Habitat for Humanity

Donating to Habitat for Humanity to Make A Difference in Communities

Most people know Habitat for Humanity as a charitable organization that builds homes for people in need. More than providing a “free home,” Habitat uses volunteer labor and donated supplies to improve communities by sharing resources, teaching skills and making home ownership affordable.

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To support their goals, local chapters of Habitat for Humanity accept donations of building mat erials, supplies and tools that will be used to produce or refurbish new homes for the people they serve. Because of the quantities needed and the logistics of getting materials to the work sites, Habitat accepts tools and materials from corporations who can donate and deliver large quantities at once. In addition to construction materials, items like hand and power tools, paint, work gloves and eye protection are always appreciated.

Leftover or unneeded items from small home remodeling projects can still be donated to support the cause. Habitat for Humanity operates many resale stores that sell donated items and reinvest the proceeds into their mission. This is a way to donate single items to a good cause. Wrong-sized windows, extra rolls of wallpaper and leftover drywall can usually be used by someone, and donating them keeps them out of landfills.

Habitat for Humanity projects typically involve lots of volunteers, so restaurants often provide lunches and other refreshments to the job site. This is a great way to become involved in community projects, and also to generate publicity for a local restaurant. It’s also a fantastic way to show support for the project, even if the donor is not in the home-building business.

Filed Under: Habitat for Humanity, Natural Disaster Relief Tagged With: Charitable organization, Donation, Habitat for Humanity International

Little-Known Benefits of Working for a Charity

Starting a career working for a charity or not-for-profit organization is not always a new job seeker’s first choice. However, there can be many benefits to working in the non-profit sector that can pay off in the later stages of a career.

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With a charity, job seekers can often have the opportunity to transfer from a volunteer position to a paid position. Unlike internships in the corporate world, volunteer positions are not as competitive or difficult to obtain. Volunteering can put you in the right place at the right time, and you can have the advantage of a foot in the door that outsiders don’t have. It also allows you to develop professional contacts and networking opportunities for paid positions.

With some larger or national charities, there is the opportunity to start at a local branch, even as a volunteer, and obtain a paid position at a regional or national office. If your career goals include working at a large corporation or Fortune 500 company, experience at a national headquarters, even of a charitable agency, can be very impressive.

The experience you gain from working at a not-for-profit agency can result in transferable skills which can help you in the business world. Because local charities tend to be small, it’s an ideal way to gain experience in many facets of operation, including database management, marketing, supervision and project administration. Experience with a charity can also get you invitations to join Boards of Directors or provide consultation to charitable start-ups. In some cases, student loan repayment programs are available to those who commit to working for certain non-profit agencies for a fixed number of years.

Filed Under: General, Habitat for Humanity Tagged With: Charitable organization, Non-profit organization, Volunteering

Ways to Help Your Local Soup Kitchen

The soup kitchen and other organizations that provide food to people in need have been around since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Sadly, the need for these types of agencies has continued to grow even though the country has emerged from that economic catastrophe. In many areas of the country, people still rely on soup kitchens and food pantries in order to eat.

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Because of the demand for the service they provide, soup kitchens, food pantries and other agencies that provide food to the disadvantaged are faced with a constant struggle. These facilities are generally operated by not-for-profit agencies such as churches, homeless shelters or other charitable organizations. As a result, they usually have shoestring budgets and rely on donations from corporations and the general public. Soup kitchens and food pantries always need donations of food, particularly institutional-sized cans of vegetables. Canned goods don’t require refrigeration, and are easy to prepare. Canned fruits, applesauce, vegetables and high-protein foods such as peanut butter are the most asked-for items.

Because soup kitchens can serve hundreds of people per day, large cans or cases of food products are the easiest and most convenient way for them to plan menus. In addition to food, these facilities also need cleaning supplies and food preparation items. Donors often overlook the items that are necessary for running a large-scale food preparation operation such as dishwashing detergent, paper towels, plastic wrap, latex gloves, hairnets and take-out containers.

Remember that soup kitchens rarely have a paid, full-time staff. Sometimes the best way to help is to become a volunteer and help the hungry by donating your time, service and compassion.

Filed Under: Habitat for Humanity, Natural Disaster Relief Tagged With: Donation, Food bank, Soup kitchen

Habitat for Humanity: From Somalia to Chattanooga

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Tribal wars raging in Somalia resulted in the untimely breaking up of the Abobaker/Zain family of four. Through a refugee program, they were able to be reunited once again in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Habitat for Humanity and the Chattanooga’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program made it possible for them to call Chattanooga their home. With their combined efforts, and the help of many people including local Muslims, the Abobaker/Zain family now has a four bedroom and two baths home.

Abobaker says that it is like a dream and that they do not want to go back home. Their home is only one of the seven that have been constructed in the local area.

The Chattanooga Neighborhood Stabilization Program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all residents, through helping to cultivate community partnerships and identifying areas in need of revitalization. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian organization that believes that the rich need wise and honorable ways to divest them selves of their overabundance, and that the poor do not need Charity, but Capital, and not case workers, but co-workers. They began their ministry in 1968 in Koinonia where 42 half-acre housing sites were created, with a community park and recreational area. Habitat for Humanity has built over 350,000 houses now, which have provided shelter for over 1.75 million people in over 3000 different communities around the world.

Even though the Abobaker/Zain families feel overwhelmed by all of the support and help that they have received, they know that they have truly been blessed by both of these programs to be able to be reunited once again as a family, and to have an affordable home of their own. As refugees, this really provides them with the opportunity to start over, to rebuild their lives and to experience the American dream.

Filed Under: Habitat for Humanity, Volunteering Tagged With: Family (biology), Habitat for Humanity International, Somalia

Tackling Hunger: Souper Bowl of Caring

All across the nation on Super Bowl Sunday, you will see youth standing outside their congregations holding a soup pot. These youth are raising money for the Souper Bowl of Caring. Three Hundred young people are going to be doing what is called a service blitz the day before. Souper Bowl of Caring wants to transform Super Bowl weekend into one of the biggest celebrations of giving and serving. Saturday is for service and Sunday for giving.

In South Carolina, 1,113 groups have registered to participate, and there are many others across the nation. The goal this year is to raise $11 million and to have over 275,000 youth participate. The money that these youth raise will be returned to their communities, and they will designated whether they go to soup kitchens, food banks, or other local charity organizations.

The Souper Bowl began in 1990 when a Reverend said a simple prayer just before they sat down to watch the Super Bowl, to bless those who would not have a bowl of soup to eat. This created a local fundraising project, which brought in just over $5700 that first year. It was after that the 501© organization was formed. Since then, they have been able to raise $71 Million. In 2010, they were able to raise $10.2 million.

The Youth will be giving of their service at Harvest Hope, God’s Storehouse and the Oliver Gospel mission. This is a great example of how our nation’s youth have stepped forward and helped in their communities.

The Souper Bowl has been able to gain endorsements from presidents, NFL owners and national figures. Souper Bowl of Caring states that one out of every four children in America live in an insecure food home. Hunger is not only happening in third world countries, but right here in our own. These youth are helping make Super Bowl weekend meaningful to those who do not have a bowl of soup.

Filed Under: Community, Habitat for Humanity Tagged With: Souper Bowl of Caring, Super Bowl, Youth

Volunteering and Meeting a Former Addict Halfway

At TheCyn.com, readers are directed to a world few of us even think about: the world of halfway houses and giving a second chance to someone who truly needs it. The tentacles of addiction extend far beyond the addict. Families are impacted as addicts lose their jobs as a result of drug use. Addiction also impacts friendships as addicts’ friend circles are replaced exclusively by drug users. If you have the time to volunteer and make a difference, volunteering at a halfway house is a great way to impact an addict trying to get back on track.

At halfway houses, volunteers are afforded the opportunity to meet addicts in recovery. While the point may be for you to help turn around a life, which is indeed the expectation, you will be amazed at the impact it has on you. While you aren’t earning money, you are doing an invaluable service to your soul. You will witness the withdrawal process and see what happens first hand when an addict takes steps toward recovery. You will hear their stories and become familiar with the impacts that controlled substances like alcohol, crystal meth, and heroin have on the human brain. Most of all, you will see firsthand how substance abuse tears apart families. Your experience can ultimately become your own deterrent from addictive behavior.

Volunteering is something many of us ponder and few of us try. Moreover, the wrong choice of a volunteering destination can deter you from considering another opportunity. Do yourself a favor and contact your nearest halfway house. Through your volunteer efforts in helping those who suffer from addiction, you can personally make a difference in someone’s decision to change and live a clean life. You can help them become the good father, mother, sibling, friend, and mentor they hope to be. The service you will do to your soul will last a lifetime. It’s a decision you simply will not regret.

Filed Under: Habitat for Humanity, Seasonal Volunteering Tagged With: Addictions, Addictive behavior, Centers and Counseling Services, Controlled substance, Halfway house, Health, Substance abuse, Substance dependence

Donating to Habitat for Humanity to Make A Difference in Communities

Little-Known Benefits of Working for a Charity

Ways to Help Your Local Soup Kitchen

Habitat for Humanity: From Somalia to Chattanooga

Tackling Hunger: Souper Bowl of Caring

Volunteering and Meeting a Former Addict Halfway

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