How excited would you be if you were moving into your first home this month, just in time for Christmas? I’d love to tell you about a special family who is moving into their very own Habitat for Humanity (Montgomery and Delaware Counties) home for the holidays.
Way back at the beginning of 2017, when I was still mostly housebound due to foot surgery, I had the good fortune to share lunch with Marianne and Liz and Bill from Habitat for Humanity and hatch this crazy plan to add a Habitat “thing” to the HeartWork Organizing calendar for nearly each month of 2017. I’d worked with Habitat before, but I wanted to make more of a commitment and see if we could really open some doors this year.
In January of 2017, there was a lot of anger, sadness, and depression in the world. Remember? Well, these ladies in charge graced me with an impromptu video on how we were going to be a force for good in the world.
In February we worked on organizing Habitat for Humanity’s photos. And you thought we just organized personal photos? Business have photos, too. Yay! Photo organizing. Love it!
In March I made a “Doors and Floors” committment to raise $15,000 to Habitat. More about that later.
In April we started teaching paper management skills and tools to the Almost Home participants. That’s where I first met Terria, standing right next to me in the photo below.
Here’s what Dustin had to say about this paper management class, as part of Almost Home.
In May we made our first $$$ donation to Habitat. I also became brave enough to tell you about this frightening financial commitment that we made to Habitat. Eeek!
In July we partnered on a DIY workshop for Photo Coasters at the ReStore. If you haven’t been, you are missing out!
In September we participated in the Norristown Rock the Block event, and this is where I ran into Terria again. No picture this time, since we were both in work clothes getting our hands dirty. HeartWork Organizing donated a portion of the profits from all the September appointments directly to Habitat, which netted over $600, so if you worked with us in September, thanks! We did a second round of Almost Home classes, where Terria was volunteering in the childcare program. Thanks to Office Depot for continuing to support our community service work with these great “office in a box” supplies. Whew! Busy month.
In October Habitat let me have my first ever HeartWork Organizing company build day, where Terria once again showed up, along with my staff and even some clients. This was so much fun, we’ll definitely be doing it again next year. Hope you can join us.
In November we put together another DIY class to upcycle marble into a trinket tray. This class, unfortunately, had to be rescheduled, so keep an eye out for this project in the future.
It’s December, and HeartWork Organizing didn’t quite make our $15,000 Doors and Floors goal for Habitat for Humanity Montco/Delco, but the year isn’t over yet. Remember the power of YET?
If you are still planning your end of year giving and want to make an impact close to home, please consider an online gift to Habitat for Humanity. Just make your donation and put “HeartWork Organizing” in the notes or on the memo line of your check. (Mail checks to Habitat for Humanity, 533 Foundry Road, West Norritown, PA 19403.)
You can give whether you are a local or worldwide readers or follower. I really appreciate that you are here, and I super-duper appreciate if you are into helping us reach our goal for 2017.
It may be just one door, but it’s the most important one for the Brown family. Will you help Habitat for Humanity open more doors? Click below. Thank you.
[bctt tweet=”This is what Home for the Holidays looks like. @HabitatMontco home dedication. Help us open more doors to safe, decent housing. ” username=”DarlaDeMorrow”]
Stay tuned, because just like the year isn’t over yet, neither is this story. In our next post, I’ll share the story of Terria’s home dedication for her family’s brand new home, and give you a house tour.
You make opening doors like this possible. I can’t wait to show you the goodness inside the newest Habitat MontDelCo home!
