Non-profits Work Together to Help a Veteran in Need

When Sea Island Habitat for Humanity (SIHH) received funds from State Farm Insurance Company that could provide emergency home repairs for a veteran, we asked another nonprofit, Operation Home, who routinely provides emergency home repairs throughout the tri-county area, if they had a family in need.  Fortunately, they did. We were happy to notify Mr. Henry Major that his much-needed handicap modifications could be done.  

Mr. Major of Mt. Pleasant served with the United States army from 1951 – 1959 and during his enlistment served his country in the Korean War. In recent years Mr. Major’s health has declined and he is no longer able to move around his home without assistance. His family realized that planning ahead for his health issues may mean the difference between continuing to live in their own home or moving to a wheelchair-accessible facility.

The SIHH staff met with Mr. Major and his wife to discuss the repairs and it was decided that the family would benefit greatly from a bathroom retrofit. Without a handicap accessible bathroom, residents in wheelchairs must take a standard plan and retrofit it to include features like 36-inch doors and 60-inch turning diameters in the bathroom, a process which can quickly become very expensive.

The project was evaluated and the scope of work was estimated at $9,000 for the addition of a new bathroom that would be ADA compliant. SIHH began looking for partners to help with the funding, materials, and staffing needed for this project. “We were thrilled when State Farm, Operation Home, Realtors Housing Opportunity Fund, Charleston County, East Cooper Habitat, and Architect Tom Baker all agreed to partner with us to ensure Mr. Major had a new bathroom,” said Tamara Avery, Land Development Manager at SIHH. “Each organization was able to bring a critical piece of the project to the table to complete the bathroom.”

The financial support came from Charleston County Community Development Department $4,000, State Farm $3,000, Operation Home utilizing grant funds from the Realtors Housing Opportunity Fund $2,000. The construction support came from East Cooper Habitat for Humanity and SIHH. We couldn’t have completed this project without the help of each partner.

“This new bathroom is going to make my life a lot easier for my family,” said Mrs. Major. “My husband will now be able to move about our home freely.”

SIHH critical repair program offers low-cost minor repair work performed to alleviate critical health, life and safety issues or code violations. Projects include: a change or repair of materials or components; a modification for accessibility.   

Women Build 2012

Sea Island Habitat for Humanity’s (SIHH) 12^th annual Women Build took place at Green Valley Lane (off Grimball Road Extension) on James Island. Green Valley Lane is our first neighborhood on James Island, and it is in a great location. We are excited to be able to provide safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing in a community that has fewer and fewer housing options for low income families.  Green Valley Lane will have five houses when it is finished, and all will be owned by single working moms.

Women came from Massachusetts, Texas, Ohio and Georgia to volunteer for Women Build 2012.  A sister team joined us from Pennsylvania, and we had great local support including groups from Kiawah and Seabrook, employees from the City of Charleston and Blackbaud Corporation, and members from The Point.  For many volunteers, Women Build is an annual commitment that is eagerly anticipated; the feeling of camaraderie, meaningful hard work, supporting SIHH, and volunteering alongside SIHH homeowners is profoundly gratifying. The mission of Women Build is to fund and build a home, primarily by women, for a low-income, working family. It also provides inspiration for women to empower themselves, while at the same time develop lasting life skills and relationships.

 Our 2012 Women Build homeowner, Avis Williams, is animated and enthusiastic.  She has been a domestic worker with child care responsibilities for a number of families for almost 20 years!  She is fond of “her” families and attends special events of the children who are in her care.  Several years ago, at the encouragement of one of her employers, Avis returned to school.  The day before Women Build started she graduated with her Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Trident Technical College!  She is rightfully proud of her accomplishment, and plans to continue with her studies towards her Bachelor’s degree.

The atmosphere on the build site is always supportive and filled with humor. Progress on the house was steady and rewarding.  On the first Saturday of the build, thanks to our great construction team, the floor system was in place. By the end of the week the external and internal framing was complete, the walls were sheathed, windows and doors cut, and the trusses put into place.  The house is an impressive accomplishment for our construction supervisors and volunteers.

 It was a pleasure to have Avis work with Women Build volunteers, and Avis says she’s honored to be part of Women Build. She puts her feelings simply by saying, “This is a blessing from God!”

Golden Hammer

The Golden Hammer Society was formed to honor those who have included Sea Island Habitat for Humanity (SIHH) in their estate plans. The Golden Hammer Society offers SIHH an opportunity to recognize those that would like to see the good work of our housing ministry continue for many years to come. Members are honored at an annual event. This year’s event took place on March 22, 2012 at the Seabrook Island Club.

Brian and Mimi Sturgell were inducted into the Golden Hammer Society at this year’s event. “SIHH has been an important part of our lives--and something we have deeply valued--for the past decade,” said Mimi Sturgell. “It is consistent for us not only to support this mission now, but to ensure our support will continue into the future by including SIHH in our estate plan.”

SIHH has accomplished a great deal since its founding in 1978. You - our donors, volunteers and supporters - have watched us build more than 295 houses and grow into a sustaining organization that provides stability for many, many families. With your help that stability will continue.

For more information on Planned Giving please visit our website at www.seaislandhabitat.org.

HYP - Build it with Bushels

Thank you all for coming out to the Third Annual Habitat Young Professionals Oyster Roast on Thursday, February 23, 2012! We had a great turn-out of over 60 people and were able to raise over $1,000.00 for Sea Island and East Cooper Habitat for Humanity! We would like to give a BIG thank you to Rita’s Seaside Grill, The Rusty Hook Ramblers, Crosby’s Seafood, Jamie Westendorff and all the HYP committee members for making this event such a big success. We
look forward to seeing you at next event!

Habitat Kids’ Christmas Party

Sea Island Habitat for Humanity staff, volunteers, and homeowners welcomed Santa Clause to the Habitat office on December 15, 2011 for the 3rd Annual Habitat Kids’ Christmas Party. Over 80 children came to the party and each child was greeted by Santa and given a gift. The conference room at Sea Island Habitat office literally bounced with the energy of excited children and their parents.

Guests enjoyed refreshments and a number of Christmas crafts: making paper chains, tree decorations, and thankful hand outlines. Local volunteers and college students from Ohio State and North Western helped with craft activities, Santa’s workshop, serving refreshments, and leading games outside. Thanks to donations of gifts, cookies, decorations, and a lot of volunteer time, we had a wonderful party. The students of Porter Gaud School donated two carloads of beautiful gifts to the party, collected during their toy drive. Sea Island Habitat Board members and other donors also brought in gifts for the children. The Christmas Party planning committee members decorated the space and a group of ladies from Seabrook made 25 DOZEN cookies for the party.

It was heartwarming to experience the true spirit of Christmas and the holiday season with children from Habitat families made possible by the generosity of volunteers and donors. We hope to host the event again next year.

The House that Jack Built by Priscilla Quirk

The HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, in honor of Jack Hostutler, is a SIHH project on James Island that is generating much excitement among habitat supporters. Over 130 donations have come in over the last 14 months, and it is a special build that is near and dear to the hearts of many Board members, family members and volunteers. In November Lib Hostutler and I went out to the Green Valley Lane construction site to see where Jack’s house will be constructed. The HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT is our special build for Martin Luther King Day and framing will begin on January 16, 2012.

Above is a photo of Lib on the construction site at Green Valley Lane.