Quarterly Newsletter | Summer 2015

A Summer with Global Village at 15th and Pioneer

The first team of Global Village members (pictured above) constructed the second floor frame for the Santiago-Laboy family home.

This summer we had the opportunity to host two amazing Global Village teams at our build site on 15th and Pioneer in Philomath. The Global Village program provides volunteers the hands-on opportunity to build affordable housing in communities around the world. Participants not only travel and volunteer on the build site, they also generously donate money to Habitat for Humanity International and the local host affiliate.

The first group to work with us this summer was a lively team of Seattle-based women engineers and their families. The group arrived in Corvallis on June 20th. Their team leader, Jessie Strauss, has led over 35 Global Village teams including trips to Guatemala, South Africa, India, China, and Mongolia. This Benton County trip was special to her because she was able to work alongside her engineering co-workers and friends.

On Monday morning the team laced up their work boots and slathered

Raising Walls with Women BuildHow quickly summer has zipped by! When you drive by - or volunteer at - the 15th and Pioneer construction site remember that it all started with a group of women hammering sub-floor and raising the first walls. In May, over 60 women participated in the annual Women Build event. The event encourages women of all skill sets and backgrounds to get involved on the construction site. Special shout-out to Lowes of Albany who both volunteered and graciously donated lunches and tools. We can’t wait to do it again next year!(Above) Women Build volunteers high five

after successfully constructing a frame.

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on sunscreen to get started on constructing the second floor framing. After a week of hammering and sawing the group completed the first and second floor framing!

One of the team members wrote about the experience: “I couldn’t believe the progress that’s been made

since Monday [...] everyone was busily working, very organized and professional! The foreman, Kevin, had a big smile on his face. What a great opportunity […] grateful to be a part of such a fun team doing something so worthwhile!”

Page 2 | Summer 2015 Page 3 | Summer 2015 Foundations Quarterly Newsletter visit us online at www.bentonhabitat.org

Spotlight on Carolyn Hinds2015-2016

Benton Habitat Board of Directors

PresidentJennifer CostaVice PresidentJoe Whinnery

TreasurerPatrick Cochran

SecretaryDennis Hanson

Barbee BirdBob BurtonSherri Gates

Beverly HobbsVan Melick

Lori StephensTom PlantRay Tucker

Our mission is to bring people together to

make decent homes achievable for everyone

in our community.

PO Box 15514840 SW Philomath Blvd.

Corvallis, OR 97339(541) 752-3354

visit us online at www.bentonhabitat.org

Volunteer Updates Volunteer Updates

Carolyn (front row, third from left) with one of this summer’s Global Village teams.

When we asked Carolyn Hinds to be our spotlight volunteer, she urged us to focus instead on all the wonderful things the Global Village team accomplished. This is what we appreciate and admire about Carolyn: her selflessness, her humility, and her unwavering efforts to advance Habitat’s mission of building decent, affordable homes.

This year, Carolyn was involved in her 10th Global Village trip. She started volunteering with Habitat with her husband Joe over 20 years ago. The two participated on trips together and became motivated by both the families they served and the diversity of people who came together to build hope within a community. When Joe passed away in 2009, Carolyn continued to stay involved with Habitat and remains inspired by her faith, her family, and her desire for a more equitable world.

A quote that motivates Carolyn to continue to build is from Thomas Merton. “I always keep it in one of my piles” she laughs as she reads it aloud, “this is my guide and my principal inspiration to continue to do Global Village builds.”

“Do not depend on the hope of results. You may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. You gradually struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. In the end, it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything.

All the good that you will do will come not from you but from the fact that you have allowed yourself, in the obedience of faith, to be used by God’s love. The real hope, then, is not in something we think we can do, but in God who is making something good out of it in some way we cannot see. If we can do His will, we will be helping in this process. But we will not necessarily know all about it beforehand…”

- Thomas Merton.

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The second team arrived in July and was led by another devoted Habitat for Humanity supporter and Benton County resident, Carolyn Hinds (learn more about Carolyn in the Volunteer Spotlight on page 2). Unlike the first group, this team consisted of volunteers who had never met before.

On July 11th, participants from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Canada, South Korea, and California arrived in Corvallis to begin their week long volunteer journey with Benton Habitat for Humanity.

By the end of the week, the team built stairs and prepared the second floor for the trusses. When they weren’t building, they visited Alsea Falls, the Oregon Coast, and Downtown Corvallis.

Not only did the group advance our mission of building decent, affordable housing, they also forged new friendships, gained skills, and became inspired to continue to volunteer with their local Habitat affiliate.

Construction Supervisor, Kevin Groh, was impressed by how both teams were eager to learn, “It’s nice to have a group of people out here for a full week. You get to watch them develop skills in home building. ”

We are grateful to all the churches, individuals, and local businesses that donated food for the team: Church of the Good Samaritan, Deborah Sether and Jay Widmer, First United Methodist, Janet Campbell, New Morning Bakery, and Tom and Glenda Plant.

If the Global Village program interests you visit: www.habitat.org/gv

(Top photo) the GV team stands together to show the completion of the second floor walls. (Below) Construction Supervisor Kevin works

with the team members to build stairs.

Habitat Kids Reading Program at Philomath LibraryOn June 29th Benton Habitat hosted

another fun reading and activity hour at the Philomath Public Library. On a sunny afternoon, kids of all ages joined us on the back patio of the library to listen to a story and discuss the theme of home, community and building with friends. After the reading, we worked together at tables full of Legos to build fun homes, community structures and even a few futuristic Habitat spaceships. BHfH Program Coordinator Jenna reads a story

and discusses “home” with kids on the back patio of the Philomath library.

The library displayed the structures built by kids. Everyone was encouraged to work as a

team - just like we do here at Benton Habitat!

Page 4 | Summer 2015 Page 5 | Summer 2015 Foundations Quarterly Newsletter visit us online at www.bentonhabitat.org

The long, dry days this summer allowed our Home Repair team to complete several exterior critical repairs for low income homeowners in and around Benton County. Below are just a few of our recent projects: s Stabilized and stained a deck for a rural low-income family

in Monroe, allowing safer access to the front door. In addition, volunteers reinforced rotted areas under the foundation.s Replaced a roof on a manufactured home for a single mother

and her twin children. One of the twins suffers from CHARGE syndrome, a genetic disorder that impairs speech, growth, hearing and muscular development. Due to the frequent amount of surgeries and critical caretaking, the mother was unable to afford basic home repairs. In addition to replacing her roof, volunteers installed wainscoting inside the home to protect the walls.s Sno-sealed a leaking roof and stabilized an overhead awning on a

manufactured home for an elderly homeowner in Corvallis.s Replaced a deteriorating roof for a low-income homeowner and her

elderly mother. Several of our completed projects were generously sponsored by

Thrivent Financial and The Senior Foundation. We are incredibly appreciative of their support!

Due to the growing community demand for critical home repairs, Benton Habitat has applied for and received an AmeriCorps National member to coordinate and crew-lead the HRI program. The new member, Marshall Andersen, will begin in September.

Our volunteers will continue to stay busy with the projects in queue including siding replacement, roof repairs and deck stabilization. If interested in volunteering for this meaningful program, contact Jenna at jenna@bentonhabitat.org or call 541-752-3354 ext. 302.

Home Building Highlights Home Building HighlightsHome Repair Initiative Busy with Exterior RepairsSunny Celebrations and Home Dedications

On Sunday, June 6th we hosted a home dedication for the Hernandez and Dominguez families. Over 100 people came together for the joyous event.

These are the final two homes built in the 5th and B Habitat sub-division where six other Habitat homes are situated. Each family completed their 500 hours of sweat-equity and now will pay off the cost of the home through a zero-interest mortgage made affordable through Benton Habitat. “We love it” exclaims new homeowner, Estela Hernandez.

Special thanks to the Altrusa Club of Corvallis, Catholic Daughter’s of America, Grocery Outlet and Mary’s River Quilt Guild for donating supplies and quilts to both families.

(Top): Jesus Dominguez and her children Yulissa and Miguel receive beautiful quilts hand made by Mary’s River Quilt Guild (Bottom Right): The Hernandez Family cuts the ribbon to

their new home (Bottom Left): both homes are ready for the new homeowners.

Penix Family Moves into 12th Street HomeWe are delighted to welcome the

Penix family to the Benton Habitat community! In mid-August. the family of seven moved into their new home at the 12th Street Commons in Philomath

Originally built in 2012, the previous Benton Habitat homeowner, Shayna Johnson passed away in 2014. The Penix’s were selected to be the new family to live in the home.

Long time Benton County residents, Doug works as a landscaper and Rose stays home with the kids while also assisting as a caregiver for an elderly neighbor.

After being selected, the family worked alongside volunteers

throughout the summer to prepare the home: applying new paint on the walls, staining and stabilizing the front porch, and building a new fence. The Penix’s are grateful that the two-story, four bedroom home will provide more space for their growing children. “We are especially excited about the kitchen” says Rose. “That’s where we spend most of our time.”

When asked what Habitat means to them, Doug replied, “I liken it to a bird building a nest; it’s a place where you build, where you are going to live and comfortably stay.” We are happy that the Penix’s are building their nest with Benton Habitat!

Pictured: (clockwise from top): volunteers standing with the Thrivent Banner after a roofing project for a low-income homeowner; installing wainscotting to repair wall damage; using a nail gun for the shingles; Anna and Austin are happy that their home will be a safer place to live; repairing a deck for a rural homeowner; HRI volunteers pose with the homeowner and her family after finishing the project.

Page 6 | Summer 2015 Page 7 | Summer 2015 Foundations Quarterly Newsletter visit us online at www.bentonhabitat.org

Thank You to our Generous Donors! Thank You to our Generous Donors!Honoring our Legacy Donors

Nancy Lyford passed away in January 2014. Always joyful and outgoing, Nancy spent her time being involved in many service organizations

A long time Benton Habitat for Humanity supporter, Nancy generously included BHfH in her estate plan. Her legacy of service and support will be remembered as we continue to advance our mission of building decent, affordable housing.

Joe Wells was an Oregon State University wrestling coach. When he wasn’t coaching or spending time with his family, Joe volunteered with Benton Habitat for Humanity, St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Crescent Valley wrestling team.

Joe passed away in April at the age of 67. Thank you to the following individuals who generously donated to Benton Habitat for Humanity in Joe’s memory:

Linda JohnsonDon King

Linda RobertsDelia Ropp

Stephen & Patricia SchuetzJoseph & Elizabeth Spatafora

Carol WalshJudy Webster

2015 Sustaining

DonorsSteven AdkinsKaren Aquino

William & Nan BeckDavid Blake

Linda ChisholmPat Cochran

Thomas & Colleen ElliottJoan Fujii

Oscar GutbrodDennis Hanson & Robert Powers

Andrew & Julie HaymartDave HendererSteven Holman

Chelsea Holman & Ben Wolk-WeissFrances Holmes

Spring KiddyBob Kiekel

Beverly KirchAnna Korenen

Henry & Louise MarqeringVan Melick

Gregg OlsonRio & Jessica Prince

James ReismillerBettina Schempf & Jeff Miller

Kenneth SchreiberJoshua SmithMelissa Sollitt

John & Susan TappeinerRon & Sandra Thiesen

Martin ThompsonAndrea & Matt ThornberryRay Tucker & Susie Smyth

Ken WelpJoe Whinnery & Karen Kennedy

Don & Shirley WirthZoetic Architecture

Monthly Donors Help Year RoundA great way to support the work of Benton Habitat for Humanity is to become

a sustaining donor. Your monthly donation allows us to make a greater impact in our community and reduces administrative expenses related to mailings and processing. Monthly giving is also a benefit to you, allowing you to make a tax deductible donation spread out over twelve months.

Becoming a sustaining donor is easy! Enclosed in this month’s newsletter is a donation envelop. Just enter the amount you would like to donate along with your payment information, and we will automatically charge your credit card each month. An annual statement will be sent to you for your records.

We have a goal of doubling our sustaining donors this year. Join our generous sustaining members and help us build year round!

We do everything in our effort to make sure our information is accurate. If we have omitted you or listed your name incorrectly please

call us so we can make it right.

Benton Habitat Awarded Grants for Work on Home Repair Program

Recently Benton Habitat for Humanity was awarded several grants to assist with our work repairing homes throughout Benton county. OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop funded the purchase of a construction trailer, AmeriCorps awarded us a National Member for a year of service, Benton Community Foundation, Chambers Family Foundation, and the Senior Citizen Foundation of Benton County awarded funds for the purchase of materials, and Thrivent Financial has sponsored two of our recent projects. We were also awarded a large grant from Meyer Memorial Trust to purchase a construction vehicle and help us staff our growing program.

“Our Home Repair Initiative is an important program keeping individuals and families from being displaced due to the inability to afford essential repairs,” said Executive Director Karen Rockwell. “We are so appreciative of the funders that have stepped up to help us meet the growing need in our community.”

(Left to right) Jennifer Roberts presented Executive Direc-tor Karen Rockwell with a check from the Senior Citizen Foundation of Benton County for the Home Repair Initiative. The Foundation joins several community organizations that are supporting the great work this program is doing to meet the needs of low income home-owners in our community.

Define your Legacy through Planned & Estate Giving

Planned gifts provide the resources that create new opportunities and preserve Benton Habitat for Humanity’s future. These gifts can qualify for significant tax deductions and include bequests, charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts.

Naming Benton Habitat for Humanity as a beneficiary in an IRA, life insurance policy, other financial account or in your will is one critical way that you can help provide for future stability and growth.

If you have already included Benton Habitat for Humanity in your plans, please let us know so we can thank you! For more information contact karen@bentonhabitat.org or call (541) 752-3354 x 301.

4840 SW Philomath Blvd.PO Box 1551

Corvallis, OR 97339(541) 752-3354

Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 117Corvallis, OR

ReStore Now Open on MondaysWe are thrilled to announce that the ReStore is now open on Mondays.

That means shoppers, donators, and volunteers have one more day in the week to support the store that builds homes. In the last year the ReStore has experienced an increase in sales, donations and volunteer engagement. Sales from the ReStore directly impact the advancement of Benton Habitat’s mission of building affordable housing in Benton County. ReStore proceeds help fund at least one home a year! We invite you to swing by the store and check out great products at 50-75% off retail value!

4840 SW Philomath Blvd., Corvallis, ORHours Monday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

(donations accepted until 5 p.m.)

Benton HabitatManagement Team

Executive DirectorKaren Rockwell

Construction SupervisorKevin Groh

ReStore DirectorBeau Henry

Program CoordinatorJenna Baker

Home Repair Coordinator

(AmeriCorps National Member)Marshall Andersen

Warehouse CoordinatorRon Lewis