Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity President Ed Lopez. Photo by Marie Lopez.

Nashua – Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity has announced newly elected officers on its Board of Directors.  Ed Lopez, of Nashua, who has been serving as the organization’s Public Relations Chairman, has been elected President of the Board of Directors.  Marie Lopez, also of Nashua, has been re-elected Secretary of the Board while Chris Houpis, of Amherst, has been elected Assistant Secretary of the Board.  Vice President Peter Dobratz, of Derry, and Treasurer Karen Files, of Milford, are each in the middle of their first two-year term as officers on said Board. 

Each brings a different set of experiences to the Board’s officer team. 

Chris Houpis, a software executive at Kronos, which is based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, has served in the Public Relations Committee at Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity.  He has also served in a number of non-profit organizations over the last few years, including service as a past president of the Manchester Queen City Rotary, service as chairman of the Board of Trustees at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, and membership in the Software Association of New Hampshire.  

Marie Lopez is the owner of Marie Lopez Photography and was, until recently, working for Lowell City Hall, in Lowell, Massachusetts.  She served as part of the city’s Management Information Systems Department.  She is currently completing Political Science and Photography studies at the University of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Institute of Art.  Currently, she manages the organization’s main office at 63 Temple Street, in Nashua, with Jennifer Breen.  She has also served in the Public Relations Committee. 

Ed Lopez has worked for US Senators Hank Brown and the late John H. Chafee.  In 1998 he was a candidate for Rhode Island Secretary of State and until recently served in the Military Intelligence Branch of the United States Army Reserve’s Individual Mobilization Augmentation Program, at the Joint Analysis Center in Molesworth, England.  He is currently completing a doctorate in Intelligence Studies at Durham University, in England. 

“We are each excited to continue working with Habitat for Humanity in these new capacities – but in our organization we rely on a working Board of Directors – which means that no matter what title we carry, for whatever period of time, we are all equally immersed in a tremendous amount of work.  We face a daunting challenge to raise funds in our current economy – which we need to do in order to help create affordable housing for qualified families, and this is a challenge all members of this Board are wholeheartedly and equally committed to,” said Ed Lopez. 

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is preparing to begin a construction project in the spring of 2010.  “At the moment we are preparing to build homes for two families in Milford and we want to urge members of the Greater Nashua community to help us raise the necessary funds, volunteer help, and materials necessary to make this project a great success.  We have at least two more homes to build right after that.  Those families and their friends are contributing as many hours of labor as our other volunteers.  We offer a ‘hand-up, not a hand-out’ so our pursuit for support helps sustain a mission that nurtures the values of hard-work and a team effort within the community,” said Board Secretary Marie Lopez. 

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.  Chris Houpis is a member of Saint Philip Greek Orthodox Church, in Nashua.  Marie and Ed Lopez are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also in Nashua.  Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. 

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If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Jennifer Breen at 603-883-0295. For further publicity information email the Public Relations Committee at pr@nashuahabitat.org.

After a very successful Take a Hike for Humanity at both the Mount Monadnock and Blue Hills Reservation sites yesterday, the Hike is on today, Sunday the 31st of May, at both sites.  YOU CAN REGISTER TO HIKE UNTIL 2PM TODAY!  Please come join us and help us raise funds for a great cause.

You can find detailed information and directions to each site at this link.

AMHERST NEW HAMPSHIRE ANTIQUE AUTO SHOW

The Greatear Nashua Habitat for Humanity will have a booth at this year’s AMHERST NEW HAMPSHIRE ANTIQUE AUTO SHOW.  The show is on today, Sunday the 31st of May.  You can find directions and details here.

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity in the Broadcaster

Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity is on the front page of this week’s New Hampshire Broadcaster.  Check out the story at this link.

Tomorrow the Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity will have a station at the Pheasant Lane Mall and we encourage you all to stop by. 

Take A Hike For Humanity

There will be registration materials for Take A Hike For Humanity at the table.  The Take A Hike For Humanity event is taking place on May 30th and 31st and we have already had great success registering teams and individuals to the Hike.  You can read more about the Hike and even register online here: www.takeahikeforhumanity.org.  We want to see as many teams come out and support Habitat by participating or pledging to other teams and individuals on the Hike.

We will also have 8′ 1/2″ by 11′ sized posters advertising the event and we are looking for volunteers that can pick some up and post them in college dormitory rooms, college campus buildings, apartment complexes, churches, businesses and retail establishments, etc.  If there is a store you visit frequently and you feel they would hang one up that could be of great help.  If you live in an apartment complex and can post these at entrances for each building that could help a great deal as well.

Donations

Our affiliate is about to begin building a home on Ridge Street, in Nashua.  We are seeking donations and you are welcome to stop by and drop one off.  

Your gift could help buy:

• $10 = Box of Nails
• $35 = Roof Shingles
• $50 = Low Flow Toilet
• $75 = Window
• $100 = Kitchen Sink
• $150 = Front Door
• $500 = Siding
• $1000 = Wallboard
• $2000 = Flooring

Checks can be made out to the Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity, cash contributions will also be accepted.

Volunteer Registrations

We are seeking volunteers – most specifically in these areas: construction, public relations and newsletter editing, office administrative work, and fundraising.  Volunteer registration forms will be available at the table. 

Bring someone who is not familiar with Habitat for Humanity with you for a brief introduction to what we do – stop by and show your support!

The table will be located at the Pheasant Lane Mall tomorrow, May 2nd, from 10am to 5pm and will be near Macy’s.

We need your support – please come visit us for a few minutes!