Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat for Humanity, Inc

How to organize a "Special Group Build"

2011-12-12T11:32:00.000-08:00

We have been truly blessed by a number of groups who have stepped up and said "We want to help solve the problem of substandard housing in our community." If each group donated one Saturday a year to this mission, we could make a huge difference in the quality of life for our neighbors in need of safe, affordable, decent homes.

If you would like to organize a special build date for a group from your school, church, place of work, neighborhood, or civic organization, please contact our office at 804-435-3461. We have an answering machine so you can call at anytime. Our building supervisor will get back to you to set up one or more build dates for your group. Thank you for your interest!

Upcoming Events

2011-01-24T13:19:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 11th, - 3 PM. Toni Cox's Home Dedication- Please join the celebration and help us GIVE THANKS!!

Tuesday, January 10th, - 8:00 am to 2 pm - Greenwood Court Build Site - Help Cyrus Dublin and our wonderful Tuesday group of volunteers build house #14. You'll also get to meet our newest partner, Candice Davenport, who is starting her Sweat Equity work on the house that Cyrus will buy.
Thursday, January 12th - 8:00 am to 2 pm - Greenwood Court Build Site - Help Cyrus Dublin and our volunteers build Cyrus' house
Tuesday, January 17th, - 8:00 am to 2 pm - Greenwood Court Road Build Site - Join our loyal volunteers to help Cyrus Dublin build his home
Thursday, January 19th, - 8:00 am to 2 pm - Greenwood Court Build Site - Help us move this house forward!
Tuesday, January 24th, - 8:00 am to 2 pm - Greenwood Court Build Site - Help Cyrus and our volunteers keep the progress going!
Thursday, January 26th, - 8:00am to 2 pm - Greenwood Court Build Site - Join Cyrus Dublin and our loyal volunteers for the last build date of 2011.
Tuesday, January 31st, - 8:00 am to 2 pm - Greenwood Court Build Site - Help Cyrus and our volunteers keep the progress going!

To visit our current build site take Rte 22 south heading out of Kilmarnock towards Irvington. Turn left on Wilson Rd (just after Weems Road). Follow Wilson to the place where it curves sharply to the right; stay to the left. This is Greenwood Court. Follow this road a short distance to the build site, at the top of the court.

Upcoming Events

2010-07-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

Monday, November 1st, Groundbreaking Ceremony to mark the beginning of our 1st ever Apostle Build. Details to follow.
Tuesday, November 2nd, - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their home
Saturday, November 6th, - 9:00 am to 12 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Join us as we help the Willis family build their new home.
Tuesday, November 9th, - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their home
Saturday, November 13th, - 9:00 am to 12 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Join us as we help the Willis family build their new home.
Tuesday, November 16th, - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their home
Saturday, November 20th, - 9:00 am to 12 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Join us as we help the Willis family build their new home.
Tuesday, November 23rd, - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their home
Saturday, November 27th, No building this day in honor of the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Tuesday, November 30th, - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their home.

To visit our current build site take Rte 3 West heading out of Kilmarnock towards Lancaster. Turn left on Devils Bottom Rd (Rte 614) by the elementary school. Go 0.6 miles then turn left onto Pond Park Rd. Then follow this road a short distance to the build site, on the left side of the road.

Bank of Lancaster Employees Work with Habitat

2010-06-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

On June 5th, a group of 26 community minded Bank of Lancaster employees and some of their family members participated in a special group build at our current work site. The group, supervised by Habitat Construction Supervisor Herb Fowler, and local Habitat volunteer Ernie Flynn made great progress, working on the deck at the back of the house and the dry wall inside. Special thanks to Hazel Farmer for working with Volunteer Coordinator Carol Shannon, to organize the event, and to all the volunteers. It was especially nice to see L/NHFH Past President, Ed Pittman and wife Joyce, there among the hard working volunteers! You all did a great job, and apparently had some fun while making this wonderful contribution to our community. Hazel said it was so much fun, she is hoping it will become an annual event on the Bank’s Community Calendar. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Paticipating in this special build were: Top (l to r): Rick Varnier, Richard Abbott, Ron Whitt, Joyce Pittman, Ed Pittman, Ward Currin, Sheila Rollins
Kneeling on the porch (l to r): Kelly Lange, Ashley Luck
Next Row (l to r): Deb Evans, Hazel Farmer, Jill Hand, Barbara Rountrey, Peggy George, Dianne Gutknecht, Charlene Booth, Elizabeth Bramble, Dr. Jim Hamilton, Shirley Williams, Mallory Minor
Front (l to r): Gina Cortijo, Debbie Hamilton, Tish Lee, Meredith Smith

Villanova University Athletes Take the Challenge

2010-06-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

Thirteen student athletes and 4 staff from Villanova University, Villanova, PA came to Kilmarnock to work on our current building project during the week of May 10-14. The house, L/NHFH’s 12th, is being built for a young married couple with 5 children. The group put on siding, hung sheet rock and did framing; moving the house much closer to completion during this special 5 day event.
Most of the Villanova service trips are organized by the University office of Campus Ministry. “Because athletes are unable to participate during the fall and spring break trips due to scheduling conflicts, the athletic department organizes trips at the end of the spring semester when most athletes would be available” said John O’Keefe, president of the local affiliate and an alumnus of the university.
The group included athletes from men’s soccer, women’s field hockey, volleyball, water polo, track and field and cheerleading teams. The men’s soccer coach, women’s rowing coach, women’s lacrosse coach and the assistant athletic director accompanied the athletes. They stayed at the YMCA Camp Kekoka. They worked in small teams of 3 or 4 students, for 7 to 8 hours each day, learning many new skills under the guidance of Habitat construction supervisor Herb Fowler and mentors Leonard Newton and John O’Keefe. “Having this extra help fits with Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat’s goal of doubling the number of houses built annually” said O’Keefe.
The Board of Directors of L/N Habitat and the Willis family extend special thanks to the YMCA for lodging, Church of the Nazarene and St. Francis de Sales who provided lunches for the group, Rev. and Mrs. Larry Adams for hosting a dinner and the many Habitat volunteers for organizing all aspects of this special event.

Our Canadian Friends WOWED us Again!

2010-06-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

Recently a mission group from Kanata United Church spend their spring break helping us build our 12th house. This is the third consecutive year our affiliate has been blessed with their help. Despite losing one day of building time due to rainy weather, these energetic, committed teens and their chaperons got our house off to a fabulous start. This is where they started, and what they had accomplished a short 3 1/2 days later. AMAZING!!! Thank you friends!

Our Board of Directors wish to thank all of the many churches and individuals who helped organize this event, and provided meals and other support to make this build such a success!

CAPINNE Charity Dinner and Auction Takes Place July 17th

2010-05-14T04:46:00.001-07:00

On July 17th, the Northern Neck Rotary Club will hold its 20th CAPINNE Charity Dinner and Auction at Indian Creek Country Club. CAPINNE, which stands for Caring about People in the Northern Neck, has distributed over $500,000 to programs and charities serving Lancaster and Northumberland Counties.

This year the Northern Neck Rotary Club through its Northern Neck Rotary Charitable Trust has pre-selected organizations to share in the proceeds of the event. All programs selected are those rendering service directly to individuals in need in the area and Habitat for Humanity is one of the selected to benefit.

If interested in attending or donating to CAPINNE, contact us by email at Info@LNHabitat.org and we'll send you more information.

3rd Annual Women Build Took Place May 8th

2010-05-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, 27 women and 5 Habitat men installed insulation, finished the roof and tackled a lot of the siding on the Willis family home. We'd like to extend a special thanks to the Virginia Women's Center for sponsoring this event. Also, a special thanks goes out to Lowes in Gloucester who donated 66 sheets of drywall. Thanks also go to team leaders Herb Fowler, John O'Keefe, Ernie Flynn, Charlie Costello, and, Lynnie McCrobie. Look for a full article by Nan Flynn about the Women Build in the Rappahannock Record. Nan is an inspiration and is the motivation and driving force behind the annual Women Builds.

Upcoming Events

2010-04-03T20:32:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, May 4th - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their home
Saturday, May 8th - 9 am to 3 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Our 3rd Annual Women Build Lunch will be provided.
May 10-14 - Pond Park Road - Villanova University Build
Tuesday, May 11th - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Join the Villanova students to help build the Willis' future home.
Saturday, May 15th - 8 am to 12 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their new home
Tuesday, May 18th - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their home
Saturday, May 22nd - 8 am to 12 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their new home
Tuesday, May 25th - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their home
Saturday, May 29th - 8 am to 12 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their new home
Tuesday, June 1st - 8 am to 2 pm - Pond Park Road Build Site - Help the Willis family build their home
June 5 - Pond Park Road - Bank of Lancaster Build
June 28 - July 2 - Pond Park Road - Ark and Dove Presbyterian Church Build

To visit our current build site take Rte 3 West heading out of Kilmarnock towards Lancaster. Turn left on Devils Bottom Rd (Rte 614) by the elementary school. Go 0.6 miles then turn left onto Pond Park Rd. Then follow this road a short distance to the build site, on the left side of the road.

To learn more about Habitat ...check out our website: http://www.lnhabitat.org/

L/N HFH is Going "Green"

2010-03-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

By Nan Harvey Flynn

The Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat Affiliate is building its next house in conformance with EarthCraft Virginia standards. Members of our Building Committee met recently with representatives of EarthCraft Virginia and HFH Virginia, to evaluate our local affiliate’s proposed improvements to the standard Habitat house plan currently being utilized. Samuel C. Nuckols, a local architect donated his time developing the house plans of the next house to be built.

The EarthCraft House program was started in 1999 by Southface Energy Institute, the southeast’s most recognized green building organization. By working with builders in partnership with the local Home Builders Association, the EarthCraft House program was created to raise the bar in the energy efficiency of residential home construction. Houses in the program must satisfy stringent criteria for energy performance and conservation measures, both in the process of construction as well as the end product. Every home is commissioned, field verified and pressure tested to certify it as an EarthCraft house, recognizing a 15% minimum energy savings over a code built home. Each building goes through a series of site verification and diagnostic pressure tests by a third party EarthCraft technical adviser. Final diagnostic testing of every home must meet the required air exchange of the building and duct leakage standards.

Habitat Dedicates 11th Home

2010-03-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Affiliate President, John O’Keefe presents Donna Yerby with a bible and his best wishes for her family as they begin life in their new home.

Recently, a group of family, friends, and supporters gathered to join Donna Yerby and her son Shaq, as they celebrated a very special milestone. People came from as far south as Chesapeake, VA., and as far north as Ottawa, Ontario in Canada, to help Yerby celebrate her new life as a homeowner.

Yerby began the journey leading to this day in the fall of 2007 when she applied to build and then purchase a home in partnership with the Lancaster/Northumberland affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. After signing her partnership contract in January 2008, Yerby worked very hard to prepare for homeownership. She completed a series of classes covering topics such as managing personal finances and responsibilities of homeowners. She worked some 3oo hours, helping build another Habitat house before working on her own, helping give presentations to spread the word about how Habitat works, and completing other activities in support of Habitat’s work in the community or to prepare herself for success as a new homeowner. All her hard work came to fruition a few days before Christmas, when Donna Yerby signed the papers to close on her new home. What a wonderful Christmas gift to herself and her family! But the hard work didn’t stop there. Since moving in, an additional storage shed has been built, and a walkway to the house has been added, all without Habitat’s help. The Yerby’s have indeed made this home their own.

During the Dedication, Yerby thanked the many businesses, groups, and individuals in the community who helped make her dream of homeownership come true. She gave special thanks to her employer, Susan Hill of the Car Wash Café in Kilmarnock, for all her support, and the Canadian friends who travelled so far to join the celebration.

L/N Habitat for Humanity is now building its 12th house. This next house will be the affiliate’s first LEEDS Certified “green” home, and will be purchased by a family of 7. The build site is located on Pond Park Road, not far from Lancaster Primary School. For more information about L/N HFH, or to volunteer to help with Habitat’s work in the community, please visit the website at www.LNHabitat.org. or call 435-3461.

Boys & Girls Club Establishes Partnership with Habitat

2010-03-04T15:44:00.001-08:00

Thanks to the generosity of the Kilmarnock Boys & Girls Club, Habitat will soon have a storage facility to house construction materials and donated items. No longer will be have to say 'no' when a generous donor offers us free insulation, cinderblock, kitchen appliances or other donated items. We are grateful to the Boys & Girls Club for their generosity and community spirit!

Won't you help us to finish closing in the storage facility -- the sooner we can get the job done, the sooner we can accept donated items. Feel free to drop by the Boys & Girls Club on Saturday March 6th and Tuesday March 9th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm to help us out!

Construction Begins on Our 12th House

2010-03-04T15:36:00.000-08:00

Taking advantage of breaks in the weather, the footings and foundation were poured. Our 12th house will have a basement -- the first for us -- to accommodate the Willis family and their five children.

Habitat Wins "Better By Design" Grant for Green Construction

2010-03-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

Our Habitat affiliate recently was approved for a Better By Design grant from Habitat-VA. This grant will enable us to build our next house in compliance with the EarthCraft standards for green construction. Not only will our future houses be green compliant but they will result in lower electricity bills for our Partner Families. Drop by our build site to see what 'going green' is all about!

Kilmarnock Garden Club + Habitat; What a team!

2010-01-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

Pictured are: (L-R, front): Paula Boundy, Margaret Peill (middle): Barbara Ohanesian, Brownie Watkins, Karen Sprader, Midgie Speight, Stephanie Chaufournier (back): Julia Putney-Brandt, Bill Otley, Charlie Costello, Gordon Nelson, Jennifer Saams,Don Keneflick, Tom Watkins
Cindy Reymer and Carol Shannon are not pictured.

The Kilmarnock Garden Club recently joined forces with the Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat for Humanity for a day of planting. Shrubs, trees, spring bulbs, and other native plants and perennials were donated to the cause by a host of well wishers. Volunteers from both organizations created gardens around the house and yard of Habitat’s eleventh house, and then covered it all with a truckload of mulch to get the new landscape through the winter months. Ms. Donna Yerby, a server at the Car Wash Café in Kilmarnock, will own this new home. Come spring, Donna is going to have herself a beautiful gardenspot! Thanks to the good folks of the Kilmarnock Garden Club and our faithful Habitat volunteers for rolling up their sleeves and doing all the hard work to make this happen. And thanks to all of Donna's well wishers who donated plant material. What a lovely housewarming gift everyone has given Donna!

Habitat Welcomes Newly Elected Director to Our Board

2009-11-23T17:59:00.000-08:00

We are very pleased to announce the recent election of Mrs. Sandra Scott to our Board of Directors. Sandy brings many important skills to the board. Currently, she is Senior Accounting Manager at Christchurch School. Prior to this position, she managed the Urbanna Antiques Mall and served terms as President and as Treasurer of the Urbanna Business Association. She was previously employed by Saint Gobain Industrial Ceramics Division as Vice President and CFO in Louisville, KY, and as Financial Controller, Industrial Ceramics Division at Compagnie de Saint-Gobain in Paris, France. Prior to this, she was Plant Controller at Certainteed Corporation in Athens, GA. Sandy has a BA in Journalism, and a MBA from University of GA, in Athens, GA.

Home building is something about which Sandy has lots of hands on knowledge and experience. Sandy and husband Pete, an engineer, spent several years building their own home, right here on our beautiful Northern Neck. They live in Lancaster County.

Habitat Board Hosts Volunteer Appreciation Event

2009-10-11T20:08:00.001-07:00

Submitted by Nancy Brown, PR Committee

Our Volunteers are unpaid, not because their work has no value, but because what they do is priceless. This was the message the Board of Directors of the Lancaster/Northumberland Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity hoped to convey as they hosted their first annual Volunteer Appreciation Event, on Sunday 27 September, at Belle Isle Park. On this special day, organized by Volunteer Coordinator Carol Shannon, the Directors wished to thank all of our hard working volunteers for every effort they have made to support our mission of building decent, affordable housing for our partner families. Special tributes were made to seven volunteers who have made outstanding and long term contributions to our success.

The Rev. John Houghton was presented an award for his founding role. He accepted the donation of a parcel of land, gathered interested citizens, and organized the group that would in 1996 begin the work of Habitat in our community. He continued his work as the first President of the Board, raised money from private individuals and businesses, inspired volunteers and donations of materials, until a short three years later, the first house was built and dedicated.

Charlie Costello, of Merry Point was honored for his long term activism. Charlie was an Officer on the original volunteer Board, and continues to serve as a construction volunteer to this day.

Lynnie McCrobie, of Weems received an award for her long term devotion to Habitat’s mission. Mrs. McCrobie is a recently retired Board Member, and Secretary to the Board of the local affiliate. She continues to express her devotion to our cause as a construction volunteer. In addition, she regularly participates in Habitat builds in other states, and around the world.

Susan Faulkner, of the Rappahannock Record, was honored for all her efforts to help publicize our accomplishments, using both news articles in the paper, and by publishing and distributing our newsletter.

Edna Davenport, current Board Vice President, and long time Board Member, was honored for her work in selecting, helping to educate, and prepare our partner families for the responsibilities of homeownership.

Past Board Presidents Ed Pittman and Tim Shrader, and current Board President John O’Keefe. were also honored for their leadership.

Following the awards, the current Board Members provided a picnic for their guests, and there followed a beautiful afternoon full of good conversation and fellowship.

Since it’s inception in 1996, the Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat for Humanity has completed ten homes. The eleventh home, which will be purchased by Donna Yerby, of the Car Wash Café is scheduled to be completed in October.

Students from Christchurch School help Habitat

2009-10-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Nancy Brown, PR Committee

In the Photo: (the numbers after students names indicate their year of graduation)
John O’Keefe, L/NHFH Board President, Chris Ritenour,‘11 of White Stone, Hannah Montague,‘10 of Urbanna, SeYoung Park,‘12 of Seoul, Korea, Karl Mehler,‘13 of Gloucester, Gretchen Lidicker,‘10 of Irvington
Libbie Randolph, 10 of Hardyville, Manual Wallace, 11 of Hopewell,
Duane Bushey, L/N HFH Board Member

Recently, a group of 7 students from Christchurch School teamed up with several board members from the Lancaster/Northumberland Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity; spending their morning painting the inside of the current building project. Christchurch School has a long history of providing community service opportunities for its students, and recently expanded co-curricular aspects of school life to include specific community service requirements. This project is L/NHFH’s eleventh house, and will be purchased by Donna Yerby, as primary residence for her and her son. Ms. Yerby is an employee of the Car Wash Café in Kilmarnock.

Grace Episcopal Awards Habitat a Land Acquisition Grant

2009-06-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

On May 22nd Grace Episcopal Church awarded our affiliate a grant to be used for land acquisition purposes. This is such an important gift to our affiliate as we are nearing completion of the available land for our Partner Family homes. This award will be instrumental in our ability to acquire more land for future homes. This award was possible through the successful results of the Grace Episcopal Church Yard Sale held in May. Thank you Grace Episcopal Church, particularly Rev. David May and Rev. Megan Hollaway and the Grant Committee!

Habitat Receives Grant from River Counties Community Foundation

2009-06-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to announce that on June 2, 2009 River Counties Community Foundation awarded our affiliate a grant for the purchase of new computer hardware and software. This award is so very much appreciated because it will enable us to be far more efficient in our operations and fundraising efforts. We are grateful to the Board Members and Grant Committee of River Counties -- thank you!!!

National Women Build Event - May 9th from 9am to 3pm

2009-04-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Women Build on Saturday May 9th was a big success. There was record attendance with over 32 participants including Mother-Daughter teams.

Knights of Columbus Selects Habitat for Financial Contribution

2009-04-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

Today the Knights of Columbus held an awards ceremony at St. Francis de Sales where 15 charities were selected for financial awards. We are grateful to the Knights of Columbus and St. Francis de Sales for their very generous contribution.

April 2009 - Habitat Launches Home Application Drive

2009-04-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

OUR 2009 APPLICATION DRIVE HAS ENDED APRIL 30th.

Habitat launches its Application Drive for new Partner Families. The Application Drive ran from April 1st through April 30th. Our affiliate is in the final stages of selecting Partner Families for upcoming Habitat homes.

March 2009 - Kanata Mission Trip

2009-04-10T10:46:00.001-07:00

Kanata United Church of Canada visits Kilmarnock as part of their 2009 Mission Trip on March 15th through 20th. Thanks to our 23 visiting friends from Ottawa, fantastic progress was made on this house. Within 4 ∏ days our Habitat house went from foundation to complete framing and roofing! This mission would not have been possible without the exceptional support of our very generous sponsors. We’d like to extend a special thanks to the organizations that hosted our Canadian visitors for Sunday service as well as lunches and dinners throughout the week: Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Wicomico Parish Church, Chesapeake Bank, White Stone Baptist Church, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Grace Episcopal Church, and Nan & Ernie Flynn.

February 2009 - Habitat Breaks Ground on 11th House

2009-04-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

Habitat breaks ground on its 11th house. Our latest home building project is located at Park Pond Road.

January 2009 - Habitat Elects New Board

2009-04-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Habitat for Humanity elects new Board Members. Check out our website for the list of Board Members: http://www.lnhabitat.org/about.html