Two Habitat Homes for the Price of One
Would anyone turn down a "twofer" - getting two of something for the price of one? That's exactly what happens every time a Habitat home is completed in Omaha. Through Habitat's International Tithe program we are able the help build a Habitat home in another country. The co-founders of Habitat for Humanity International, Millard and Linda Fuller, came up with this brilliant idea which is one of the seven principles of being an affiliate. When an affiliate finishes a house they tithe to another country. Habitat Omaha has tithed $744,079 since the affiliate was founded in 1984. But what makes this so remarkable is through Habitat Omaha's Tithe Program 261 international families have received a simple decent home!
Below is a photo gallery of some of the homes that Habitat Omaha could have helped build in other countries over the years through our Tithe Program.
This year, 2010, Habitat Omaha will be sending $4,000 for each Habitat home completed by our volunteers. Since our goal is 27 houses we will be sending $108,000 to other countries to help them in their goal of eliminating poverty housing.
I personally have been on 14 Habitat builds in other countries. It is humbling in many ways to see what sub-standard conditions are in those countries and know that we in Omaha are helping families to build a decent place to call home.
-Anne Carroll
Habitat Omaha Volunteer and Tithe Coordinator
Watch for more of Anne Carroll's Global Village experiences this year in our newsletters and the HabiBlog.
Photos of Habitat for Humanity houses in a few of the places Habitat Omaha has sent tithes
Habitat houses in Beius, Romania. (Photo by Steffan Hacker/HFHI)
A neighborhood of Habitat houses in Haiti. (Photo by Steffan Hacker/HFHI)
Habitat homes in Madagascar. (Photo by Steffan Hacker/HFHI)
Multi-family Habitat homes in Hungary. (Photo by Kim MacDonald/HFHI)
A Mexican Habitat house. (Photo by Kim MacDonald/HFHI)
A Habitat home in Thailand. (Photo by Mikel Flamm/HFHI)
A row of Egyptian Habitat houses. (Photo by Kim MacDonald/HFHI)
A four family Habitat home in Poland. (Photo by Kim MacDonald/HFHI)
A single-family Habitat home in New Zealand. (Photo by Steffan Hacker/HFHI)
Habitat Omaha's 16th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
In honor of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha's volunteers' hard work and accomplishments our organization is pleased to present the 16th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. The event will pay tribute to the time and enthusiasm volunteers put forth for the betterment of the community. The dinner will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at the DC Centre. The Volunteer Appreciation Dinner allows Habitat Omaha to recognize companies, groups and individual volunteers' accomplishments.
The event will also celebrate Habitat for Humanity of Omaha's 25th Anniversary. Whether our volunteers are out on the construction site building homes, organizing events or fundraising if it weren't for their generosity and commitment of the volunteers our organization would not have been able to provide 276 families with safe, simple and affordable houses while improving the overall appearance of the community. Learn more and RSVP for the event. (Back to homepage)
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha's 25th Anniversary Raise the Roof Gala
This event was held on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 at Creighton's Harper Center. Learn more about the Habitat for Humanity of Omaha FRIENDS. (Photos by James Nedresky)
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A Habitat Omaha Volunteer's Story
"I have free time and I might as well use it," the navigator stationed at Offutt Air Force Base said. "When you work, shop and go to the gym on base it's kind of nice to meet people from the outside world." As a way of combating boredom, Keitzer has been spending her Saturdays making a difference in the community by measuring, painting, raking leaves and putting up siding on Habitat Omaha construction sites. She enjoys volunteering with Habitat Omaha because it doesn't require a person to volunteer for a specific amount of time. As a member of the Air Force Keitzer said, "If don't make it to Habitat it's not a big deal, because technically I could be called in on a Saturday and what I have to do and everything else comes second." Although some people may be intimidated by a construction site, tools and materials, Keitzer is not one of them. One reason for her lack of intimidation is because over the past 20 years she has helped her parents build their home in Kentucky. Some women find the male-dominated construction site intimidating; however, as the only female of the 25 member navigator class at the Air Force base, Keitzer doesn't get that feeling. Keitzer said that sometimes people assume because you are female you are incapable of building; however, she believes Habitat Omaha addresses this by starting everyone on easy tasks such as measuring. "They start you low and build you up from what they see." The first day of Keitzer's Habitat Omaha experience she worked with construction supervisor Trevin Stutzman. He asked if anyone knew how to measure and Keitzer was the only one who said, "Yeah, I can do anything." "I envisioned myself using a table saw, but I was the measurer," Keitzer said. "It was a lot of fun though." For Keitzer, another enjoyable part of volunteering with Habitat Omaha is the chance to meet and interact with new people. Keitzer has met a plethora of volunteers. On her second Saturday she worked side- by-side with first-time Habiat Omaha volunteers from a local high school, the next Saturday she met older men who are construction professionals and longtime Habitat Omaha volunteers. Habitat Omaha has given her the opportunity to meet people her own age. "I met the AmeriCorps members and they are my age and I can relate to them," Keitzer said. She plans to continue volunteering and is willing to do whatever it takes to help out. "I still think it's fun, hanging out with people and doing different things every week and I still have a lot to learn like drywall and plumbing, which I haven't done yet," Keitzer said. Keitzer doesn't believe in simply giving away homes and that's one of the reasons she likes Habitat Omaha. She likes the fact that Habitat requires homeowners to put in 350 Sweat Equity hours to help build other people's and their own homes. Keitzer enjoys helping them to improve their quality of life. "I think they (homeowners) should have to work toward a goal and I like that Habitat is like that," Keitzer said.
Combating weekend boredom and the chance to meet new people outside of the Air Force were two perks 2nd Lt. Brenda Keitzer found when she began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha.
