A message from Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of NW Indiana, Dawn Michaels
Finding new ways to navigate through the world has been challenging these last few months – but I really don’t have to tell you that. What I do need to tell you is how Habitat for Humanity of NW Indiana has made adjustments and is moving forward with our mission to build homes, communities and hope!
We experienced quite a few changes as a result of the covid19 crisis and ensuing statewide shutdown. Our ReStores were temporarily closed, we opened a new online store, we scrambled to get one of the homes being built “dried in”, and we ultimately halted all building projects.
During the shutdown, I worked with our managers and board of directors on a plan to re-open Habitat operations, including additional safety measures in our ReStores, on our build sites and in the administrative office. Donated goods to the ReStores received additional cleaning and disinfecting, as well as new processes put in place to disinfect newly donated items during pick up and drop off. Shields have been installed to provide additional safety for shoppers and cashiers at checkout. Thanks to three separate grant’s from the Legacy Foundation in partnership with Crown Point Community Foundation and East Chicago Foundations, from First Merchants Bank, and from the Lake County Community Economic Development – we are providing masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and disinfectants for all of our staff and volunteers while the virus is impacting us. We are so grateful to each of these organizations in making funding available for the necessary, but unbudgeted expenses of covid19.
In May our Griffith ReStore re-opened and boy oh boy, it seems there was some pent up demand as they say! Sales have been going strong at the Griffith ReStore which is good news as we experienced a drop in other fundraising revenue and as our Merrillville ReStore remains closed. We are working to reopen the Merrillville ReStore in the next month. Each ReStore is responsible for funding at least one home per year. You can help by donating gently used items to our ReStore; call our hotline to schedule a free pickup by calling 219-972-3000.
I’m also excited to report that our Women Build and Faith Build projects are back in gear, with a $10,000 grant from the NiSource Charitable Foundation, kick starting Women Build activity! The Faith Build project is a result of a partnership with Thrivent Financial. Thrivent has generously provided a match up to $70,000 to build one home for a partner family. Each of these homes will run right about $120,000.
It is through corporate sponsorship of teams, local volunteers forming their own sponsored teams, and the support of area churches that we raise funds to support our Women Build and Faith Build homes.
Local volunteers can pledge to raise $1,000 to “sponsor a Women Build team” for a day by signing up just by clicking the Project tab at the top of this page and choosing Women Build from the drop down. Then use our easy to use tools to invite friends and family to join in by making a donation and/or joining in on the fun to spend a day building!
There are a variety of ways for companies who wish to support Women Build and churches wanting to support Faith Build. We welcome the opportunity to find the right fit for you! No organization is too big or too small to get involved and help families build strength through home ownership!
Please reach out to our Development Director, Wende Burbridge at 219-923-7265 ext 1304 or dirdev@nwihabitat.org if you’re interested in learning more about Women Build or Faith Build – or any of our other programs.
We are so excited to be moving forward! It’s because of this community, and we THANK every one of YOU!