Sea Island Habitat for Humanity: Housing Hope

HABITAT NIGHT at Charleston Battery

2009-06-24T11:59:00.011-04:00

Come out and join us for "Habitat Night" at the Charleston Battery Game!

Join us July 24th as the Charleston Battery take on the Carolina Rail Hawks! ALL TICKET PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY!

Date: Friday, July 24th
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Blackbaud Stadium, Daniel Island
Cost: $15

*****In order to have your ticket purchase proceeds go to Habitat, you MUST PRE-ORDER your tickets. Please call 843-768-0998 today to PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS!*****

FAITH IN ACTION BUILD

2009-05-20T15:04:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday, volunteers from James Island Presbyterian Church braved the climbing temperatures and came out to help frame the Brown's new home on Lot 42 of Brownswood Place. Earl and Carrie Brown, residents of James Island, are now renting a small 2-bedroom apartment in a somewhat unsafe neighborhood and are looking to own their first home. They have never been homeowners before and are looking forward to the adventures and challenges this new chapter in their life will bring. About 30 volunteers from JIPC came out to help and lunch was generously provided by Epworth UMC. Both churches volunteered their services as part of the Faith in Action project, spearheaded by SIHH.

The Faith in Action project, taking place this spring, is an initiative encouraging churches from all over Charleston to come together and put their "faith in action" by helping to build a home for the Brown family. With the ultimate goal being for local churches to provided the labor, prayer support, and funds to build the $60,000 home, it is a massive undertaking, but several partner churches have already stepped forward to help. James Island Presbyterian Church, Blessed Sacrament Church, St. Johns Presbyterian Church, St. John's Parish, St. Andrew's UMC, and Seacoast Church--James Island all plan on contributing financially to the home as well as by bringing out volunteers to work on the house. Epworth UMC, St. James Presbyterian and Crosstown Christian Church will also help with the home by providing lunches or by volunteering.

To check out pictures from this Saturday's build, please click on the link below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/seaislandhabitat/FaithinActionBuild

For more information on the build or to get involved, please contact Molly Coffey at 843-768-0998 x 112 or outreach@seaislandhabitat.org

BROWNSWOOD BLOCK PARTY

2009-05-20T14:26:00.006-04:00

With the sun shining down and the sweet tea flowing, volunteers from James Island Baptist Church came out to Brownswood Place on Johns Island Saturday afternoon to throw a block party for the neighborhood families. Jump castles, water balloons, tug-of-war, corn hole, face painting, hot dogs, chips, drinks and more were all provided by James Island Baptist and about 50 neighborhood children came out to enjoy the festivities. The Johns Island Fire Department even stopped by to talk to the children about fire safety and to cool off the crowd with a little mist from their fire hoses!

The party lasted from 12pm-3pm and it was a great way for members of James Island Baptist to get to know our Habitat children and families. The event was organized by Pastor Brent Gordon as part of the James Island Inasmuch Project, which took place on May 16th and encouraged James Island residents to give back to their community through participating in projects such as the Brownswood Block Party. Several members of the JIBC youth group as well as multiple church families were on hand to lead the face painting, tug-of-war and other activities throughout the day.

You can just tell from the look on the children's faces that a good time was had by all, and we extend a BIG thank-you to James Island Baptist Church for organizing this great community building activity!

For more pictures from the event, please check out our online photo album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/seaislandhabitat.org/BronwswoodBlockParty

WOMEN BUILD 2009

2009-05-20T10:47:00.005-04:00

The sounds of hammers, saws and power tools filled the air of Brownswood Place May 2-May 9, 2009. Hundreds of women throughout the Lowcountry (and those from places as far away as New York and Massachusetts) journeyed to Johns Island, SC to participate in Women Build 09 and help build a home for Cuco and Yenny Ramirez and their 3 boys. With the Carolina sun blazing down, over 200 women worked tirelessly throughout the week to raise the walls, install the windows and put the roof on the home. While there is still much interior work to be done, by the end of the week, Lot 41 looked like a real home from the outside...an amazing feat for 7 days of work!

The mission for the Women Build project is to fund and build a home, primarily by women, for a hard-working family and to inspire women to empower themselves, while at the same time develop lasting life skills and relationships. 2009 was the 9th year that Sea Island Habitat for Humanity has participated in the Women Build program, but it was the 10th Women Build home as SIHH completed 2 homes as part of Women Build 08.

This year's homeowner, Yenny Ramirez, was out at the site EVERY DAY...and even was there to work during the "early bird" shift at 6am on Wednesday morning. Residents of North Charleston, the Ramirez family is so thankful to be receiving this blessing. "We are so happy to be building our home and thank SIHH for this opportunity," says Yenny.

In addition to the dedication of our volunteers and homeowners, local organizations throughout the community also came together to help provide lunches and fund portions of the home. A special thanks goes out to all of those who helped to make this dream possible for the Ramirez family. We look forward to seeing you all out there next year!

To check out more photos from the week, please visit our online photo album....
http://picasaweb.google.com/seaislandhabitat/WomenBuild2009#

2009-04-30T11:38:00.008-04:00

Habitat for HumaniTEA Party!

With beautiful weather and a crowd of close to 100 women displaying their elaborate hats, our Tea Party fundraiser was a shining success. Hosted by the Hat Divas Society of Charleston, the "Habitat for HumaniTEA" event was the primary fundraiser for Women Build 2009! The event was held at the Charleston Tea Plantation on April 18th and thanks to the support of the Hat Divas Society, the Charleston Tea Plantation, and many other generous Charleston retailers and restaurants, we were able to exceed our goal and raise $5,101 for the Ramirez Family home. The afternoon was filled with lemonade, iced tea and delicious food, and Gary Pecorrella generously donated his piano skills to the event. All who attended enjoyed the afternoon tea, and we are already looking forward to next year! For more pictures from the event, please click on the link below!

http://picasaweb.google.com/seaislandhabitat/HabitatForHumaniTEA#

2009-04-13T10:12:00.004-04:00

Hear What They Had to Say...

Over the past several weeks, we have been immersed in our Collegiate Challenge program. College students from all over the country have come to SIHH to volunteer during their spring breaks and we have gotten so much done as a result! Construction on three new homes in Brownswood Place on Johns Island has begun and our staff and volunteers are working diligently on two homes in Trinity Place in Hollywood, SC. Check out what the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Group had to say about their experiences here...

http://www4.uwm.edu/news/stories/details.cfm?customel_datapageid_11602=680782

For more photos from Collegiate Challenge, please check out our online photo album at

http://picasaweb.google.com/seaislandhabitat/CollegiateChallenge2009#

2009-03-03T16:32:00.003-05:00

COLLEGIATE CHALLENGE TIME!

This spring, college and high school students from all over the country and Canada are coming to Johns Island to spend their spring break with SIHH! Over the next 6 weeks, we will be hosting over 500 students, making it a very exciting and busy time for us here! The groups will be working on our Johns Island, Wadmalaw and Hollywood projects and many will be staying with us in our volunteer housing. To see if a group from your alma matter is coming to town, contact Anne Randall (843-768-0998 x 109 or volunteer@seaislandhabitat.org). Channel 2 came out to cover the visiting groups...check out their new story below!

http://www.counton2.com/cbd/news/local/article/college_students_could_soon_be_paid_to_volunteer/21294/

2009-02-17T17:02:00.003-05:00

Deconstruction Staff Lends a Hand In Charlotte

Deconstruction supervisor Jillian Cain and Deconstruction AmeriCorps members Kristen Cooper and Michael Rey journeyed up to Charlotte last week to help out with a major deconstruction. The three-person SIHH team joined the Deconstruction Staff from the Charlotte ReStore to help remove cabinets, windows, and doors from a flooded apartment complex. The Cavalier Apartment Complex, considered one of the most unsafe places in Charlotte to live, is being dismantled this month, as part of a county plan to erase the flood prone apartments and start anew. In the next two weeks, Habitat for Humanity crews will work at removing 900 oak kitchen cabinets, 764 vinyl windows, 450 interior doors and 90 exterior doors from 90 upper floor east Charlotte apartments that were not contaminated by floor waters. Check out the full article and other images of our SIHH crew at the link below.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/436/gallery/533210.html

2009-02-17T16:58:00.002-05:00

Congratulations ReStore Volunteers and Staff!

During the ReStore social at the National Conference, three ReStores were recognized by the U.S Office for their professional excellence and dedication to achieving the mission of Habitat for Humanity. These stores were nominated by their peers and selected by the U.S. Office at Habitat International to receive this honor. The inaugural recipients were Charlotte Habitat for Humanity, Delaware County Habitat for Humanity and SEA ISLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY! Congratulations...keep up all the hard work!

2009-02-12T16:30:00.003-05:00

The MLK House is Looking GREAT....

Thanks to all our construction staff and volunteers, the Richardson family's home is looking great. The windows are hung, the doors are in, and the siding is up...it's really starting to look like a home. We could always use a few more volunteers, so give us a call at 843-768-0998 to help on this house or one of our other homes! Thanks again to all of those who have helped us so far.

2009-01-27T09:58:00.004-05:00

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!

Our ministry is one that survives thanks to the great support we receive from our dedicated volunteers. Whether it is out on the construction site, in our ReStore, or in the SIHH Office, our volunteers are integral in every aspect of what we do! As a way of saying thank-you to all of you who have given your time to help those in need, SIHH is throwing a Volunteer Appreciation Party (event details below). Please come and enjoy music, food and drink. If interested, please R.S.V.P to Anne Randall (843-768-0998 x109 or volunteer@seaislandhabitat.org). We look forward to seeing you there!

Event: Volunteer Appreciation Party
Date: February 7, 2009

Time: 6pm until...

Place: Church of Our Savior (4416 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Johns Island, SC)

2009-01-20T14:41:00.005-05:00

MLK DAY BUILD 2009
Thanks to our dedicated volunteers and staff, our 6th annual MLK Day Build was a great success. Mayor Heyward kicked-off the day with a speech on the construction site, and volunteers worked throughout today to frame the house! Homeowners Cynthia and Willie Richardson were there along with AmeriCorps volunteers from all across the state. Thanks again to all our partners (Applebees, Star 99.7, Harris Teeter, AmeriCorps, etc.) for making this event so great! Check out the story that LIVE 5 News ran on the build...

http://www.live5news.com/global/Category.asp?C=151146&clipId=&topVideoCatNo=155206&topVideoCatNoB=155212&topVideoCatNoC=155213&topVideoCatNoD=155217&topVideoCatNoE=155224&clipId=3355623&topVideoCatNo=155206&autoStart=true

For more photos from the event, check out our online album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/seaislandhabitat/MLKBuild2009#

2009-01-06T10:57:00.002-05:00

MLK BUILD 2009!

This Martin Luther King Day (January 19th, 2009) will mark a special day for SIHH as we embark on our Day On, Not a Day Off project with a special home build honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Each year on MLK day, thanks to the support we have received from volunteers, churches and donors, we have been able to provide one hard-working family with a place to call home. This year will be no exception as we build our first neighborhood in Hollywood, SC for the Richardson family. To donate or volunteer, please contact Molly at outreach@seaislandhabitat.org or call 843-768-0998.

2008-12-16T10:27:00.012-05:00

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas....

Sea Island Habitat is getting into the Christmas spirit! The Sea Island Sleigh was spotted all over the Lowcountry-- from Hollywood to Charleston's Christmas parades, we were spreading the Christmas cheer. SIHH even came in 3rd place in the Hollywood parade. Congrats to all those who helped to make our float so great.

2008-11-21T15:59:00.009-05:00

McCloud Place Update...

Thanks to all the support from our volunteers, families, and staff, we have now framed all 4 houses in McCloud Place! We are using our new Earthcraft certified house plans, and the homes are looking great! We still have lots of work to do, so please give us a call if you'd like to volunteer (843-768-0998)

2008-11-19T09:41:00.002-05:00

Deconstruction...the ultimate in recycling!

Our deconstruction program here at SIHH continues to excel. Jillian Cain, the deconstruction manager, has given new definition to our "green" practices, diverting 17.89 tons of material from the landfill in the months of September and October alone! This program has brought $11,000 worth of merchandise into the store this month. The Post and Courier recently published an article on the benefits of deconstruction practices and profiled SIHH's efforts...check out the story below! If you would like to volunteer on a deconstruction project or have materials that could be recycled, please call the ReStore at 843-559-4009!

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/nov/16/deconstruction_saves_money_helps_at_land61766/

2008-10-30T15:10:00.005-04:00

Volunteers Needed!

We are need of several volunteers to help us out this November. We’re about to frame and dry in our last house in McCloud Place on Wadmalaw Island. It will be our first two-story house, and it will be Earthcraft certified. We’ll be working this NOVEMBER 12-14 and NOVEMBER 17-21. PLEASE HELP! Volunteer for a whole day, a group of days, a morning (8-12), or an afternoon (1-4). We welcome you to come by yourself or to get a group of friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors together to come join in the fun. We’re shooting for about 20 volunteers each day. Will you help us reach this goal? Please contact Anne Randall at volunteer@seaislandhabitat.org or 843-768-0998 ext. 109 to sign up! We look forward to seeing you there.

2008-10-22T09:31:00.008-04:00

GREEN BUILD ON THE NEWS!

On the kick-off day of our 2008 Green Build, ABC News 4 paid a visit to the construction site on Wadmalaw Island to do a story on our efforts. Click below to see the video and read the story! NBC Channel 2 News also stopped by on Thursday to do a story as well a reporter from the Digitel (links below). Thanks to Nikki and everyone else for all their hard work on this project :) Nikki's work was also recognized by the Charleston City Paper as they profiled her efforts...click below to read the great profile article! Check out all the photos and articles from the build below!

Video Links:
ABC News 4
http://www.wciv.com/news/stories/1008/563307.html

NBC News 2
http://www.counton2.com/cbd/news/local/article/green_habitat_for_humanity_homes_built_on_wadmalaw_island/15972/

Charleston City Paper:
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A54506

The Digitel:
http://www.thedigitel.com/top-stories/sea-island-habitat-humanity-goes-green-1938-1024

Nikki's Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/SeibertN/Greenbuild08#

2008-10-20T12:05:00.010-04:00

BROWNSWOOD DEDICATION CEREMONY:

.Thank you to all who made Saturday's Dedication Ceremony truly special...it was a great experience for all. Congratulations to all our new homeowners!

Check out more photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/seaislandhabitat

2008-10-20T11:14:00.012-04:00

President of Ghana Dedicates Sea Island Habitat's Library in Ghana:

September 9th marked an historic day for Sea Island Habitat and its partner affiliate in Nkwantakese, Ghana. President Kuffor visited the rural village and took part in a dedication ceremony of the town's Information Communication Technology Institute and Library, which Sea Island Habitat for Humanity volunteers helped to build in 2004. The event was covered by both national TV and radio stations throughout Ghana. George of the Nkwantakese affiliate said that "[Sea Island Habitat] was praised and congratulated throughout the country." Thanks so much to all our volunteers and supporters who helped to build this great library for the village children. It has served as a great community and learning center for all the town's children and adults.

2008-10-20T09:45:00.006-04:00

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!

Thank you so much to all of our volunteers who have helped us out this month! Without you, none of our builds would be possible. Bishop Gadsden was out on site all week-long working on their home in McCloud Place on Wadmalaw Island, and our group from UNC helped out tremendously at both McCloud Place and our Hollywood home. And we got some really good pictures too! Keep up the hard work!

2008-10-16T15:20:00.006-04:00

Just a reminder...

Please come and join us this Saturday at our

BROWNSWOOD DEDICATION CEREMONY

Saturday, October 18th @ 3pm

We will be dedicating 37 homes...a record number for SIHH! The festivities start at 3pm and the families' homes will be open afterwards for touring. Please come and help us celebrate this exciting accomplishment!

2008-10-16T15:02:00.004-04:00

SEA ISLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS GOING GREEN!

Come join us for our GREEN BUILD next week, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21st- SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25th. We will be building at our newest site, McCloud Place, on Wadmalaw Island. Be there Tuesday morning at 8am as Director of Coastal Conservation League, Dana Beach, kicks off the week long build! Please call our office at 768-0998 with any questions...we look forward to seeing you there!

SIHH has been making a substantial effort to increase our green building practices. Nikki has been instrumental in coordinating and improving our green efforts. We have been recently awarded the 2008 Sustainability Award from the American Institute of Architects, and we have been named the 2008 Green Building Project of the year by the Carolina Recycling Association. SIHH also participated in the Green Fair in Marion Square Park on September 28 along with many other area organizations. Check out the video from the event on The Digitel...
http://www.thedigitel.com/arts/green-fair-celebration-sustainable-living-1695-0929

GO GREEN!

Friday, October 3rd

2008-10-03T12:38:00.003-04:00

It has been a busy fall for all of us here at Sea Island Habitat. In addition to working on houses in Johns Island, Wadmalaw, Hollywood and Edisto, Jill has officially launched our de-construction services at the ReStore. This is where we remove any reusable building item from a house or building to re-sell at the ReStore. This reduces the disposal of usable materials into landfills and provides variable materials for ReStore shoppers! So far, we have received $10,000 dollars worth of merchandise and saved 6.8 tons of material from going to the landfill. Pretty impressive for just over a month!

Also, we have just received word from the Charleston chapter of the American Institute of Architects that SIHH has won the 2008 Sustainability Award for our work at McLoud Place on Wadmalaw Island. We will receive our award on October 15. Thanks so much to all of you of have make to help SIHH recognizably "green"...

2008-08-13T12:04:00.016-04:00

We had a great summer marked by some amazing work groups. Here are some pictures of just a few. However, students are going back to school, and summer volunteer groups are winding down. We are looking forward to what the fall brings, and this includes four new AmeriCorps members and several sponsored builds. Among the builds are the WEZL/Exchange Club of Seabrook/Kiawah Build, the Bishop Gadsden Build, and the Coastal Conservation League Build. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date.