Photo Courtesy of Francesco Tonelli.

CONTACT: ELLEN SVENSON                                                              
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TEL. 603-883-0295                                                                                    
EMAIL: ellen.svenson@nashuahabitat.org

NASHUA STROLL 2010: A CHANCE TO HELP HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HELP FAMILIES IN NEED
An Annual Tradition Returns to the Stroll for a Good Cause

Nashua – Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity will return this year to the Nashua Stroll with its famous annual Bake Sale. The event will take place on Saturday, November 27^th, from 5PM- 9 PM.  It will be held at the United Methodist Church on 154 Main Street, Nashua, New Hampshire (03060).  Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity’s bake sale has always been a well-known stop during the Nashua Stroll.  Despite affordable sale prices on a large variety of home-made pastries and hot chocolate, last year’s proceeds exceeded $1,500.  This year the organization is hoping to double that amount and will once again include the sale of crafts in order to help increase proceeds. Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is currently building a home for a family in Wilton and preparing to build homes for two families in the spring of 2011.

 The organization seeks volunteers to help run the event, baked good donations, and crafts.  The proceeds are all directed toward Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity and the organization’s efforts to build and renovate houses, “so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which people can live and grow”.  

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. 

If you are interested in baking something for the sale, or volunteering to help at the bake sale, please contact Ellen Svenson at 603-882-5953 or at ellen.svenson@nashuahabitat.org. 

# # #

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Ellen Svenson, please call 603-883-0295. For further publicity information email pr@nashabitat.org.

CONTACT:  ED LOPEZ                                                                            
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TEL. 603-883-0295                                                                                       
EMAIL: office@nashuahabitat.org

Nashua – Earlier this year Lisa Goulet approached Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity with a proposal: to donate 10% of her personal real estate sales commissions to the organization. All Habitat for Humanity had to do: accept the donations and let others know that this contribution possibility existed.

Not only did Habitat for Humanity accept the offer, they quickly recruited Goulet to join them at the next Board of Directors meeting. A few months after the initial meeting, Goulet now serves as the Chairman of the organization’s Site Selection Committee and is on the cusp of joining said Board of Directors herself.

The responsibilities Goulet accepted came with significant challenges: as Site Selection Committee Chairman, Goulet was tasked with the responsibility of helping the organization find a suitable lot in Milford for two families whose home construction project was postponed on account of a discovery that their lot was a wetlands area. How soon these two families are able to move forward with the help of Habitat for Humanity volunteers depends largely on Goulet’s leadership in the Site Selection Committee. Her real estate experience and her commitment to charity and non-profit work should help.

Lisa Goulet’s expertise in real estate work is rooted in over 15 years of experience in residential home-building and in having owned and operated construction firms in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire.In addition to her real estate and philanthropic experience, Goulet has also studied acting at the Media Performance Institute in Boston, Massachusetts and has been featured in films and both print and television commercials. The diversity of her experiences impressed Nashua Habitat for Humanity’s leaders.

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity President Ed Lopez was impressed with Goulet’s professionalism and her determination when they first met. “When Lisa came forward with her proposal her professionalism and determination really impressed us. We knew we needed her on our team.” 

Goulet, for her part, saw it as an opportunity to serve her community and serve in a Christian capacity. “My determination to serve and to give 10% of my personal real estate sales commissions to various charities was based on my desire to help the community, to give back, and also as a way to thank God for everything I have been blessed with: I feel very fortunate to be where I am, for the success I have had in my business endeavors, and for the support and guidance He has given me in life,” says Goulet, while adding that “Habitat for Humanity’s Christian foundation certainly gave me a sense of mission within the organization.”

Goulet makes contributions from these commissions based on the charities or non-profits her customers select – so Habitat for Humanity is not the only beneficiary of her contributions, several other area organizations benefit from her willingness to make the donation.

Lisa Goulet is now preparing to join the Board of Directors at Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity, which will hold its annual meeting this coming October.

Goulet says “I’m prepared to meet the challenges that come with work at Habitat for Humanity; it doesn’t diminish the many business obligations I have, or the commitments I have made to help other non-profits and charities – it all comes with the territory of the obligation and sense of gratitude I feel toward God. I feel Habitat for Humanity is a good fit for me in terms of doing a bit more because my real estate experience lends itself to the organization’s urgent needs.”

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

# # #

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call the Habitat for Humanity office at 603-883-0295 or Ed Lopez at 603.718.8792. For further publicity information email the Public Relations Committee at pr@nashuahabitat.org.

http://www.takeahikeforhumanity.org/

Pre-Register online:

http://takeahikeforhumanity.dojiggy.com/

• May 22, 2010: Mt. Monadnock State Park (Jaffrey, NH)
• June 5, 2010: Blue Hills Reservation (Milton, MA)

A view from Mt. Monadnock

Sign up online and create a personal pledge page.

http://takeahikeforhumanity.dojiggy.com/

Then email your personal pledge to friends and family and let them know you are raising funds in support of Habitat for Humanity in your local community.

The following hikers have already signed up in support of Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity:

• Peter Dobratz
• Karen Files
• Craig Foti
• Jeanine Georgalas ( BAE Systems Team)
• Lisa Hansen
• Steven Hansen
• Jerry Harrow (Harrow Family Team)
• Catrina Hellmer
• Nancy Lapolice ( BAE Systems Team)
• John Normand
• Derek Skillings

Raise $125, get an event T-shirt.

More information on the Take a hike for Humanity website: http://www.takeahikeforhumanity.org/

]]> http://www.nashuahabitat.org/2010/05/05/join-us-at-facebook-twitter-flickr-volunteerup-linkedin-and-youtube/feed/ 0 http://www.nashuahabitat.org/2010/05/03/open-volunteer-positions/ http://www.nashuahabitat.org/2010/05/03/open-volunteer-positions/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 02:21:00 +0000 admin http://www.nashuahabitat.org/?p=1610

Several volunteer opportunities are now open at Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity.  These include: Administrative Assistant, Government Relations and Advocacy Committee Member, Fundraising Committee Member, Assistant Office Manager, Safety Committee Member, Technology Committee Member, Fundraising Committee Leadership, Site Selection Committee Member, Transportation Coordinator, Transportation Assistant, Annual Bake Sale Volunteer, and Newsletter Distribution Manager.

Interested?   Email us at office@nashuahabitat.org.  You can read more about these positions…
 

VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 

Description

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to help with administrative work in the office: answering emails, populating a database, answering the phone, taking messages, answering questions for walk-ins, and other miscellaneous duties. Some minor training is required. 

Skills

Office Administration: Experience in database entry and maintenance, strong written and oral communication skills.

Requirements

We need volunteers who can work regularly and commit to a regular schedule. We are seeking volunteers who can fit one of three schedules between Monday and Friday: 10am to 4pm, 10am to 2pm, and 1pm to 4pm.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MEMBER 

Description  

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is seeking volunteers that are willing to assist the organization in the process of acquiring building permits, variances, and in tackling other similar issues at the town and city level in the Greater Nashua Area.  Members of the Government Relations and Advocacy committee will also address state and federal issues that affect our affiliate.  

How does Habitat work with the government?

• Our Government Relations and Advocacy team works with legislators and housing regulators to increase support for affordable homeownership and eliminate poverty housing.
• We monitor public policies related to housing, community and international development.
• We advocate policy choices that increase access to decent, affordable housing for people around the world.
• We accept government funds for infrastructure, utilities, capacity building or training, and house building. We accept these funds so long as they have no conditions that would violate Habitat’s principles or limit its ability to proclaim its Christian identity.

We are looking for volunteers willing to endeavor in these areas of work on behalf of our Greater Nashua affiliate.

Skills

Communication: Volunteers in this committee will need to work on some of these issues during business hours, so a flexible schedule in the Monday through Friday business-hours time-frame is desirable. Experience with city, state, and federal government work is helpful, as well as any academic backgrounds in political or government studies.

Requirements

A willingness to work with the organization when issues arise and to coordinate with other volunteers when necessary in this pursuit, as well as a willingness to communicate with Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity’s volunteers and supporters to encourage their advocacy on behalf of the organization when specific issues arise and are being address by Habitat for Humanity. 

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEMBER

Description

The Fundraising Committee is looking for members who can make a commitment to attend monthly meetings in order to help plan, coordinate, and participate in the organization and management of fundraising events. Volunteers in his role should be willing to assist the Fundraising Committee Chairman in seeking donations for events such as raffles, an annual Bake Sale, silent auctions, etc. The volunteer should also be willing to help organize fundraising events, such as dinners, yard sales, etc., and should be willing to participate in managing these events with other volunteers on the date of the event. The committee is in need of volunteers willing to commit to this work for a year or more, in order to maintain continuity and help train new volunteers in these responsibilities.

Willingness to do work on behalf of the volunteer committee at the Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity office during business hours is welcome: the committee is also in need of volunteers who can help write promotional items such as flyers at the office.

Skills

Fundraising

Requirements

The most critical requirement in this volunteer role is continuity: the committee needs help from volunteers willing to work on a handful of events over the course of a year. Anyone who is willing to volunteer to meet some or all of the functions described above is welcome.

ASSISANT OFFICE MANAGER

Description

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is looking for a volunteer who can commit to a fairly regular schedule each week at the office as well as to learning office operations comprehensively enough to help supervise volunteer Administrative Assistants. The volunteer Assistant Office Manager must be able to fulfill all the tasks a volunteer Administrative Assistant could fulfill: handling email traffic, fielding phone calls, responding to walk-in inquiries, completing some database work, and distributing mail. The position requires this knowledge in case there aren’t enough volunteers to cover those tasks at any given time. A schedule can be adjusted with ample pliability for any interested volunteers, but we do need support in maintaining some regularity. The volunteer Assistant Office Manager will need to train volunteers regularly. 

Skills

Office Administration: Experience with Microsoft Word, email programs (Microsoft Office, Gmail, etc.), internet browsers and searches is necessary. Management experience is helpful.

Requirements

At least one full six-hour day a week between Monday and Friday. Any additional time volunteered will be greatly appreciated.

SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBER

Description

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is seeking volunteers who are willing to join this committee to support the Building Committee, and the A Brush With Kindness Committee in their efforts.

The Safety Committee is a sub-committee of the Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity Building Committee. This committee is responsible for safety process on the Habitat build sites, as well as any work that could present potential lead paint issues, or other similar issues. When necessary, this subcommittee will also tackle any safety issues that arise in warehouse and ReStore efforts.

The volunteers on the committee work to refine the process used to raise the awareness of the people on the build site about safe work practices and reducing risk on the build-site.

Skills

Safety, Lead, Construction: Familiarity with Lead-Paint issues, as well as safety measures at construction sites is critical in this effort, as well as a willingness to acquire and read manuals from Habitat for Humanity International as they are released.

Requirements

Familiarity with construction and paint safety issues. A willingness to read Habitat for Humanity International publications on these subjects and to share this information with volunteers. This committee is being organized from scratch – so it will be helpful if anyone volunteering for a role in this committee is willing to take a leadership role. This is not a requirement but something that would be helpful.

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MEMBER

Description

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity’s Technology Committee is seeking volunteers to assist in several aspects, one of the most critical being assisting affiliate leaders and volunteers where knowledge and understanding of online tools is outdated, incomplete, or short, at first by helping complete a number of tasks but with a long-term goal of providing training and guidance until self-sufficiency in these areas is met.

The technology committee manages the office computers and other equipment. We provide technical direction for the website (content is provided mainly from the public relations committee). Overall, our goal is to make the jobs of everyone in the organization easier.

If you are technically inclined, you’re welcome to assist us in our efforts (see the online volunteer form). We generally do not adhere to any specific programming language or paradigm. We draw on the skillset of our volunteers and we encourage exploration in new technologies. We try to focus on de facto standards, but we’ll use more obscure technologies if we have the volunteers to support them and they help us serve our mission. Being an all-volunteer non-profit, we definitely focus on low-cost solutions.

Currently in the office we run Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux. Licenses to many software products have been made available to us at a reduced cost through TechSoup. Many of our computers are donations from local individuals and companies.

The website is created with WordPress. WordPress is written in PHP and it stores its data in a MySQL database. WordPress Plugins used include Akismet, Breadcrumb NavXT, cformsII, Google Sitemaps Generator, postcasa, and Viper’s Video Quicktags. Web hosting is done using Apache through TotalChoiceHosting, and email is through Google Apps. 

Skills

Computer, Typing, Internet Tools: See above notes.

Requirements

A willingness to work with consistency, and for an extended period of time rather than individual projects. A willingness to work in the office with some regularity for a small amount of time each week would be welcome. Attendance of technology meetings, which can occur anywhere from once-a-month to every few months would help as well. 

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP

Description

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity’s Fundraising Committee is looking for volunteers who will be willing to support the committee in a variety of efforts.

Volunteers should have the courage to offer the opportunity for giving to others, know the intricacies of Habitat for Humanity and be able to answer questions regarding its principles, policies, and procedures, have good networking connections in the community, have creative ideas and plans to generate resources, be able to work with diverse people, and now how to put together a fundraising plan. Training in these areas can be provided.

 Some Responsibilities Include:

Shaping a comprehensive fundraising plan with the Fundraising Chairman that includes target sources and amounts, dates and assignments.

Working with the Fundraising Chairman and the treasurer to ensure that processes are in place for donor recognition, IRS substantiation and categorized record keeping by source of income and donor. Setting up appropriate sub-committees with the Fundraising Committee Chairman or work groups to handle efforts with churches, individuals, businesses, financial institutions, fraternal organizations, civic groups, foundations, etc.

Committee members will help the Chairman maintain records of where contacts have been made to avoid duplication of effort and seek a list of in-kind donations desired by the building committee as well as develop strategies to meet those needs.

Event coordination, organization, prize and donation collection (for raffles and silent auctions), are among the critical needs in this committee.

Skills

Fundraising: Please see above for full description.

Requirements

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity’s Fundraising Committee is looking for volunteers that are willing to commit to the organization and coordination of projects and that are willing to work on several events and functions over the course of the year.

SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBER

Description

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is seeking volunteers willing to work in the Site Selection Committee’s efforts to acquire donated land. A large part of this effort requires work in the office: creating or using existing form letters, and organizing an effort to solicit land-owners in the Greater Nashua Area.

Skills

Writing, Mailing: A large part of this volunteer role is to engage in a campaign to find donated land through mail correspondence. Office skills, writing skills, computer and MS Word skills are helpful.

Requirements

This volunteer effort requires organizational skills, accurate record-keeping (in order to avoid duplicating efforts), and work that can be done off-site but would probably be more efficiently done at the organization’s office (due to the need to cover office supply expenses, etc.). Members of this committee are also encouraged to attend Site Selection meetings in order to become familiar with the overall effort to find land and properties to rehabilitate in the Greater Nashua Area.

TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR

Description

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is seeking a volunteer who owns a truck or several trucks and who is willing to coordinate with various Habitat for Humanity leaders, ranging from Building Committee leaders to Fundraising Committee leaders in order to coordinate the loading, transportation, and unloading of goods for a variety of events or duties.

The Transportation Coordinator should be able to organize a team of volunteers to manage this work when it arises. There is no set schedule for this, so the Transportation Coordinator should be willing to help create and manage a list of other volunteers willing to provide trucks and transportation assistance when the organization’s need to move items to and from different locations arises. This is an increasingly important need at this organization and a long term (one year or more) commitment would be appreciated.

Skills

Transportation, Driving: Managing volunteers that own trucks, managing the loading and unloading of goods at different events and locations on behalf of the organization.

Requirements

It would be preferable if a volunteer in this role could commit to helping in this capacity over an extended period of time – at least a year. The volunteer should own a truck or help line-up transportation support in this capacity.

Ideally, other potential truck owners and drivers will enlist to help assist the organization during specific events. The volunteer in the Transportation Coordinator role will help coordinate these volunteers when the need arises.

TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANT

Description

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is seeking volunteers who own trucks to help the organization transport goods to events or construction sites.

These needs arise at different times and for both regularly scheduled events or unique events. Items that need to be loaded, transported, and unloaded range from construction materials to tables for events.

Volunteers willing to provide their time in this capacity will be on a call-list and contacted for specific events or needs. 

Skills

Driving, Truck Space: Drivers should be willing to donate time to help load, transport, and unload materials for a variety of events.

Requirements

Volunteers must own a truck as the organization is not currently in possession of any truck space. It is preferable if the volunteer is able to bring assistance for the loading and unloading of goods.

ANNUAL BAKE SALE VOLUNTEER

Description

Each year Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity holds a Nashua Winter Holiday Stroll Annual Bake Sale. The Fundraising Committee is searching for volunteers willing to join the Fundraising Committee to help organize this event each year.

This volunteer role is responsible for working with the committee’s chairman in finding volunteers to man tables at the event, volunteers to contribute home-made baked goods, schedule donation pick-ups, man the Habitat information table at the event, etc.

Although the event takes place once a year, volunteers in this role are encouraged to participate in Fundraising Committee activities throughout the year, and to attend meetings regularly.

Skills

Volunteer Management: Volunteers interested in helping the Fundraising Committee should be willing to manage volunteers for the event, as well as help with any work at the actual event where we are short on volunteers.

Requirements

A willingness to work with the Fundraising Committee with some regularity throughout the year and attend committee meetings, providing more input and management work as the Annual Bake Sale event approaches. This volunteer should be willing to recruit volunteers for the event and to help cover any work at the event that the Fundraising Committee is unable to recruit volunteers for. Other Fundraising Committee members will help with this effort.

The volunteer should be able to donate the bulk of his or her volunteer time around the Bake Sale event time.

NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Description

The Newsletter Distribution Manager will work with the Public Relations Committee and the office team at Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity. The Newsletter Distribution Manager will be in charge of managing volunteers that have signed up to fold newsletters, add contribution envelopes to them, and organize them according to zip codes. This typically occurs four times a year, and roughly 2500 newsletters are sent out with a majority going to the Greater Boston Area and the rest of New England as well as a smaller portion being mailed anywhere from other states and abroad.

This volunteer role will require some coordination with the organization’s Treasurer and the US Postal Service to coordinate the bulk mailing process. Typically, each newsletter requires an evening of work with a team of about 20 volunteers and mailing the newsletter containers during the day through the US Postal Service’s Bulk Mail office.

 Skills

Management, Organization: Volunteers are already in place to work on this effort, this volunteer role will focus on managing them.

Requirements

The newsletter is released up to four times a year. The Newsletter Distribution Manager should be willing to manage this work four times a year and commit to the role for a year or more as it requires some training. The role requires some physical work, mainly in moving freshly released materials to and fro.

WHEN: This Saturday May1st from 8AM-3PM (Rain date is Saturday May 8th)

WHERE: 15 Meredith Drive in Nashua 

WHAT: Need a computer desk and chair, bookcases, kitchen set, appliances, model airplanes, match car collection, lamps, clocks, tools, kids toys, books, sleds, antique child’s desk?  Need an air conditioner, heater, new ceiling fan, chandelier, picnic basket, or wet and dry vac?  We have it all and more!!  All proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity. We hope you will support our fundraising effort! See you there!  

The Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is having a “Neighbor Helping Neighbor” Spring Raffle in order to raise money for the construction costs for the duplex that we are building on Tonella Road in Milford, NH.

Fourteen neighborhood businesses have generously donated prizes for our raffle.  There are ten top prizes: a $500 Estate Planning Package from Attorney Linda Argenti, a $300 Eye Exam and Eyeglass Package from Dr. Mark Steadman, a $100 value Brunch for Four from Michael Timothy’s restaurant, a $100 gift certificate from Longhorn Restaurant, a $75 gift certificate from Romie’s Auto Repair, $50 gift certificates from Lowe’s, Shaw’s Supermarket, Glidden’s Auto Service, and Cassandra Salon & Spa, a $30 gift certificate from Nashua Electrolysis, a $25 gift certificate from Collins Brothers Chowder, $20 gift certificates from Tacos Colima and Joey’s Diner and two $50 coupon books from Foodee’s.

The tickets cost $5.00, or 3 for $10.00 and all proceeds go to the GNHFH.  If interested in purchasing a ticket please e-mail ellen.svenson@nashuahabitat.org. or call Ellen at (603) 882-5953.  Tickets can also be purchased at the GNHFH office on Temple Street and by calling the office at (603) 883-0295.

The drawing for the raffle winners will take place at the GNHFH Giant Yard Sale on Saturday May 1, 2010 at 15 Meredith Drive in Nashua.  The winner need not be present to win.  Please support our fundraising events.  Your support is greatly appreciated!

Attorney Linda J. Argenti

Steadman Eye Associates

Romie’s Auto Repair, Inc.

GLIDDEN AUTO SERVICE

COLLINS BROTHERS

CHOWDER COMPANY

Tacos Colima Mexican Restaurant

]]> http://www.nashuahabitat.org/2010/03/31/neighbor-helping-neighbor-spring-raffle/feed/ 0 http://www.nashuahabitat.org/2010/02/26/pick-up-truck-and-volunteers-needed-saturday-27th-of-february/ http://www.nashuahabitat.org/2010/02/26/pick-up-truck-and-volunteers-needed-saturday-27th-of-february/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:15:17 +0000 ed http://www.nashuahabitat.org/?p=1494 We have two activities tomorrow that we need volunteers for.  We have a building activity as detailed in the posting below.

We are also in need of a pick-up truck and volunteers to help us pick up items that are being donated for our upcoming Yard Sale.  The Fundraising Committee needs to pick the items up in Pelham.  If you can help with any of these two needs (the truck and volunteers to go to Pelham), please contact Ellen at ellen.svenson@nashuahabitat.org.