that are donated, however, need to be clean, in working order and relatively new. A donation of a 20 year old microwave may be well intentioned, but it’s not something that we find we can sell. Before you donate, please call the office at 970 367 5127 to find out if what you’d like to give us is on our “most wanted” list. Donation pick up is available for a nominal charge.
Right now we cannot accept mattresses, TVs, computers and other electronics along with appliances over 10 years old.

If you are able, bring your items to the Habitat ReStore yourself, on days the store is open. We can take your donation between 10AM and 4PM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Please do not dump your items in back of the Restore. If you do this, you make it extremely difficult for other businesses in our complex to function. In addition, individuals have been dumping items off, only to have them ruined by the rain. This has happened to cabinets, sofas and appliances.

Items that have to be taken to recycling and require a recycling fee are also being left (TV’s for example). This means Habitat for Humanity must take money out of the building fund to pay for this – something we cannot afford to do.

Please, don’t dump. Dumping is illegal. The property is posted “No Dumping”. You don’t want to end up explaining your actions to a member of John Minor’s office.

WHAT IS COMING UP?

On August 26, we are clearing out all the inventory for a “tent” sale. At the same time, we’re having a work session at the ReStore. We have a balcony that needs some reinforcement work. If you’d like to volunteer to work in the store or on the project, call 970 367 5127. We need volunteers for the store, for moving inventory in and out and to do the ever important carpentry work. We’ll also need individuals to circulate signs and posters throughout the county before the sale. In usual Habitat style, catering will be done by Daylight Donuts in the morning,
October 4th is World Habitat Day. This is a time for us to tell the Habitat story. One of the Denver Area affiliates has developed a DVD that follows the story of a family as they work to become Habitat homeowners. It traces them through the process, from application to house dedication. If anyone has any ideas on how to use this to spread the word on World Habitat Day, please call me at 970 367 5127 and we’ll see what we can come up with.

As you can see, we’re busy here at the ReStore.

Stop by during regular store hours when we are definitely open, or call ahead and see if anyone’s working in the office that day. We’d love to show you around and have you join us as we work to build hope AND houses here in Summit County.

Nancy Shockey
Executive Director

SUMMIT COUNTY HABITAT RECEIVES MAJOR GRANT

On June 30th, the Summit Foundation awarded Habitat for Humanity and the new ReStore two grants. The first was a joint grant from The Summit Foundation and a donor directed fund. This generous grant is enough to support the ReStore during start up. Using that grant, we have been able to lease warehouse and office space in the Breckenridge Trade Center for the ReStore. The ReStore is located on CR 450, just past the 7-11, Big Horn Paint, RSC (rental store) and the self-storage facilities.

The second grant is even more generous, though it will take some effort on everyone’s part. It’s a challenge grant. The Summit Foundation and the same donor directed fund have joined together to challenge Habitat and the ReStore to raise $5,000. When that’s done, the Foundation and the donor will then match the contribution on a 2:1 basis with a check for $10,000.

We need your help to meet this challenge by donating specifically to the “ReStore Challenge Grant. You can mail your donation to Habitat for Humanity, Box 4330, Breckenridge CO 80434 or you can drop a donation off at the ReStore during business hours – Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 9AM and 5PM.

These funds mean that all the proceeds from the ReStore sales go directly into the Building Fund. Remember, every $1 you donate means $3 for Habitat.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Another need on the part of Habitat is for volunteers. We need individuals to help in all areas of the ReStore. These positions don’t require any special skills.
Receiving/Pricing/Displaying – Do you want to be the first to see what’s new? Help sort through the new donations, put a price on them and then help put them out on the floor to sell.

Minding the store – We need friendly volunteers to greet our customers, answer questions and check them out. We need store help the most on Saturdays. If you’re free to volunteer Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, that’s great, too. We spend that time taking in donations and straightening the store.

Pick Ups – If you’re able to help with picking up donated items your assistance is needed. We don’t have a truck yet and need help picking up from various locations.

Administrative Assistance – We need help answering the phone, answering questions and servicing customers and donors. We would like to provide this service from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday.

Call the ReStore at 970 367 5127, or stop by Thursday, Friday or Saturday to sign up for the volunteer shift you want.

MORE ABOUT THE STORE

It’s on CR 450, just east of Highway 9 (and the 7-11) in Breckenridge. The Habitat ReStore is officially open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 10AM and 5PM.

Once you turn onto CR 450, you’ll pass the 7-11, the Big Horn Paint Store, then the equipment rental yard and the storage facility. As the road curves to the right, you’ll see a low building with signs on the back for Iron Daisys and Talking Trash. There’s an entrance there (signs are red and white) that is directly across from the driveway into the recycling center. Turn in there and we’re the last business in the building.
If you want to get to the office, you’ll need to go past that entrance and around the curve. Just before the houses in French Creek start, there’s a driveway on your right and you’ll the trucks for Ryan’s Towing. Turn in there and we’re the last unit in the first building on your right.

Habitat volunteers have been working long and hard to fill the store with a variety of interesting items. We’ve got an eclectic collection of items, from kitchen cabinets to dining room tables to sofa beds and bar stools. Our “Work Shop” and “Kontractors Korner” areas have a huge variety of nuts, bolts, boxes of nails, tools and the like. There’s something for everyone who visits the Habitat ReStore.

Donations are accepted on days the store is open, between 10AM and 4PM. We can can only accept TV’s and computers that are in good working order and than less than six years old. We will also require a donation of $8 for all electronics items to cover our cost of recycling if we are not able to resell the item.

In addition, we cannot accept mattresses without first inspecting it. Our space is very limited and we must be careful to only accept items have a good market value.

Donations are tax deductible and you’ll be given a receipt for your items.

If you’ve got questions about donating or need directions, call the ReStore office at 970 367 5127. The store’s address is 196 CR 450 (Huron Road) in the Breckenridge Trade Center.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Even when we’re not building or setting up a ReStore, Summit County Habitat for Humanity and the Summit Habitat Restore need “professional” individuals to help guide the organization. We’d like to find an attorney and a real estate agent in Summit County who would be willing to donate some time to the organization. This would involve attending Board Meetings and providing legal guidance and input on real estate. Call Nancy Shockey, Executive Director at 970 367 5127 if you’re interested or know of someone who is.

Someone have an “in” with a truck dealer? We’re looking for a box truck to use to make pick ups. We’ve got a limited budget but are serious about obtaining a truck. If you’ve got any ideas, please call Steve at the ReStore, 970 367 5127. If you know of a professional group or company who’d be able to sponsor a truck, let us know. Imagine your name or logo on the side of a Habitat truck going through Summit County neighborhoods.

The summer has gotten off to a whirlwind start. We’re thankful for the financial support provided us by The Summit Foundation and are looking forward to growing and strengthening the organization to get ready for our next build.

Stop by the ReStore and check us out – make a donation, make a purchase or volunteer. We’ll be glad to see you.

Nancy Shockey
Executive Director

As you all know, the Summit County Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity has been looking forward to breaking ground on our Build 2010.  We have been hoping to break ground in June or July of this year.

Unfortunately, one of the developers we’ve been working with has had financial reversals.  This means that the necessary infrastructure (sewers, water, roads and so forth) will not be put in this season.  This means we must delay our build until this work is done.

We’re very disappointed about this turn of events.

There are some advantages, however, with starting later than we had planned.  Several families have filled out applications to become Partner Families with Habitat.  The extra time will allow them to save for the $1,000 down payment, get caught up on their bills and be in a strong financial position we when start the build.

It will also allow them to complete the sweat equity hours required before they can purchase their Habitat home.

For us, it means we will have additional time to do fund raising, apply for grants and get our local sponsors lined up.

So, even if we are not building, we’ll be working.

In addition, we will be starting two other important projects that will help support our building program.  One is “A Brush With Kindness” and the other is a Habitat Restore.

“A Brush with Kindness” is a program that serves low-income homeowners (house/trailer/condo) who are having a difficult time maintaining their home.  We are working with Habitat for Humanity – Colorado and HFH – International to finalize the program.

Habitat Restore is a program of Habitat, designed to keep recyclable and reusable building materials and supplies out of the landfills.  A Restore also accepts appliances, cabinets, lighting and plumbing fixtures.  We are hopeful that the hospitality and short-term rental industry here in Summit County can recycle their furniture through this program.

More information and specific volunteer opportunities for both of these programs will be listed soon.

The need for affordable housing continues, regardless of the economy.  We need your support, your donations and your prayers.

When the Habitat Board learned that the construction of the duplex known as Build 2010 was going to be delayed, we were disappointed.  Many of us along with our volunteers were excited that building was going to begin and were actually looking forward to a few splinters, some hard work and lemonade.

That saying about lemonade kept repeating itself  – when life gives you lemons make lemonade.

Instead of getting ready for the build, we’re now getting ready to open a Habitat Restore.

A Habitat Restore has two purposes.  One is to keep building materials and used furnishings out of the landfill.  The second is to generate funds for Habitat builds.

A Habitat Restore takes donations of reusable and recyclable building materials.  These can include windows and trim salvaged from a building being torn down.  It could include scraps of copper tubing a DIY plumber might need.  Then there’s always a need for a 2’x2’ square of drywall or plywood.  These items can be found in your average Habitat Restore.

You can also find lighting fixtures that a homeowner has replaced, along with kitchen and bath cabinets and used furniture.  All these items have been part of someone’s home and deserve an opportunity to have a second life in someone else’s home – not the local landfill.

Donations from individuals, contractors and builder supply outlets make up a substantial amount of a Restore’s stock.  Hospitality companies that replace their bedding, room accessories and furniture are another source.  Individuals who own rental property rotate their furniture on a regular basis and donate the older furniture to Habitat.

Items sold through a Habitat Restore are priced at substantial discounts.  Donations to a Habitat Restore can qualify as a charitable deduction.  Check with your tax accountant and be sure to ask for a receipt.

The Habitat Board is currently looking for warehouse/office/showroom space in Summit County.  Ideally, the property will have an overhead garage door to make dropping off donations and picking up purchases easy.   If you have any leads on available space, please call the Habitat office at 970 367 5127.

Once we locate suitable space, we’ll be looking for volunteers to help us with any alterations we need and to help stock and manage the store.  If you’re interested in doing that, call the office or e-mail us at the website www.summitcountyhabitat.org.

Just think of the difference a Habitat Restore can make in Summit County.  We’ll be keeping items out of the landfill – a good thing.  In addition, you’ll be supporting Habitat’s building programs.

We’ll keep you posted on the progress we make.

When your income is limited, it’s hard not only to buy a house in Summit County, it’s hard to take care of the house.

Habitat knows that and several of the affiliates have joined in a program called “A Brush With Kindness”.

The purpose of this program is to help low income homeowners maintain and repair their property.

This program partners with a variety of local organizations to identify homeowners who are struggling to keep up with repairs for their homes. Many of these are minor, but if you’re a family with limited resources, or a single parent family, it’s often hard to get to these “to do” items.

Work done in the “A Brush With Kindness” focuses on minor repairs, painting and maintenance. Usually this means fixing broken windows and doors, repairing damaged siding, taking care of peeling paint, overgrown landscaping and basic weatherproofing.

We’re still developing this program and hope to have the details defined soon.

If you know of a family that owns their own home and could use this kind of help, please let us know about them.

If you’re interested in joining us to do small projects like this, or are interested in donating materials, contact us.

The Summit County Habitat for Humanity’s phone number is 970-367-5127. Or, send us an e-mail through our website, www.summitcountyhabitat.org.

Again, we’ll be posting more information on the website as it becomes available.

Today, in front of Caamano’s from noon to four, Peter Caamano will be holding a bake sale to benefit Habitat for Humanity as we build houses here in Summit County AND begin rebuilding in Haiti.

This is Peter’s Global Action Plan from his 6th grade class at Summit Middle School. Stop by and meet this amazing young man who took an idea and turned it into reality.

He’s going to be out there next week, too.

Remember – Caamano’s Sweaters – Main Street Station – Breckenridge

Be there – or be really hungry.

With over 150 guests in attendance, our fundraiser was a success. We were able to add approximately $6,000 to our building fund for our 2010 Build. Thank you to all the individuals who donated their time, money or silent auction items to the evening. It’s our great volunteers that made the evening so successful. We’ll be sponsor more activities as we get closer to our build date. Meanwhile, we are still accepting applications for becoming a Habitat partner family. They’re available at either the FIRC office in Dillon or the Summit Housing Authority in Breckenridge.

There’s only one place in Summit County that I know of where you can get your own pair of red Olympic mittens. No shipping. No handling. No waiting for delivery. They’re at the Habitat for Humanity “There’s No Place Like Home” fundraiser this Friday, March 5th.

Join us at the Lodge and Spa in Breckenridge for an evening of wine, apps, live music and a silent auction. If the mittens don’t interest you, bid on one of our custom decorated bird houses. From bird houses done up in mountain sophistication to a dreamlike Alice in Wonderland fantasy scene, these Habitats for Birds are going to build a house for a Habitat for Humanity family.

Tickets are $35.00 each and are still available at the door, or call 970 367 5127 to make a reservation.

That’s this Friday night at the Lodge and Spa, 5 – 9pm. Come and help build a house.

Family selection article appears appears in Summit Daily News

The Summit Daily News published a great article about our family selection process beginning. Habitat for Humanity is excited about building again. We can use your support by attending the fundraiser Friday night, 3/5, from 5 to 9 at the Lodge and Spa in Breckenridge. Individual tickets are $35.00 each, a table for ten is $300.00. Bring yourself and some of your closest friends for an evening of great apps and wine, some bluegrass music and the opportunity to bid some some very special local items at our silent auction. Call 970 367 5127 for details.