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Blog
WOW! 25 Years ... Happy Birthday to the Habitat Pinellas Family
Friday, August 20, 2010
Birthdays are often a time to reflect on the milestones in our lives. Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County is turning 25 this year! Our celebration will include new milestones to add to future birthdays!
We kicked off the year by blitz-building two homes in January for the Anderson and Barnhart families. It was a great party, with Publix birthday cake every single day! (Check out photos below to see what it looks like to build two homes in one week.)
The biggest bang comes this summer, when we will dedicate our 200th Pinellas County home in the city of Clearwater. It took us 18 years to build our first set of 100 homes; it has only taken us 7 years to build the second set!! In fact, we are one of the largest builders in Pinellas County right now, having built and/or renovated 29 homes in the last 12 months. Our volunteers and construction folks are tired, but totally jazzed about serving the most families in one year EVER.
In looking at our first home’s timeline, the early pioneers and volunteers of Habitat Pinellas had the first groundbreaking ceremony on a property in St. Petersburg on March 29 of 1985. That first home was dedicated on July 29 of 1986. Some of the churches/organizations involved with us 25 years ago are still involved with us today, helping us to make dreams a reality for the 30 families in our pipeline to have their own homes constructed – or rehabbed.
Those organizations are still involved include (please reply to the blog and add to the list!): First Congregational Church of St Petersburg, First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Seminole, Oakhurst and Anona United Methodist Churches, and countless volunteers who have stayed the course to work with us all these 25 years. The City of St. Petersburg is probably our longest-running partnership, with more than 65 parcels donated to HfHPC – add to their donations properties we have bought or that have been donated by others, and more than 105 of those 200 homes are in St. Pete.
Today, we have 5 homes under construction in St. Petersburg along with single-family homes in Largo and Clearwater. And – ta-da! Another two 25th anniversary milestones: Our first townhome subdivision in Dunedin of 19 homes is under construction, and a 51-home subdivision in Clearwater will be under construction soon.
What are we going to do for our 50th anniversary!!!??? I hope I’m still around – as a volunteer – to see it! I think it will be amazing! What will our house count be? What will the birthday celebration be like? Blitz Build of 20 homes???
Thanks for 25 years of building!
"It took us 18 years to build our first set of 100 homes; it has only taken us 7 years to build the second set!" - Barbara Inman
By: Barbara Inman, President/CEO
Learn the Habitat Lingo
Thursday, July 1, 2010
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Site supervisors |
Your site supervisor is the “boss” of your site, the person overseeing the build. Typically, they work for Habitat because their heart is three to four times larger than that of an ordinary person. They not only know how to build a home with their eyes closed; they know how to teach people how to build a home. To hear a good story, ask a site supervisor about their favorite Habitat moment.
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Soffit and fascia |
Many of our volunteers are new to these terms. The horizontal fascia board caps the end of the rafters outside a home, which can be used to hold the rain gutter. The finished surface below the fascia and rafters is called the soffit or eave. |
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Sweat equity |
All our future homeowners need 250 to 350 volunteer hours, called sweat equity because it is part of the way they earn their home. After 100 hours, work on one’s own lot begins. Before that, future homeowners build homes for other families and learn their way around a tool belt. |
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Homeowner vs. Candidate |
Technically, a person in the program is called a candidate until he or she gets their keys. When they get their keys, they are called homeowners because this is when they start paying on their zero-profit, zero-interest mortgage. You can usually spot candidates because they wear bright blue shirts and are pretty comfortable around the tools. |
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“Good job, Peanut!” |
If Rick is your site supervisor and you hear this phrase, chances are you did something not quite right. No need to worry. Rick just likes to tease and LOVES the opportunity to show volunteers how to do things the right (Rick) way. |
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“You’re getting a raise!” |
Those supervisors sure think they are funny. Basically, if you hear this, it means you’ve been a stellar worker. |
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Starboard side |
Just kidding. Houses aren’t like boats. We just say right and left side, front and back.
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Phillip’s head |
If you are asked for one of these, look for the screwdriver with the x on the tip.
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The Regulars |
This is a special nickname given to volunteers who build on a regular basis. Although every volunteer is important, Regulars are the people who come out rain or shine and truly dedicate themselves to getting the job done. Often times, Regulars attach to a particular home because they like the family or to a particular site supervisor. Initiation into this group requires dedication and a true heart for our mission. We encourage all our volunteers to work toward becoming a “Regular.” |
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Dry in |
This is the point in construction when the home is brought to a weather-tight state. Once the dry in happens interior work cranks up. |
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THE band-aid |
Safety is a big issue on worksites with all those sharp objects and opportunities for bumped heads. Your site supervisor’s main concern is making sure you have a safe volunteer experience. So chances are, you’ll never have to find out about THE band-aid. |
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Flying the trusses |
To truss means to tie up the wings and legs of a bird before you cook it. Trusses on a home, however, are the wood framework for the roof. Flying the trusses may have something to do with the point when we throw the tied-up bird over the roofline to bless the home.  For a more correct answer: Ask your site supervisor. |
Did we miss one? Leave a comment and let us know.
By: Jamie Cataldo
Welcoming New Staff Members
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Introducing Steve Lightburn, VP Development: My name is Steve Lightburn and I have been a consistent Habitat volunteer for the last three years. As I worked my way up the volunteer ladder, people took notice, and I received a promotion to Volunteer Site Supervisor and a hefty raise (from $0 to $000). I am a staunch supporter of Habitat’s mission and in awe of how the Pinellas County affiliate is run. My background is in management, primarily corporate and private enterprise, and I build and successfully maintain relationships. When I was offered the position of VP Development, how could I refuse?
 Introducing Glenn C., ReStore Supervisor: Glenn was born in Long Island, NY and currently lives in Clearwater. He loves Aerosmith, frozen peanut butter stuffed pretzels (ask him about it) and his convertible ...He feels like a millionaire without the money after having his kidney transplant in 2004. He started his career with the Habitat ReStore a couple years back, working part-time on Saturdays. As of January 2010, Glenn was brought full time If you haven’t had the pleasure to see him in action, you are missing out on meeting a real people person. Glenn has brought over 20 years of retail sales experience, and the ReStore is thrilled to have him.
Introducing Vanessa Wilks, Office Manager: Vanessa comes to Habitat with extensive management experience in healthcare non-profits. But we are most excited that Vanessa is our very own Willy Wonka, as she has owned a chocolate manufacturing, wholesale and retail business. When she isn’t whipping up chocolate creations and entertaining Oompa Loompas; Vanessa enjoys attending art shows, watching action movies, visiting new places, boutique shopping, and reading. Her favorite is family time, especially watching her daughter play junior varsity volley ball, soccer or varsity lacrosse. As a family, they love playing with their golden retriever “Frisbee.”
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