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OCTOBER, 2014
The Good News
Building Homes and Changing Lives In Christ
AIKEN COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Lauren Ham Starts Her New Home
Lauren currently works at Sam’s
Club. Lauren’s grandmother Renee
Hicks attended the groundbreaking.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” she
said. “Lauren is very dedicated.
She began working at a young age.
She was only about 15 years old
when she helped me at the Blue
Top Grill in Graniteville and started
washing dishes. She went on to
work at a couple other area restaurants.
From left: Theresa Green of Sam’s Club, homeowner Lauren Ham, daughter Leah Williams,
Carlene Clark of Security Federal Bank, Father George Alexander and Deacon Beau Davis of All
Saints Anglican Church, Joyce Hicks and Thelma Forehand of Wesley United Methodist Church,
Amy Stertz of Aiken First Baptist Church, and Habitat Executive Director Richard Church.
Late this year or early next year,
Lauren Ham and her 4-year-old
daughter, Leah Williams, will be making a big move. They’ll pack up their
belongings in their apartment on
Wire Road and head to their new
home on Stone Drive. This home
will be #97 for Aiken County Habitat
for Humanity.
“It’s a blessing,” said Lauren at the
groundbreaking for her home in early
September. “I’m a single mother, and
this house will help me give Leah a
stable life,” she said. “There also will
be a yard where she can play. Where
we live now, we only have a little
patio and the sidewalk.”
“Every job she has ever had she has
always left on good terms,” Ms.
Hicks continued. “She has always
advanced. She has never stepped
back. She has worked very, very
hard to get here from where she’s
come from.”
The sponsors of Lauren’s home are
Aiken First Baptist Church, OffRoad Bridgestone, All Saints Anglican Church, Wesley United Methodist Church, Security Federal
Bank, and Graniteville St. John United Methodist Church.
M E ET YO UR HA B I TAT B OARD OF D I R EC TO RS
Kathy Monahon, President
Deb Kladivko
Mary Guynn, Vice President
David McGuire
Lee Boylston, Treasurer
Judy Sennett
Marsh Burckhalter, Secretary
Aaron Washington
Fred Dohse
Richard Church, Executive Director
Stephanie Franklin
Henry Krippner, ex-officio
Michael Jordan
Robert Girardeau, ex-officio
From the Executive Director
It is useful to keep in mind why housing is so
important in life to better understand why
Habitat does what it does! Research has
shown that affordable housing is an essential
“platform” that promotes positive outcomes
in education, employment and physical and
mental health. Decent, stable and affordable
housing is at the core of strong vibrant families and communities.
It is interesting to note that poor housing
quality is the most consistent and strongest
predictor of emotional and behavioral problems in low-income children and youth.
Therefore, housing plays a key role in positively influencing a family’s education, employment and health opportunities, in other
words, its wellbeing. However, the problem
that exists today is that there is not sufficient
affordable housing available for low-income
families to meet demand. This problem prevails across the nation and is true here in
Aiken County as well. In fact, even for people making the median income, they are ex-
periencing the lack of affordable housing
within their own communities.
So Habitat for Humanity is trying to address
this problem here in Aiken for the low and
very low-income families. Our houses are
definitely life changing. While we only construct 4 houses a year which is far short of
what is needed, it still remains a strong beginning in addressing the need. HabitatAiken is now starting its 97th house. That in
itself is significant, and it shows what the
community, businesses, volunteers and government can do when they work together
with Habitat to make our communities a
better place to live while at the same time
changing lives.
Together we are making a difference in
providing affordable homeownership opportunities to low-income families. That is why
Habitat does what it does!
Richard C. Church
Executive Director
Habitat ReStore News
Next time you’re in the Habitat ReStore, please welcome new
Pickup Coordinator Reggie Gambrell. Reggie just started in September and brings nearly 40 years of experience in retail sales,
mostly in the hardware and building supply business.
Reggie’s duties include preparing the schedule for pickup of donated items, arranging the volunteers to make the pickups, receiving
the donated items, repairing the items as needed, and placing them
on the sales floor.
Reggie volunteered to join the ReStore Committee at the beginning of this year. “I really liked the mission of Habitat,” Reggie
said. When the position of Pickup Coordinator was advertised,
Reggie applied and the ReStore is glad he did.
ReStore Manager Henry Krippner and Assistant Manager Cindy
Nichols were thrilled to get Reggie and to fill a vacancy that had
been open a long while. And just in time. The ReStore reported
the highest sales month in their history in August. Parts of that
record sales amount were the sales of a used car and the bar cabinets from the old Bowery Restaurant. Plus there were a lot of
nice donations from the community. Thanks to the ReStore staff,
volunteers, and for the support of the community.
New ReStore Pickup Coordinator Reggie Gambrell
Henry also reports that the wedding bells have been ringing in
his family. His granddaughter was married in July and his grandson will be married in October. Congratulations.
Jack Butler
At Habitat house builds throughout
many years, there was no mistaking
that northeast-accented voice that
would periodically pierce the air.
“That work is ‘poifect.’ ” Or, “Lunch
is ‘soived.’ ” That was Jack Butler.
Jack passed away this past July at the
age of 75.
Jack was a banker by profession, but
he had a long history of volunteering
his time and talent. Living in New Jersey, Jack volunteered with the Board
of Education, his childrens’ high school,
his church, and a service organization
called the Holiday Observers.
Jack started with Habitat shortly after
moving to Aiken in 2000. He served
on the Board of Directors and chaired
the Construction Committee. He
also was a regular with the Friday
Crew. Friday crew workers remember Jack as cool and calm and always
sincere. Even after his health started
to fail, Jack showed his dedication by
coming with his oxygen bottle in tow
and running the cutoff saw.
Jack had a special respect for the
Women Build program. He served
as the lead construction “super advisor” in the early years of the Women
Build program.
Jack was also very active with St.
Thaddeus Episcopal Church and with
the Masterworks Chorale.
Jack will be long remembered by
Habitat.
Women Build Kitchen Tour
Please don’t wait to get your tickets to participate in the Third Annual Women Build Kitchen Tour fundraiser on Sunday, October 12,
from 12:00 to 5:30 pm. This year’s tour will include 8 houses in
Aiken’s Historic Downtown area (all 8 different from last year’s
tour), and ticketholders will have the opportunity to see the design and décor of a variety of kitchen and dining areas in both
historic houses and one spacious downtown condo. In each
kitchen, local caterers will offer delectable samples of favorite
dishes, and the tour will also showcase the work of local florists
and tabletop decorators/stores.
Advance tickets are $25 and will be available online at
www.aikenkitchentour.com or at Plum Pudding, Material Things,
Aiken Office Supplies, or Cold Creek Nurseries until they sell
out.
All proceeds will be used toward materials for the 9th Women
Build house which is scheduled to begin in March of 2015. Please
come out for an enjoyable afternoon and support our Women
Build team! For more information, call 641-6777.
Thanks To The Aiken Home Show
Aiken County Habitat for Humanity was
thrilled to participate in the third annual
Aiken Home Show. The Aiken Home
Show was held on September 19 & 20 at
the Aiken Fairgrounds. Presented by the
Aiken Standard, the Home Show included
vendors for home building, remodeling,
landscaping, and decorating.
Thanks to Habitat Operations Director
Arie Murphy for setting up an informative
display at the Home Show. It was another
chance to spread the Habitat word. Several new volunteers signed up.
And thanks to the Aiken Standard who
donated proceeds from a silent auction of
holiday wreaths to Habitat. Habitat looks
forward to participating next year.
Volunteers Always Needed
There is always a need for volunteers to
work in the ReStore, especially on Saturdays. Specifically, we are looking for pickup drivers/helpers, cashiers, and sales floor
helpers at our ReStore in Aiken at 1026
Park Ave., SE, across Orangeburg Street
from the bowling alley. Drivers are needed for pick ups on Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday mornings. Our drivers need
to be able to lift 50 pounds and MUST
have good driving records. Cashier and
sales floor help is needed in the ReStore
on Tuesday through Saturday. ReStore
volunteers are asked to work a single shift
from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM or 1:00 PM to
4:00 PM on Tuesday through Friday or
from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturdays.
Training for all positions will be provided,
and teaming up with a friend to volunteer is
a great way to help our ministry.
We encourage you to shop in our ReStore.
We have great bargains and the merchandise is constantly changing, so shop often.
www.habitataiken.org, or email Arie at
arie_murphy@habitataiken.org., or call 6429295, ext. 301. For the ReStore, call 6420530.
We are also available to make a presentation
to a group upon request.
You may also donate good saleable items of
furniture, appliances, tools and building
materials to our ReStore. You may drop
items off at the store or call the store at
642-0530 to arrange pickup of larger items.
There are also volunteer opportunities on
several Habitat committees.
If you would like to get more information
including volunteer opportunities, go to
Aiken Discount Tire & Auto Service
TLC Medical Center
Newberry Hall
First Citizens Bank
6-9 PC Repair
Wife Saver of Aiken
RCS Corporation
Aiken Ophthalmology
Automotive Work Bench
Buzz Rich, Attorney at Law
Aiken Pest Control
SRP Federal Credit Union
Hite’s Florist
P. O. Box 3323
Aiken, SC
29802
Address label here