ReStore celebrates five years The Coaster February 2, 2012 By Richard Virgilio Click here to view the pdf
	Volunteers for Habitat The Coaster, December 22, 2011
	An Evening of Goodwill and Design Asbury Park Press Social, December 26, 2010
	Coastal Habitat Chooses First Homeowner for New Home The Coaster December 9, 2010 By Richard Virgilio Save As pdf A Christmas dream came true early for single mother of three Rhonda Bingham Dec 3 when she learned that she was selected to be the first homeowner for one of four homes currently under construction in the Springwood section of Asbury Park by Coastal Habitat for Humanity. “1 can never explain what choosing me for the house has done for me. I can now rebuild my family unity,” said the initially speechless Bingham, through tears and screams of joy. “I come from a real dark place - struggles for 15 years. I want to thank everyone who believed in me and listened to me.” Bingham shared with the teary-eyed group that three years ago she was sleeping in the basement of a property just three lots away from where her new three bedroom one and one half bathroom 1400 square foot home is being built. Today, Bingham is employed at the Affordable Housing Alliance in Eatontown. “I cannot wait to have my children all in one spot,” said Bingham, whose daughter is attending Cornell University on full scholarship and plans to return to the new home after graduation. “I want to create traditions, celebrate holidays, be a family for the first time in a very, very long time.” As emotions settled, friends and colleagues joked with Bingham - famous for her sweet potato soufflé and lemon meringue pie - about the first meal she will cook in her own kitchen. She promised it would be a good one. “This is a change of life for Rhonda, a sense of stability,” said Donna Blaze, CEO, Affordable Housing Alliance. “All the work she put into making her life better is now coming back. She has been on pins and needles for a long time waiting for this decision.” After an extensive screening process, Bingham was unanimously approved by Coastal Habitat’s Board of Trustees. Homeowners are chosen using three main criteria: an income of 25 to 50 percent of median income, credit history and need. The non-profit’s Family Selection Committee also conducts in-person visits with a prospective family to confirm all facts stated in the application. When the research is completed, the committee “blindly” presents two to three homeowner candidates to the board. Additionally, homeowners are committed to providing a minimum of 400 hours of “sweat equity” in the actual construction of their home. “The mortgage for one home is used to fund the building of the next home and many times the mortgage is less than the prospective homeowner is paying in rent,” said Maureen Mulligan, executive director of Coastal Habitat. “The ‘need’ is defined by the applicant. The applicant explains why they would benefit from the home.” Bingham will immediately put a one percent deposit on the home. When the LEED-certified home designed by local architect David Feldman is completed in early spring, Coastal Habitat will hold the 30-year no-interest mortgage to the $135,000 property, which is approximately what it cost to build the home. She will also be responsible for the homeowner’s insurance, property taxes and general maintenance. “I have an 18-year-old son who is ready to rake the leaves,” said Bingham. This and the three additional home construction projects are a partnership between Coastal Habitat for Humanity, the city of Asbury Park, Affordable Housing Alliance and Interfaith Neighbors. “A whole community has come together to help someone in need here,” Mulligan said. “Hundreds of volunteers have made this happen. Everyone involved in this project is in it to help the southwest side. It does not get any better than this.” City Manager Terry Reidy agreed. “For 40 years people have struggled to bring back the dignity and sense of community the southwest side had,” said Reidy, while hugging Bingham. “Thanks to a wonderful group that has come together in a way like no other, Rhonda is the first back to that block and a gift to us to help create the community Asbury Park aspires to be. This is what building community is all about.” Bingham’s new home - the 13th Coastal Habitat home – was made possible by individual area donors and sponsors, including: HUD/New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, City of Asbury Park, United Way, Wachovia, First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank, Richmond County Savings Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation and OceanFirst Bank. “This is proof that dreams awaken and new possibilities arise,” said Bingham, with a smile like a child’s on Christmas morning. Anyone interested in completing an application for another Coastal Habitat home should log on to CoastalHabitat.org or call Mulligan directly at (732) 974-2422.
	Brush with Kindness seeks Belmar clients The Coast Star June 24, 2010 By Molly Mulshine Coastal Habitat for Humanity’s Brush With Kindness program is seeking low-income homeowners who are unable to renovate their homes due to age, disability or family circumstances. Stuart Lackey, the chairperson of Brush With Kindness, approached the Belmar Borough Council last Wednesday in order to notify them of the program and to ask council members to keep an eye out for prospective candidates for the Brush With Kindness program. “Basically, we look at [people with] low incomes,” Mr. Lackey said Friday. “Someone who can’t really afford to do it on their own. Usually seniors who are on a fixed income are very good candidates.” Brush With Kindness provides maintenance to homeowners who are unable to maintain their houses themselves. “Right now,” Mr. Lackey said, “we’re in a desperate need for the proper houses that meet the requirements. “We’re just looking for people in the low income strata, or seniors who can’t do the work themselves or just don’t have the means to do it,” Mr. Lackey said. The program is also available to homeowners who are disabled, or anyone else who is unable to keep up with maintenance on their house. Supplies such as paint and tools for the repairs are completely donated, Mr. Lackey said, by corporations like Wegman’s, Lowe’s and Home Depot, and by charitable individuals. The repairs are completed by Mr. Lackey and a team of volunteers. Volunteers usually come in groups from schools, workplaces or other organizations that lend 15 to 20 people to help out. Currently, though, the volunteers outnumber the houses that need repairs. “We’re getting a good number of volunteers, but we need the projects for them to do,” Mr. Lackey said. “We are also trying to bring in other services such as building ramps” and more. “It all depends on how much money we raise,” Mr. Lackey said. Any elderly or disabled homeowner who is a candidate for the repairs should call Pam Van Nostrand or Dave Lapovsky at 732-974-2422 Prompt 3. Also, people can nominate eligible family members, friends or neighbors to receive renovations from Brush With Kindness by calling the same number. Brush With Kindness also has a website at www.coastalhabitat.org. Mr. Lackey also mentioned a program he works with called Restore, based in Asbury Park. Restore accepts donations of appliances, furniture and other household items that are in good working order, and resells them at a low price. All of the proceeds go to projects like Brush With Kindness and Habitat for Humanity. To donate household items to Restore, call 732-988-7044, or visit the store at 917 3rd Ave. in Asbury Park. Mr. Lackey became involved with Brush With Kindness because of his history as a contractor and a Realtor, he said. “I was a general contractor and a builder in Virginia 15 or 20 years ago,” he said, “and we used to volunteer time and materials for Habitat.” Mr. Lackey said that he moved to Monmouth County about 14 years ago, where he became involved in real estate. “I always thought this was a great way that realtors could get involved with the community,” Mr. Lackey said. Mr. Lackey is a chairperson for the Monmouth Board of Realtors, and a project leader with Coastal Habitat, the local division of Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Lackey lives on 8th Avenue in Belmar with his wife and his daughter, who is a recent college graduate. The couple also has a grown son who works as a project engineer in Washington, D.C. For more information about Coastal Habitat or Brush With Kindness, or to make a donation to the group, call 732-974-2422.
	$2,500 donation accepted by Coastal Habitat For Humanity The Coast Star October 1, 2009 Coastal Habitat For Humanity was recently awarded $2,500 to support its mission to provide simple, decent, affordable housing by OceanFirst Foundation of Toms River. The grant will fund the ongoing efforts and current projects of the organization to benefit families in need in Monmouth County. Recently, Coastal Habitat For Humanity received three lots from the Asbury Park City Council and is planning construction of new homes on those lots. The houses will be built by volunteers, as well as the partnering families. Each family selected for homeownership must contribute at least 250 hours of work or “Sweat Equity” toward their new home. Because of donations like the OceanFirst Foundation award and volunteered building hours, Habitat For Humanity is able to offer low-income families an opportunity to buy affordable housing with a no-interest mortgage. The mortgage paid goes toward the construction of new Habitat houses. To meet the needs of the community in addition to constructing new homes, Coastal Habitat has integrated a creative program called “A Brush With Kindness.” This program addresses the needs of existing homeowners who can no longer keep up with the exterior maintenance of their property. These one-day projects bring volunteers together to help a member of their community who may be elderly, of low-income or disabled. Coastal Habitat For Humanity is able to keep these projects alive thanks to hardworking volunteers and charitable donors. To date, the OceanFirst Foundation has contributed $10,000 to aid in the effort to provide affordable housing for Monmouth County. Coastal Habitat For Humanity, an affiliate of Habitat For Humanity International, was founded in 1994 and built its first home in 1997 in Asbury Park. Habitat For Humanity is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry devoted to eliminating substandard housing, and partnering with low-income families and communities. For more information about how to make a donation or become a volunteer, visit www.coastalhabitat.org or call 732-974-2422. Founded in 1996, OceanFirst Foundation is the first foundation in the nation to be established by a bank as part of an initial public offering. In 2008, OceanFirst Foundation donated more than $1.6 million to community initiatives. OceanFirst Foundation has contributed approximately $20 million to over 600 local charities in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties since its inception. Its four priorities are housing, health and wellness, improving the quality of life, and youth development. For more information, visit www.oceanfirstfdn.org.
	Community Partners Help with Township's Paint and Rehab Program By Lynn Servon and Roberta Grace Neptune Township NJ – Neptune News September 2009 Newsletter September 2009
	The Township was very fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with three volunteer organizations to work on the 2009 Paint and Rehab Program this summer. For the second year, over 300 volunteers from World Changers arrived in early July for one week. They painted homes, replaced windows, replaced a roof, and built a wheelchair ramp. The young volunteers, accompanied by adult supervisors, were from the Southern Baptist Convention. Pastors George Russ and Mark Davis of Colts Neck and Freehold were the local contacts and hosts. Volunteers were housed at the high school. Cots were provided by the American Red Cross. Providing support for the beach party were Nancy Hoffman of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA), Karen Escobar from New Jersey Natural Gas and Susan Kelly, Director of the Monmouth-Ocean Food Bank. Mary Baird, Director of Missions 101, a youth ministry associated with the OGCMA, provided leadership for two, four-day work events. Students and adults performed a variety of painting and landscaping tasks on over 30 homes. Coastal Habitat for Humanity again joined with the Township’s Paint Program to paint 10 homes in Neptune so far this year. Pam VanNostrand, Volunteer Coordinator, provided volunteers from the Brush with Kindness Program. Planning and organization for this program started last year with then Mayor Randy Bishop. In addition to those listed above, he was joined by Lynn Servon, Coordinator of the World Changers working on a home in Neptune
	Township's Paint Program, Neptune High School Vice- Principal, Jim Whitson, Nick  Williams Chairman of the Neptune Township Housing Authority Commissioners, Community Programs Coordinator, Monique Burger and Roberta Grace, Special Projects. Ms. Baird assessed properties for all programs.
	Brielle golf club staffers chip in during Employee Volunteer Day Golf club staffers chip in during Employee Volunteer Day By CHRISTINA VEGA COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU Asbury Park Press August 24, 2009
	Employees of the Manasquan River Golf Club gave up their suits and ties for sneakers, T-shirts and work pants Monday morning. About 30 staff members from the Brielle golf club participated in the second annual Employee Volunteer Day, an event created by clubhouse manager Ryan Brennan not only to give back to the community, but to reinforce teamwork. "Volunteer Day helps our employees build trust and leadership skills for the workplace, as well as outside of the workplace," Brennan said. Ten volunteers helped repaint the interior of the Catholic Charities Building in Red Bank, while 20 others gave their assistance to the property of an elderly Eatontown woman whose home became too much to handle. Nick Diodato, 18, of Brick, who works at Manasquan River Golf Club in Brielle, volunteers as part of the golf club's annual Employee Volunteer Day on Monday. Twenty volunteers did yard work and repainted an Eatontown home where an elderly resident could not handle it. (STAFF PHOTO: TANYA BREEN)
	Sponsored by Coastal Habitat for Humanity, the program, called "A Brush with Kindness," is a way for residents to get involved and help other members of the community. "The program is an add on to our main focus of building new homes. And it's a win-win-win for everyone. It's a win for homeowners, a win for the volunteers and a win for us because we get the opportunity to help," said Pam Van Nostrand, volunteer coordinator for the organization. In Eatontown, the group of volunteers mowed, weed-whacked and raked the front and back yards and brought the exterior of the home up to snuff by scraping old paint and applying a fresh coat. David Lapovsky, a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and team leader for the project, helped evaluate the home to see if the work could be done in one day. "A lot of the woodwork was warped and rotted. The backyard was overgrown, and the house was in need of painting," Lapovsky said With some grass and weeds in the back yard as tall as him, Tim Doyle of Brick, a volunteer and the food and beverage director at the golf club, carried pieces of a fallen 25-foot tree that were cut to a manageable size. "This is one of my favorite events of the year," said Doyle, who added that he enjoys doing yard work. "It's so rewarding to give back to someone who needs help. I have a lot of fun and I like to give back." On the other hand, Jared Mozak of Brick, a volunteer and the dining room manager at the golf club, said he was out of his element in the yard. "I don't do a lot of this at home. Once in awhile, I'll mow the lawn," he said. The group used tools and supplies initially donated by Lowe's in Howell, Van Nostrand said. The Eatontown Lowe's home-improvement store offered the organization a discount on materials and donated flowers to plant around the house, she said. ON THE WEB: Visit www.coastalhabitat.org for more information about "A Brush with Kindness" or to refer a home for the program.
	Habitat for Humanity representative talks COAH By Jamie Biesiada The Coast Star August 20, 2009 The Citizens Committee on Affordable Housing in Wall Township invited a representative from Coastal Habitat for Humanity to its Aug. 10 meeting to discuss the possibility of working together to create more Council on Affordable Housing [COAH] units in the future. Wall Township has worked with the group once before to build a house. Maureen Mulligan, the Executive Director of Coastal Habitat for Humanity, attended the meeting to explain how the group works and what it could do in Wall to help the township meet its COAH obligation. She said the group has been working in Monmouth County for 15 years and has built 12 houses to date. The houses are mostly in Neptune but one, on 18th Avenue, is in Wall. Coastal Habitat for Humanity will be merging with other Habitat for Humanity organizations in Long Branch and Freehold in the coming months. “It has become obvious to us that by pooling our resources we can build more houses,” she said. Ms. Mulligan explained the group tries “very hard not to buy property,” explaining that the property on 18th Avenue in Wall was donated by Wall Township. Occasionally the group does purchase properties, though. “We think that we will continue to get more and more property because we are able to build houses at no cost to the towns,” she said, noting that all materials are donated and labor is done on a volunteer basis. Ms. Mulligan said if Wall was to use the group to build COAH housing, the only cost to the town would be the “land itself.” Habitat for Humanity’s guidelines for choosing qualified families is slightly different than COAH’s, she said. Normally, Habitat for Humanity would advertise property openings in local papers, libraries, on radio stations and through similar outlets. All interested parties must attend a seminar about the program and there is no waiting list because, Ms. Mulligan said, “we don’t want to have a waiting list of hundreds of people who think they’re next on the list.” Habitat for Humanity deals with “the low-, low-income folks,” she explained, and after going through a credit check [interested parties cannot have any foreclosures or bankruptcies currently on their record], each adult who will be living in the house must put in 250 hours of “sweat equity” working on building the house. If the structure is already built, their time will go to another house being built. Habitat for Humanity holds the mortgages for the houses, Ms. Mulligan said, and the 30-year mortgages average about $300 per month. With utilities included, the average family will be paying between $750 and $850 per month for their home. Habitat for Humanity also has a deed restriction in place that grants the group the right of first refusal if the owners decide to sell the property at any point. Habitat for Humanity could buy the property back and turn it over to another family, if they so choose, even if the 30—year mortgage has been paid off. Ms. Mulligan said that COAH guidelines, which Habitat for Humanity will follow if the group is working with a town to fulfill COAH obligations, require the use of a lottery system. The first party that is pulled from the lottery and meets Habitat for Humanity’s income and credit requirements will receive the property. She also noted that COAH’s income evaluations are stricter than Habitat for Humanity’s and require the homeowner to take homeowner classes. Councilman Jeffrey Foster attended the meeting and said the lots being considered for COAH units in Wall are abandoned, and that donating the property to Habitat for Humanity would be a “win-win” situation for Wall. The township would be able to collect taxes on the properties and gain COAH credits at the same time, he said. Mr. Verunni brought up the success of Wall’s Scattered Site Housing project, which, to date, has created 14 COAH units around Wall Township. Several residents expressed concern over possible abuse of the system, but Mr. Verunni said he was not aware of any, even though they could happen. “Whatever the requirements are, we follow those,” he said. Ms. Mulligan also noted that families who live in Habitat for Humanity houses often have “very, very unhappy neighbors” at first, noting one specific experience she had locally, although she did not specify where. Mr. Verunni agreed that a single unit could generate as much negative community feedback as larger units. But, Ms. Mulligan said that the house in question is maintained very well, and said that “the concerns of ‘not in my backyard’ — I’m happy to say — have been alleviated.” Mr. Verunni noted that with an “ownership project,” which he called the scattered site project, “the outcome has been very good for Wall Township and the 14 owners.” He attributed this partly to the educational period of first-time homeowner classes. Councilman Foster agreed. “Owning a home, you have more pride in your home,” he said, as opposed to rental units. After Ms. Mulligan left, some members of the public and the committee said placing Habitat for Humanity units in already established neighborhoods might not be the best idea if the family is not local. While Habitat for Humanity advertises locally, COAH often advertises available properties far from the town in which the unit will exist. Mr. Verunni agreed that it is “hard” to integrate a non-local family, but “you do as much as you can to make sure it’s a local family” without putting restrictions on where the family is from. Mr. Verunni said all of the houses built in Wall Township are designed to be “as nice as could be.” They are three-bedroom, one- and one-half bathroom units with storage sheds outside. They do not have garages. At this time, Mr. Verunni said, it appears that there are a total of 29 sites that could possibly be developed in this manner. In other meeting news, Mr. Verunni updated the committee on COAH plan property amendments: • Currently, the town is in negotiation with the property owners of a site on Holly Boulevard, located off of Highway 34, to buy the property and construct COAH units on the site. He said there are currently 25 owners of the property the town needs to reach an agreement with. The owners of Colfax Plaza, located off of Belmar Boulevard, are “very interested,” Mr. Verunni said, and are in talks about putting the COAH-required 30—year lease restriction on rental units located there. Lease restrictions on property that becomes part of the town’s COAH obligation give the property owners tax advantages, Mr. Verunni said. If the owners were to put lease restrictions on the rental units, they would count toward the town’s COAH obligation. Because they are rentals, they would accrue additional credits, as opposed to owned units. • Sunnyside Manor, located on Ridgewood Road, is in litigation after being sued by its neighbors who did not want the nursing home to add assisted living facility on the property. The town is waiting to see if the court’s decision will allow the site to meet a prior COAH requirement. This location would net about six units toward the town’s COAH obligation. • The Schwartz site, on Asbury Avenue and Highway 34, is the subject of several issues with the state over sewer capacity, Mr. Verunni said. He said the town has resubmitted the proposal for the area to use a portion of the lot, currently being used as farmland, as a site to construct COAH units. • The owner of Olympic Limousines, Mr. Verunni said, will retain his property and rent it to another car service company; the owner is currently interested in working with the town on the Schwartz site because his property is located directly in front of the site. • The town has reached the end of negotiations on the Atlantic Manor site, located on Atlantic Avenue, and the town will finalize everything and pay for the property soon, Mr. Verunni said, meaning COAH units can be constructed there. • The next meeting of the Citizens Committee on Affordable Housing will take place on Sept. 14. There is no scheduled meeting in October. Reprinted on this website with permission of The Star Newsgroup. © 2009 Star News Group. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Star News Group is expressly prohibited.
	MHS group helps others, selves with Habitat for Humanity project By Kelly Rizzetta The Coast Star August 20, 2009 Sometimes, the best way to cope with a great tragedy or loss is to reach out a helping hand to another person. Such was the logic behind the recent community service project led by a group of more than 50 students from Manasquan High School, who spent two days last week sprucing up the home of a Spring Lake Heights woman whose property had fallen into disrepair as she struggled with an illness. This year will be a tough one for the Manasquan High School community, as students mark the one-year anniversaries and relive the five tragic youth deaths that rocked Manasquan and its sending districts in 2008. Manasquan High School grads Holly Blakey, 19, of Manasquan, and Erin Sweeney, 18, of Spring Lake Heights, helped spruce up the property of a Spring Lake Heights resident, in a collaborative effort between the local Habitat for Humanity chapter and Friends Helping Friends, a student group at the high school. Photo by JOSEPH J. DELCONZO, STAR NEWS GROUP
	Many in the area are currently steeling themselves for the remembrance of Joseph Charles Calton-Henehan, a 20-year-old Belmar man and Manasquan High School graduate who was struck and killed by a NJ Transit train near 13th Avenue in Belmar shortly after midnight on Aug. 24. According to Manasquan High School Crisis Coordinator Susan Tellone-McCoy, who is also a nurse in the Manasquan School District, the high school is prepared to help students through this difficult time. Last year, the school launched Friends Helping Friends, which Ms. Tellone-McCoy described as a “campaign” to “bring positive psychology back into the school environment.” In Friends Helping Friends, Ms. Tellone-McCoy and other staff and faculty members lead students who were affected by last year’s youth deaths in different group and community service projects, such as the one last week that saw high school students partnering with Habitat for Humanity, the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, and several other organizations to carry out exterior repairs and landscaping at 2401 Woodland Ave. in Spring Lake Heights. The single-family, split-level ranch home at that address belongs to Norma Davenport, a 34-year borough resident who moved to the Shore area with her family from North Jersey 45 years ago, when she was 14. Ms. Davenport lives alone in her Woodland Avenue home, except for her trusty 5-year-old yellow lab, Max. Ms. Davenport, who is retired from Verizon, where she worked for many years, became ill a few years ago. As she grappled with her own physical and emotional problems, her untended property gradually deteriorated to the point where, she said, “it was in pretty bad shape.” Enter former Spring Lake Heights Police Chief Mark Steets and Acting Chief David Petriken, who Ms. Davenport said recommended her to the local Habitat for Humanity chapter, called Coastal Habitat for Humanity, which is based in Spring Lake Heights on Highway 71. Before long, Coastal Habitat for Humanity partnered with the Friends Helping Friends team from Manasquan High School, and Ms. Tellone-McCoy said the ball really got rolling. According to Ms. Tellone-McCoy, the students worked specifically with Habitat for Humanity’s “A Brush With Kindness” program. When most people think of Habitat for Humanity, they think of the national organization’s main program, which recruits volunteers and donations to build new homes for underprivileged and homeless families. A Brush With Kindness is “a derivative” of Habitat for Humanity, explained Jeffrey Vogel, who serves on Coastal Habitat for Humanity’s board of directors. A Brush For Kindness organizes teams of volunteers, armed with approximately $2,500 each in donated funds, to spruce up the existing homes of needy members of the local community. According to Mr. Vogel, volunteers with A Brush With Kindness do everything from landscaping to home repairs, including mowing lawns, painting houses, planting and pruning shrubs, replacing windows and doors, patching roofs, and, when necessary, handling lead-based paint remediation. Maureen Mulligan, Coastal Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, said A Brush With Kindness generally deals with the revitalization of more urban areas, such as parts of Neptune and Asbury Park. “But there’s a need right here as well,” Ms. Mulligan said of Friends Helping Friends’ Spring Lake Heights effort. “It’s unbelievable — it’s been a great two days,” Mr. Vogel said last Friday, as he looked at Ms. Davenport’s refurbished home. Mr. Vogel said the Manasquan High School team, assisted by Coastal Habitat for Humanity volunteers and other members of the community, cut Ms. Davenport’s overgrown lawn, trimmed the trees in her front yard, cleared a large area of brush on the Wall Road corner of her property, power washed her sidewalk, driveway and side patio, primed and painted her house’s siding with several coats of fresh yellow paint, replaced the house’s white trim, and put a tar patch on one portion of the roof. Mr. Vogel said he was “overwhelmed” by the support Habitat for Humanity and Friends Helping Friends received for the project. “Usually, we try to raise about $2,500” for each A Brush With Kindness project, Mr. Vogel said. “I sent out my e-mails for this one, though, and in 48 hours, I had over a dozen responses. I have never seen anything like that.” Mr. Vogel’s own company, Merrill Lynch, where he is a vice president and financial advisor in the firm’s Manasquan office, donated $1,000 to the project, while borough residents Phil and Marilyn Perricone kicked in $1,250 from their family foundation. Mr. Vogel said the project also received a $250 anonymous donation, and one person actually walked up to the job site last Thursday and handed the student workers a $100 bill. The Andrew Clark Jr. Scholarship Foundation provided a buffet lunch for the workers at Ms. Davenport’s home, and Manasquan Elks Lodge No. 2534 worked with Links Insurance Services to renew Ms. Davenport’s lapsed homeowner’s insurance policy. Forcellati Brothers Nursery in Wall Township donated new shrubs for Ms. Davenport’s yard, while local landscaper Jeff Algor donated his time and equipment last Thursday, Mr. Vogel said. “Jeff was a wild man,” Mr. Vogel said Friday. “He came in here and literally did two days’ work in one,” clearing the shrubs and mowing the lawn. Mr. Vogel said Mr. Algor also offered to return, free of charge, this fall to seed the lawn for Ms. Davenport, and pledged to mow her lawn for the rest of her life. “It was a real collaborative effort,” Ms. Tellone-McCoy said of the project. “I already knew that this was a great town, and that I had great neighbors, but it’s been reinforced this week,” Ms. Davenport said, when asked how it felt to have so many members of the local community rally around her. “Our mission is to stamp out substandard housing and homelessness,” Mr. Vogel said of Habitat for Humanity and, specifically, A Brush With Kindness. “It’s everyone’s dream to own a home, so these projects have universal appeal. And with A Brush With Kindness, it’s the perfect opportunity to pull in … teens to help someone else in the community.” “That’s what positive psychology is about,” Ms. Tellone-McCoy said of the Friends Helping Friends philosophy. “I think it’s really worked since we started it at the high school last year. The kids are feeling better about themselves.” Ms. Tellone-McCoy said the self-confidence and satisfaction that comes from helping someone else is integral to getting the Manasquan High School student body back to their “pre-crisis state,” before the deaths of their peers jarred and disrupted students’ sense of self. “It’s a way to engage and re-energize the kids in a positive way,” Mr. Vogel said of the project. “It fosters volunteerism … These kids really are our future, and hopefully, when they’re our leaders, they will carry that spirit of volunteerism with them.” Mr. Vogel said he is hoping to found a student Habitat for Humanity at the high school in the near future, which would give students even more opportunities to engage in this type of cathartic community service. Ms. Davenport couldn’t believe that she was, in a way, helping the student volunteers who were working at her home last week. “I feel that I’m getting all the benefit here,” Ms. Davenport said, as she watched dozens of high school volunteers paint the exterior of her garage. “If they’re getting a benefit from this, then I feel wonderful, because they’ve given me so much.” Ms. Davenport described the high school students as “very pleasant” and “good workers,” adding that she had a wonderful time getting to know them as they helped her get her property back in shape. “This is marvelous,” Ms. Davenport said, standing in her driveway. “It’s almost like having a brand new home.” “This is a testament to the great kids we have and our dedicated staff,” noted Manasquan High School Principal Rick Coppola when he visited Ms. Davenport’s home on Friday. “It says a lot about the quality of the kids and the quality of the people we have at Manasquan High School. I’m so proud of all of them.” “It’s really heartwarming,” Ms. Tellone-McCoy said, when asked how it felt to watch her students work together for a good cause. “They blow me away,” she added, choking up. “They are learning here, and this is giving them a positive sense of themselves,” Ms. Tellone-McCoy said. “They are seeing that they can give back to the community that supports them.” Recent Manasquan High School graduates Tori Grille, 19, of Manasquan, and Katherine Reynolds, 18, of Spring Lake, said they were happy to get the chance to work on this project as a way of honoring their late friend, Spring Lake Heights resident and Manasquan High School student Andrew Clark Jr., 18, who died in June 2008 after being struck by a NJ Transit train in Spring Lake Heights. “We were just glad to help out someone in the name of one of our friends,” Ms. Grille said of Andrew. “It was our grade and our group of friends,” Ms. Grille said of last year’s youth deaths. “Everyone said how we came together so well after the event, and we want to show everyone that we’re still coming together. Everyone wants to help.” “We just want to show everyone that your community is always there for you,” Ms. Reynolds added. “You heard what they said,” Ms. Tellone-McCoy said. “They [the Manasquan High School Class of 2009] went through a lot last year, and they never want that to happen to any class behind them ever again. And they are doing everything in their power to keep other students from having to go through that.” Friends Helping Friends advises teens to call the 24-hour state help hotline at 1-888-222-2288 whenever they feel one of their friends is in trouble and may be in danger. Friends Helping Friends will host a drop-in center at the Belmar Public Library Media Center from 8 to 12 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, in memory of Joseph Charles Calton-Henehan. Reprinted on this website with permission of The Star Newsgroup. © 2009 Star News Group. All rights reserved. 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	Thrift Stores Thrive In Poor Economy By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI The Coaster January 22, 2009 Thrift stores are thriving in this poor economy as people in all economic brackets try to make the most of their finances. In Bradley Beach a new thrift store, run by the Family and Childrens Service of Monmouth County, is opening in response to current economic conditions. Manager Patti Perrone who also manages the organization’s store in Long Branch, said because of the economic downturn business has increased and the decision was made to expand. On Tuesday, Perrone and a volunteer were busy unpacking boxes and sorting through several large garbage bags of used clothing at the store located on Second Avenue. The store will open Sat., Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. There was a fresh coat of paint on the walls and the two women had screwed shelves into the walls which were waiting to be filled. Perrone, who has a background in retail, said both of her stores will look like a “real store.” “I set it up like a boutique,” she said. “It’s all sized and colorized.” Perrone said she is picky about what she puts out from the large donor base which continues to donate high quality, gently used items. The store will offer children’s clothing for about $1 to $3 per item and adult clothing for $4 to $6 per item. The store will be open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sat. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jewish Family and Children’s Services in Asbury Park is expanding its operations as well. Manager Morris Zagha, who spent his professional life in retail, said he sees a change not only in the amount of business, but in the type of clientele he is seeing. “We are seeing more middle class people coming in,” he said. “I know what our normal clientele is.” Zagha also said one of his dealers, who deals mainly in antiques, recently put some items on consignment due to the poor economic conditions. The store, which is 6000-square-feet, offers furniture, household goods and recently began selling rebuilt appliances. Executive Director Paul B. Freedman, who has a masters degree in social work, took over the operation two years ago and has increased profits. He has operated such businesses for 35 years. “They told me either turn it around or we are going to close it,” he said. Freedman said the store caters to its clientele and offers only those items that customers need. “Everybody needs mattresses,” he said. The store sells only new mattresses and very affordable. It also offers small appliances geared to fitting in apartments or smaller homes. The appliances are purchased in Philadelphia and come with a year long warranty from the date of purchase. “So we try to move them quickly,” Freedman said. “If someone comes in three months after we purchased it, we tell them they have a nine month warranty.” All of the proceeds from the store on Summerfield Avenue, go to the programs offered by the JFCS of Monmouth County. “One hundred percent of the profits go to the programs we offer,” he said, including First Step, counseling, The group solicits the Monmouth County Jewish community for its donations. Freedman said he will be sending out another letter to the Jewish community for donations. Donations are down a bit since the last letter was sent in November. “People are always transitioning though,” he said. One major change Freedman made after taking the reins two years ago was to purchase a truck, He recently bought a cargo van mainly to transport items from the Asbury Park locations to their other location in West Long Branch. If customers are local, deliveries are made free of charge. The next expansion project for the store will be clothing, both gently used, high end items and new. Freedman said through business connections he has he may have a new line of clothing donated to the store. At ReStore on Second Avenue in Asbury Park, Manager Sue Lindstrom said business at the store has grown steadily since it opened three years ago. Lindstrom, who has a background in retail, has been managing the store since September. “Our stuff moves so quickly that’s why our prices are so low,” she said. ReStore picks up items at three to four homes per day in Monmouth County. Lindstrom also said that although they are a thrift store, they are very “picky” about accepting donated items. “We are pickier than others, I hope that’s evident,” Lindstrom said. The store is open from Wednesday to Saturday. Since the economy has taken a downturn Lindstrom said she has not seen a drop in donations. “It’s hard to tell if some people are buying used furniture more,” she said. “But the feedback is positive, people are finding nicer stuff.” Lindstrom said most of the store’s customers are from Asbury Park. “We have a big, loyal base in Asbury Park, the community itself,” she said. Lindstrom is a paid employee but has an all volunteer staff. “There are here because they want to be,” she said. Capt. Phil Davis, director of Central Jersey’s Salvation Army thrift stores, said so far the community has enough trust in his stores that neither business nor donations has suffered. But he acknowledged that could change. He said typically in poor economies, thrift stores do increased business. Donations have not suffered, he said. But in tough economic times, people become more “creative” in their donations. “They may take their things to consignment shops or try to sell them on eBay” he said. “I don’t begrudge anybody. You gotta do what you gotta do.” Of all the stores he oversees Davis said only Asbury Park is not seeing an increase in sales, similar to his other stores. “We are not quite sure why,” he said.
	Girl Scouts demonstrate concern for special family BY REBECCA MORTONB Staff Writer News Transcript January 9, 2008 Photo Gallery MARLBORO - As the holidays drew near last month a Neptune family received presents built not by elves who were working for Santa Claus, but by the members of Girl Scout Troop 91. Working with representatives of Coastal Habitat for Humanity, the girls learned about affordable housing as part of their Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can earn. The Bronze Award requires a scout to learn the leadership and planning skills that are necessary to follow through on a project that makes a positive impact on her community. Working toward this award demonstrates a girl's commitment to help others, to improve her community and world, and to become the best she can be, according to Linda Sakowitz, one of the troop's assistant leaders. Cori Allen, Grace Huang, Sarah Lin, Alana Marquardt, Michaela McGuiness, Jenna Pelonero, Samantha Rapaport, Danielle Sakowitz and Isabella Sanez, all of whom are 11-year-old sixth-graders at the Marlboro Middle School, Route 520, make up Troop 91, which is part of the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore council. For their project the scouts built two bookcases and collected books to give to two young girls who recently moved into their new Habitat for Humanity home in Neptune. Habitat for Humanity builds homes for the working poor. A family that buys a Habitat for Humanity home also helps to build it. On Dec. 21 the Marlboro Girl Scouts delivered the bookcases and boxes filled with books to the family in Neptune. In order to receive the Bronze Award the troop members had to complete four requirements including earning two badges related to the award, complete one of the Girl Scout Signs found in the Junior Girl Scout Handbook, earn their Junior Aide Award and the Junior Girl Scout Leadership Award and complete a project that shows a commitment to the girl's community by spending at least seven to eight hours and providing community service inside or outside Girl Scouting. In an interview with the News Transcript the girls recalled the ideas they had brainstormed for possible projects, including holding a food drive or making baby blankets. In researching Coastal Habitat for Humanity the troop members' interest was sparked. Cori explained that before beginning the project she did not know what Habitat for Humanity was, but now she sees what a good organization it is. The nine girls took a vote and decided to help a Habitat for Humanity homeowner who has children about their age. Maureen Mulligan, executive director of Coastal Habitat for Humanity, said the troop members worked with volunteer coordinator Pamela Van Nostrand to learn how they could help the organization. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is 13 years old and builds and rehabilitates homes in the Neptune and Asbury Park area (no new Freehold area Habitat for Humanity homes had young children). The idea to provide bookcases and books for Habitat's most recent homeowners arose from the troop members' conversations with Van Nostrand. To raise money for the bookcases Troop 91 held a bake sale outside a Lowe's home improvement store. After collecting the money the Girl Scouts bought bookcases and assembled them. Leaders Linda Sakowitz, Susan Marquardt and Claire McGuiness said there were no injuries sustained while the girls were assembling the bookcases, just some paint stuck in hair. With one bookcase stained brown and another painted white and covered in nine handprints - one for each troop member - the girls wanted to fill the bookcases. Making use of a summer program run by Barnes & Noble, where after reading 10 books a child would receive a free book, the troop members donated their books to their project. They also went to their own book collections and McGuiness helped out by holding a book drive in her classroom. Michaela recalled how it was hard for her to choose which of her books to part with. Alana said there was one title she kept struggling to part with, but in the end it found itself among the 250 books that went to the Habitat for Humanity home. A book on Girl Scouts even made the contribution. They knew from information provided by Habitat that both of the youngsters for whom they were building the bookcases are avid readers. Cori said once they knew that the younger girl likes animals they had some direction about what types of books to choose. Since one of the girls is younger than the troop members, Cori said the Marlboro girls thought about books they had read and enjoyed in the past. As an extra treat Isabella and Samantha created dog bookmarks and cat bookmarks for the two children. Their troop leaders, former Girl Scouts themselves, were very proud of the troop members for going outside of their comfort zone to help other people. They recalled how the girls were outside working on the bookcases on cold nights with no complaints, just a few requests for hot chocolate. Earning the Bronze Award has been three years in the making, Sakowitz said, as the girls had prerequisites that had to be completed before they could start on the final step. Mulligan, the Coastal Habitat for Humanity executive director, recalled how the Marlboro girls carried in what seemed to be an endless number of books on Dec. 21. She said the Neptune homeowner and her children were thrilled to receive such a wonderful gift for their first Christmas in their new home. Any girl between the ages of 5 and 17 can become a Girl Scout. There are different levels based upon a girl's age and grade, according to the Girl Scouts Internet Web site. There are Daisy Girl Scouts, ages 5-6, Brownie Girl Scouts, ages 6-8, Junior Girl Scouts, ages 8-11, Teen Girl Scouts, ages 11-17, and Adult Girl Scout volunteers, age 18 and over. The members of Troop 91 will soon begin to work on their "bridging" to become Cadets, part of the teen level.
	ReStore Around Town, December 2007 Coastal Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore has partnered with Asbury Works and Asbury Park High School to teach local students the art of furniture refinishing. Items refinished by the students will be resold at the store, and the students will receive a stipend and volunteer at the store as part of their participation. The ReStore is a facility that supports the services of and generates funds for the home building program of Coastal Habitat for Humanity. It is a resale store where new and gently used items such as furniture, appliances, and other household items are accepted as donations and then re-sold to the public to help raise funds for building and renovating homes on the Jersey shore. The Habitat ReStore also offers people an opportunity to recycle things that might otherwise end up in landfills. To make a donation of goods or to volunteer, please contact the ReStore by phone or by e-mail. More Information.
	Coastal Habitat event honors 10 years of work The Coast Star, April 6, 2006 Coastal Habitat for Humanity held a special event last week celebrating its 10-year anniversary and those who made it possible. It also was a special night for the more than 200 guests who attended the Coastal Habitat for Humanity Golden Hammer Award Inaugural Gala on March 31. The Jumping Brook Country Club, Neptune, set the scene for an evening of dining on Chateaubriand and dancing to the tunes of the Devotion Band. The starry night was set off by the Golden Hammer theme of crème-and-black tablescapes with flowing gold silk organza, twinkling white lights along with centerpieces of calla lilies and tropical foliage donated by the Spring Lake Garden Club. The event was to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of Coastal Habitat and to honor ten Golden Hammer Award recipients. The Golden Hammer Award is a symbol of commitment to the ideals of Habitat for Humanity. The festive night was made possible by the continued support of the group’s cause to provide decent, affordable housing to the working poor. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage: The Brian Church Group and Coldwell Banker Corporate Residential Brokerage were both bronze sponsors of the event. Adrienne Nittolo, the event coordinator for Coastal Habitat, said it was a beautiful evening. The attendees looked splendid in their attire and were very generous with their contributions. They made the event a monumental success. She said Coastal Habitat has many generous supporters, volunteers and donors, as well as local retailers that participated in making the event a triumph. “They gave freely of their services to enable us to provide our attendees with a glorious occasion,” Ms. Nittolo said. The honorees of the Golden Hammer Award were recognized by the office of Congressman Frank Pallone and were provided with certificates of special congressional recognition for their contribution to Coastal Habitat. John Lloyd, president and CEO of Meridian Health, one of the honorees, accepted his award on behalf of Meridian Health, as honoree Monsignor Thomas Luebking did on behalf of the St. Catharine and St. Margaret parish committees. The additional honorees included Joyce and Paul Amato of CMM Construction; Mayor Thomas Catley of Neptune Township; Ronnie Laiken, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Residential Realty; Tony Lucas of Lucas Brothers Construction; Marian McKillop, a founding member of Coastal Habitat; John and Joan Monninger, benefactors; Peggy J. Rogers, WomenBuild chairwoman; and Jack Waters, vice president of Weichert Realty. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel McDonald, of Spring Lake, performed the duties of host and hostess for the evening. Jeffrey R. Vogel and Joseph G. Higgins, co-chairmen of the event, were present to introduce and thank the gala committee. The master of ceremonies, Alex Aurilio of West Long Branch, made the attendees feel very welcomed and the live auction caller Carl Wallsten, was instrumental in getting the crowd excited about the many items that were on the auction block. These included a diamond ring mounting from Bentley Diamonds; jewelry from LiBo and Neves Jewelers; a set of Ping golf clubs; and tickets to the Metropolitan Opera and shows on Broadway and at the Count Basie and Algonquin theaters. The event raised both funds for and awareness of Coastal Habitat for Humanity’s goal of eliminating poverty housing at the Shore while honoring the people who have been most influential in their growth. Coastal Habitat’s next major event will be the annual Wine and Dine by the Sea at Doolan’s on Oct. 23.
	The New York Times Sunday, April 2, 2006 New Jersey Section - Special Issue: Where We Live Before the Knockdown, A Knockout Sale By JILL P. CAPUZZO BRIELLE
	On a sunny Saturday morning last month, Donna Windley was busy removing the six-panel entry door from the front of a 1960’s ranch house, while Chris Merkler pried a circuit-breaker panel out of a wall and Bill Renner considered the kitchen cabinets. The front door would soon find its way to the house of Ms. Windley’s mother in Point Pleasant; the breaker panel and kitchen cabinets were bound for rental properties in Belmar owned by Mr. Merkler and by Mr. Renner. These Jersey Shore residents were doing what might be called extreme recycling: buying parts of houses before their demolition, then using them for their own purposes. The process is made possible through a program of Coastal Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit group in Monmouth County that runs demolition sales at homes about to be knocked down, selling everything from toilets to tiling, lighting to landscaping. Proceeds are used to buy construction materials for new houses that the chapter, which is an affiliate of the national organization, builds for local families in need. “It’s a win-win-win situation,” said Jean Badgely, a chairwoman of the demolition sales program. “People can buy things very inexpensively. The homeowners get a tax write-off. And all the money goes to Habitat for Humanity.” While other Habitat for Humanity affiliates have tried their hand at the demolition recycling business, the Monmouth County chapter has it down to a science. It helps, of course, to be in a real estate market where the value of land often outstrips the value of the 30- or 40-year-old house that sits on it, driving owners to replace modest Cape Cod bungalows with three-story super shore homes. “We have some very affluent towns, and because they’re shore communities, people who have a little bit more money are able to come in and buy these older homes and knock them down and build new, beautiful homes,” said Maureen Mulligan, executive director of Coastal Habitat for Humanity.
	Now in its fourth year, the demolition program is more active than ever, with sales being held year round, in Ocean County as well as Monmouth. In fact, the sales are fast becoming one of Coastal Habitat for Humanity’s most important funding sources. To date the program has raised $130,000, about enough to build two new homes with volunteer labor on donated land, Ms. Badgely said. The organization gives homeowners a letter confirming the donation, which they can use to help them determine the value of any charitable tax deduction. Another advantage is a reduction in waste removal charges. But perhaps the biggest benefit is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that not everything will be laid to waste. Carol Tuzzio said she had come to terms with the idea of tearing down her childhood home on Ocean Avenue in Spring Lake, but the demolition sale made the process a little easier. “I hated to see the house torn down with all that was in it,” said Ms. Tuzzio, who was shocked, nevertheless, when she saw people removing wood flooring and shower doors at the February demolition sale. Ms. Tuzzio’s civic spirit went one step further. The day after the sale, she let the Spring Lake fire department run practice drills in her house, setting off smoke bombs, breaking windows and scaling the roof. Three days later, the house was demolished. A year from now, the Tuzzio family expects to move into its new cedar-shingled beach house. Karen Piacentini was also resigned to the demolition of the house in Brielle that she had lived in for the last five years with her husband, Timothy. While customers ripped apart the inside of her house, two bulldozers sat in the yard, ready to get to work following the sale. The Piacentinis plan to build a new home on the property.
	“You want to do something good for someone,” Ms. Piacentini said as she watched shoppers dig up plants from her front yard. “Plus it’s recycling, so you’re not throwing everything into the trash.” Before the sale, the homeowners’ only responsibility is to make sure the utilities are shut off. But for those with emotional ties to their homes, witnessing the process can be a bit jarring. First, Habitat volunteers come in and assess the house, setting a value on every removable part. Prices are written on the walls with black markers: baseboard molding for 50 cents a foot, window shades for $2, lighted bathroom vanity for $30. On the day of the sale, the volunteers collect the money and, by the end of the day, negotiate the prices. But it is the shoppers who do all the hard labor; buyers are urged to bring their own tools and stepladders. Less experienced customers often find themselves being rescued by the regulars. “A lot of people borrow your tools,” said Mr. Renner, a building contractor who has a sideline buying and renovating properties in Belmar, which he then rents or resells. Over the years, Mr. Renner has rehabilitated 10 properties, with much of the materials coming from Habitat demolition sales. Within a half-hour of arriving at the sale in Brielle, Mr. Renner had bought a bathroom vanity and toilet, kitchen cabinets and an air-conditioner, all for $350.
	“You’re paying 5 percent of what it would cost you new,” he said. “And if you can wait it out till the end of the day, you can find a vanity that was originally going for $65 go down to $5.” A stock analyst by day, Mr. Merkler has also gotten into real estate rehabilitation as a sideline, having fixed up four Belmar properties. In addition to the electrical panel, he picked up an electric range at the sale for his parents. When his sister, Liz, replaces her ranch house in Spring Lake with a colonial in the next couple of years, the design of her new home will focus on the Spanish wrought-iron staircase she bought for $300 at a demolition sale this winter. The staircase now sits in her garage. “I’ll build my house around it,” said Ms. Merkler, a dentist in Manasquan. In order to be one of the first people inside the sale, where she got the staircase and two stained-glass windows, Ms. Merkler was up at 6:30 a.m. and standing in front of the oceanfront mansion in Spring Lake soon thereafter. She is a regular at the sales, which Ms. Mulligan said help provide exposure for Coastal Habitat for Humanity. “It’s become a great marketing tool for us,” Ms. Mulligan said. “People who might not know too much about us come to one of the sales and then they end up donating to us, or volunteering.” Over the last 10 years, volunteers working with Coastal Habitat for Humanity have built 10 new homes for low-income families in Monmouth County. Last month, the group began excavating ground for an 11th home, in Neptune. For information on the demolition sales, contact Coastal Habitat for Humanity at (732) 974-2422 or email
	FAMILY'S NEW HOUSE BUILT BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Asbury Park Press December 18, 2004 Mother, kids say goodbye to apartment By ALISON WALDMAN (COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU) Photos by Dave May
	Noelle Garifine and her children, Daliah, 6, and Julien, 8, will move into their new Neptune home, built by Coastal Habitat for Humanity, on New Year’s Eve.
	NEPTUNE — Christmas will be the last holiday Noelle Garifine and her two children will spend in her one-bedroom Neptune City apartment. The family plans to move into their new home on McBride Avenue in Neptune, built by Coastal Habitat for Humanity Inc., in conjunction with volunteers from Meridian Health, on New Year’s Eve. “I would have moved in on Christmas Day at this point,” said Garifine, 26, who has lived for five years in the apartment with her 8 1/2-year-old son, Julien, and her 6-year-old daughter, Daliah. But the move will have to wait just one more holiday until the roadwork and curbing outside is completed and a certificate of occupancy is issued for the house, said Maureen Mulligan, executive director of Habitat for Humanity.
	Roughly 40 people, including volunteers who helped build the gray ranch, gathered Friday to dedicate the house. “Today is a very exciting day for us,” said John Lloyd (pictured at left), president and CEO of Meridian Health System, which includes Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Ocean Medical Center in Brick. About 600 volunteers from Meridian helped build the house and raised $55,000 toward the project, said Wendy Edelson, Meridian’s director of human resources. Those who worked on the house — from digging the foundation to painting the walls — said they felt it was a worthwhile cause. “I grew up in this community, and I live in this community, and I wanted to give back,” said Jenny Walker, 41, of Neptune. She and Marie Isacson, 57, also of Neptune, spent a day painting and spackling the house.
	Garifine’s home is the third to be built on the dead-end street by Habitat for Humanity, and work has started on the final two for a total of five houses, Mulligan said. Founded in 1994 in Asbury Park as an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, the Coastal organization builds houses and sells them without profit to families that otherwise may not have been able to be homeowners. The organization’s service region encompasses towns east of the Garden State Parkway from Deal Road in Ocean Township south through Sea Girt. So far, the branch has built eight houses in the area and hopes to build another five by July 2007. Space has been secured for another three, including the two future houses on McBride, but lots are difficult to find, Mulligan said. For Garifine and her two children, the house means finally having a little more room to live. Julien looks forward to some privacy from his little sister, and Daliah is excited to have the space to practice her ballet. And Garifine, who works in America's First Funding Group in Neptune and is working toward an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Brookdale Community College, has a sense of security knowing the house is her own.
	Teens, Asbury mother build a home Asbury park Press, Local Front March 21, 2004 By RODNEY POINT-DU-JOUR KEYPORT BUREAU Photos by MICHAEL SYPNIEWSKI NEPTUNE — Paul Liu, a ninth-grader at Ranney School, knew exactly what he was doing yesterday when he shoveled mounds of dirt and packed it down in front of 1814 McBride Ave. “We’re building a foundation,” said Liu, who was among a group of students from the private Tinton Falls school helping members of Coastal Habitat for Humanity build a house at the end of McBride Avenue. So far, the students have helped build two houses on the 2-acre site. Yesterday, workers were erecting a third house, while the students helped move lumber and mounds of dirt at the construction site. Officials for Coastal Habitat for Humanity plan to have seven new houses built on McBride Avenue by the fall. The students are members of the Ranney School Habitat for Humanity Chapter, said Colleen Adams, president of the chapter and a junior at Ranney. Adams said the chapter has about 30 members, who volunteer at least two Saturday mornings a month to help with the project. “It’s important to be involved in the community,” said Adams, whose older brother Dennis helped start the chapter last year. “I think it’s a good cause. We’re building houses for people who would otherwise be living in an apartment or on the street.” Noel Delgado, a history teacher at Ranney School and faculty adviser for the chapter, said the students are required to provide about 50 hours of community service a year.   Jenice Hepburn of Asbury Park works on the construction of a new home being built by Coastal Habitat for Humanity on McBride Avenue In Neptune.   Greg Sparer (left), 17, a member of the Habitat for Humanity Chapter at the Ranney School in Tinton Fails, gets help from teacher Noel Delgado as he pushes a wheelbarrow through the mud at a Neptune construction site “For us, this is part of our commitment to fulfill our mission to give back to the community,” Delgado said. “They’re getting a quality education, they’re fortunate to come from good families, and it’s important for them to give back to the community.” Jenice Hepburn was glad to receive some of those hours. With the help of the students, Hepburn will move from a one-bedroom apartment in Asbury Park into a three-bedroom home — with a backyard for her 9-year-old daughter, Kiana. Hepburn, who grew up in Newark, said she was impressed with the teenagers’ work ethic and enthusiasm. “I think it’s wonderful that they would get involved in something like this,” said Hepburn, 29, whose house will be the fourth to be built by Habitat for Humanity. “When I was a kid, nobody would ever take this kind of initiative and work this early on a Saturday.” Hepburn was helping the students build the home of her future neighbor at 1814 McBride Ave. Work has already begun at 1816 McBride Ave., where her home will be. “I lived in Newark, but I spent my summers down here,” said Hepburn, who will live a couple of blocks away from her grandmother’s house on Greenwood Avenue. “This is like coming home for me.” A HOME OF THEIR OWN Asbury Park Press, May 9, 2003 Group aids 2 families in building new houses By ALISON WALDMAN - COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU Photos by THOMAS P. COSTELLO/ Staff Photographer NEPTUNE — Homeownership did not always seem possible for two Shore area families. BiBi Bennett, a single mother of two, now lives in her mother’s three-bedroom house in Asbury Park. The 30-year-old said she tried repeatedly to find a house that would accommodate her budget and her 8-year-old son, who uses a wheelchair. Lamont Brown, 27, of Neptune, father of two, said the escalating costs of the real estate market kept him and his wife, Shalon, from even looking to buy a house.   Lamont Brown (top) does some trim work on the shed behind his McBride Avenue home in Neptune, which is being built with help from Coastal Habitat for Humanity. Volunteers (above) join hands for a prayer service before lunch at their work site. But now — through Coastal Habitat for Humanity Inc. and the work of numerous volunteers — the two families will be neighbors in their new houses on McBride Avenue in Neptune. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is stepping up its efforts to provide decent, affordable housing for low-income families in much of eastern Monmouth County. With its first executive director, Maureen Mulligan, and an $80,000 grant, the organization has set a goal to increase its production of new homes. The organization’s service region encompasses towns east of the Garden State Parkway from Deal Road in Ocean Township south through Sea Girt. Founded in 1994 in Asbury Park as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, the Jersey Shore branch completed its first house in December 1997. The organization has built four houses, rehabilitated one, and restored and moved another — all in Neptune or Asbury Park — said Mulligan, who took the position in January. But within the next three years, the group hopes to build 13 new houses, including five on McBride Avenue, Mulligan said. “It Is going to be a whole neighborhood,” said Mulligan, explaining how the property donated by the township was divided into five, 50-by-100-foot lots to create a small cul-de-sac at the end of McBride. To keep the cost of the houses down, Habitat relies on donations of money and supplies, and volunteers who help build. Eliminating labor costs reduces the price, which averages $65,000 per house, Mulligan said.   Coastal Habitat for Humanity volunteer Dick Mercora of Spring Lake works on the roof of one of the homes the organization is building in Neptune. Mercora is a member of St Catharine’s-St. Margaret’s Parish, Spring Lake, which has donated materials for the home. From West Point cadets to Monmouth University field-hockey players to employees at local corporations, volunteers come from far and wide, said Eileen Quinn-Koharski, chairwoman of the volunteer relations committee. But the families also are required to roll up their sleeves and pitch in on the effort to build their homes. Habitat requires 250 hours of “sweat equity” from each of the adults of a family intending to live in the house, Mullligan said. Bennett and Brown were at McBride Avenue on a recent, warm Tuesday. While Brown worked on the finishing touches of his house, Bennett waited on a plywood delivery to continue framing her three-bedroom ranch. "It seems like it is our own little community," said Bennett, who anticipates moving into her new house, which will have ramps and features that make the home accessible to her son, in September. Her home is being constructed with the help of donations and volunteers from St. Catharine’s-St. Margaret’s Parish in Spring Lake. Brown’s house will be completed next week, with a dedication ceremony scheduled for May 17, Mulligan said. A groundbreaking for the third house, being built by employees from Meridian Health Systems, also is scheduled for next week. Habitat for Humanity, based in Americus, Ga., is an international nondenominational Christian housing organization that has built more than 125,000 houses in more than 80 countries, including some 45,000 houses across the United States since 1976, according to its Web site, www.habitat.org. To qualify for a home through Coastal Habitat, a family must be willing to work on the house, be able to carry the mortgage, and show a need for adequate housing, Mulligan said.   Eileen Quinn Koharski of Ocean Township, volunteer relations chair for Coastal Habitat for Humanity, sits on the porch of one of the homes the group is building on McBride Avenue in Neptune. (photo from Ocean County Our Towns section) The need for housing is assessed on a case-by-case basis, where circumstances within the family and their current housing situation are considered. Qualifled families typically make 25 to 50 percent of the service area’s median income. There is no formal waiting list, but interested families can apply at Coastal Habitat for Humanity’s monthly meetings held at the Neptune Township Library on Neptune Boulevard. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:30 am. on May 17. For information on the program, volunteering and making donations, call (732) 974-2422. Walk raises $16,000 for Coastal Habitat for Humanity The Coast Star, October 18, 2001 By Leanne Arcuri On Oct. 14, over 100 residents and students from Monmouth County walked in support of Coastal Habitat for Humanity [CHFH]. CHFH is a sector of the international organization Habitat for Humanity, which builds and sells homes for needy families at no interest and for no profit. Sunday's 5K walk, which started at Ocean Grove's Pavilion and traveled to the Avon Bridge and back, benefited the construction of a house on Fisher Avenue in Neptune, which CHFH is building. Carol Wilusz, the President of the Board of Directors for CHFH, said the event raised $16,000 for the project. Local high schools such as Manasquan, Neptune, St. Rose, Monmouth Regional and Wall Township, took part in the event, as did Monmouth University. "The high schools were instrumental in increasing the amount of money raised," Mrs. Wilusz said. Together, the high schools raised $3,000. Mrs. Wilusz said having the participation of the students from the high school and university was "wonderful." "They are the future of volunteerism," she said. Sovereign Bank, Fleet Bank, and the Weshnak Foundation all sponsored the event. Athletes Alley donated the event T-shirts with the name of the cause printed on the front and the sponsor's names on the back. Jersey Mike's Submarines donated the food and refreshments for the event. "Everyone was very enthusiastic," Mrs. Wilusz said. The goal of Habitat for Humanity, she explained, is to "eliminate poverty housing from the face of the earth." Over the last 25 years, the organization has built 100,000 homes across the world. "At this time in our lives, people want to do good things," Mrs. Wilusz said. "This organization is good because you get to see where your efforts are going," she continued, referring to the houses that get built using the donations. "And the people who give, get just as much out of it as the people who receive," Mrs. Wilusz said. "You can see it on the volunteer's faces. The volunteers are always smiling." Washington Ave. home demolition sale benefits Coastal Habitat for Humanity The Coast Star, October 18, 2001 By Andrea Agardy Up and down the Jersey shore, houses are being demolished by the dozens to make way for larger or more modem homes. When the demolition crews roll in, cabinets, hardwood floors, moldings, and appliances are often sacrificed in the name of progress and modernization. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is well aware of the demolition process and has recently discovered a way to use the wave of new construction and extensive renovations to its advantage. In recent weeks, Coastal Habitat for Humanity has hosted several demolition sales, including one last Friday and Saturday at 12 Washington Avenue in Spring Lake. The demolition sales give homeowners, contractors, and restoration experts the opportunity to purchase everything from lighting fixtures to cabinets to antiques at a great price while contributing to Coastal Habitat for Humanity's mission to provide affordable, decent housing to as many needy families as possible around the world. Susan Stenson, who co-chairs the demolition sales along with Barbara Samson, explained that the organization only began holding the demolition sales this fall. "This is the sixth sale," Ms. Stenson said. "We had on in Avon, one in Belmar, and three in Sea Girt. This is our first in Spring Lake." The profits from each sale go directly toward financing the construction cost of the new homes Habitat volunteers build. The average construction costs in the area range between $50,000 and $60,000. Carol Radice, who volunteers with Coastal Habitat for Humanity, explained how the demolition sales are operated. Ms. Radice said the preparation for the sale begins when an interested homeowner contacts the organization. "When we're contacted, not everything is an automatic yes," Ms. Radice explained. "There has to be some dollar benefit for us to spend a day or two doing a sale." She added that the organization hopes to bring in a minimum of $500 at each demolition sale. The dates of the demolition sales are carefully orchestrated to coincide with the construction projects. Ms. Radice explained that the sales are held very close to the demolition date since everything from windows to doors to flooring to staircases are available for purchase. Habitat volunteers visit the house a few days before the sale to price the items. Many of the items are tagged, and some prices are written on the wall in black marker. Ms. Radice explained that a conscious effort is made to make sure the asking prices are reasonable. "If we don't sell something, we don't get the money," she said. "So we price things fairly." In preparation for the sale, Ms. Stenson said Coastal Habitat for Humanity takes care of obtaining the liability insurance and sale permit, as well as advertising the event in local newspapers. Before the doors are opened to the public the morning of the sale, the homeowner is responsible for ensuring that all utilities to the building have been disconnected to allow for the safe and simple removal of the fixtures. Shoppers are required to bring their own tools to the sales, and must remove their purchases from the premises themselves. "The people who come in bring their own tools, ladders, and flashlights," Ms. Radice said. 'They're responsible for removing everything. You get things at a great price, but the trade-off is you need to have the skills to remove them." In addition to the benefits to the organization and the shoppers, Ms. Radice pointed out that the demolition sales prove beneficial to the homeowners, beyond the satisfaction obtained from giving to charity. "There is a potential tax benefit for them," Ms. Radice said. "And it's an opportunity to help Habitat raise money. I encourage them to speak with their accountant [about hosting a demolition sale]. It's a win-win situation." The sale at 12 Washington Ave. differed from the other Coastal Habitat for Humanity demolition sales in that is was a combination of a tag sale and a silent auction. "This is a special sale because there are a number of antique [fixtures]," Ms. Stenson said. "Matt White of Recycling the Past of Barnegat helped us with the pricing [of the antiques]." The silent auction at the Washington Avenue home featured a total of 26 items including brass sconces, molding, and windows. The organization has made an effort to make sure the sales are well publicized. In addition to advertising the sales, Coastal Habitat for Humanity also contacts real estate agencies, architects, contractors, and planning boards to inform them about the fund- raising endeavor. Ms. Stenson said the organization is hoping the demolition sales will develop their own following, and increase in size through word of mouth. Ms. Stenson's hopes are already beginning to be realized. Cheryl Smith, of Little Silver, has already attended several of the demolition sales, and was eyeing a set of doors in Spring Lake on Friday morning. She said she was looking for windows, a hot water heater and lamps, but added that if she were to come across another item she liked, she would probably buy it and find a spot in her house for it later. Ms. Smith said she enjoys attending the sales, and had picked up a set of French doors last week. "You get beautiful things, and you're still giving to charity," Ms. Smith said. "You get charming things that add character to your own home. The old things were built so well, that's what I like about it." Anyone interested in hosting a demolition sale to benefit Coastal Habitat for Humanity can contact the organization by calling (732) 974-2422 or emailing . Information is also available by clicking the donate icon on the organization's website, www.coastalhabitat.org. Realtors sponsoring PT Cruiser Raffle for Habitat for Humanity Coastal Habitat for Humanity Newsletter, September 6, 2001   Pictured here from left to right are Realtor Volunteers: Christina Banasiak, Graeme Atkinson, Carol Wilusz and William Botwinick. Annually, the Monmouth County Association of Realtors volunteer and raise funds for local charities; this year their focus is Coastal Habitat for Humanity. "It's an perfect partnership, Realtors and Habitat", says Carol Wilusz, Realtor and President of Coastal Habitat, "As Realtors, we help thousands of families every year purchase homes and volunteering with Habitat allows us to make that same dream of home ownership a reality for families less fortunate." The 50 members of the Realtor Associates Committee who have become Habitat volunteers will be hosting a cocktail party at the Garden Manor on November 15th to raise funds to build a home in Neptune. The main event of the party will be a raffle for a 2002 PT Cruiser valued at $22,000. Second prize is a $3000 travel voucher and third price is a $1,000 Macy's Gift Certificate. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold at a cost of $75 each and will entitle the holder to attend the cocktail party. Raffle tickets can be purchased by calling Carol Wilusz at 332-3838 or mailing checks to Coastal Habitat for Humanity c/o Coldwell Banker, 998 Holmdel Rd, Holmdel, NJ 07733. Graeme Atkins, the chairman of the Associates Committee who is providing much of the manpower, said "The realtors are very enthusiastic about working with Habitat for Humanity, it's a very tangible way for us to volunteer our time and see real results. Besides raising the funds for the house our membership is looking forward to being part of the construction crews." The proceeds from the raffle are expected cover the majority of the cost of the second home Coastal Habitat is building on Fisher Avenue. Framing of the new home will begin early September with volunteers from individual Real Estate companies participating in the construction on Team Building Days. Habitat for Humanity has built over 100,000 homes around the world with donated funds and volunteer labor. The homes are sold at no profit with no interest to needy families who invest hundreds of hours building each home with the volunteers. Coastal Habitat is committed to building homes at the Jersey Shore and welcomes the partnership of businesses and individuals. For more information call 775-7778.  Monmouth/Ocean MLS joins forces with Habitat For Humanity Asbury Park Press, July 8, 2001 Holmdel - The Monmouth/Ocean County Multiple Listing Service (MOMLS) and the Coastal Habitat for Humanity, a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, have joined together to help area residents fulfill the American Dream of Homeownership. The Monmouth County Association of Realtors (MCAR) Associates Committee is partnering with Coastal Habitat's Fund Development Committee to raffle a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. "Unfortunately, barriers still exist that make homeownership difficult for many who want to own a home of their own," said William J. Botwinick, MCAR President, MOMLS proprietors. "One way we're responding to this homeownership gap and increasing affordable housing opportunities for everyone is our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, who like Realtors, do not discriminate according to race, religion or ethnic group." The MOMLS will host a cocktail party on Nov 15, at the Garden Manor in Aberdeen where the lucky winning ticket of the car will be drawn. A second prize of a travel voucher valued at $3,000 and a third prize of a $1,000 gift certificate at Macy's will also be awarded. A maximum of 1,000 tickets will be sold at $75 each and will admit the holder to the November 15th party. "The event is expected to raise enough money to cover the majority of the construction material for a home being started on Fisher Avenue in Neptune," said Graeme Atkinson, chairman of the Associates Committee. "Realtors will also participate in Team Building Days at the Fisher Avenue construction site throughout the year. This partnership is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when business people like Realtors are committed to the betterment of the communities in which they work." Coastal Habitat owns four additional lots in Neptune where homes are planned; groundbreaking for the home on Fisher Avenue is scheduled for early summer. "Homeownership is a thread that binds all Americans to their communities and Realtors are the ones who tie the knot," explained Botwinick, a Realtor with RE/MAX of Freehold. "It isn't just a matter of good business, it's a matter of basic human rights. People have a right to live wherever they can afford to live, and Realtors have an obligation to protect that right." Habitat houses are purchased by the homeowner families. Three factors make Habitat homes affordable to low income people worldwide: 1) Houses are sold at no profit, with no interest charged on the mortgage. 2) Homeowners and volunteers build the houses under trained supervision, and 3) Individuals, corporations, faith groups and others provide financial support. Homeowner families are chosen according to their need; their ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest mortgage; and their willingness to work in partnership with Habitat. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, International, which has built over 100,000 houses over the last 25 years. The mission of Habitat is to build simple decent housing with people in need and sell them at no profit with no-interest loans. Coastal Habitat is working at the Jersey Shore and since the beginning of this year has completed two homes in Neptune. "Ticket sales have started out strong and there still is a large demand," added Atkinson. "Raffle ticket donations for the PT Cruiser, graciously supplied by Freehold Chrysler, will be used by the Coastal Habitat office in building homes in Neptune and other areas of Monmouth/Ocean county." Those interested in purchasing a ticket, can contact MCAR at (732) 946-3001. The Monmouth County Association of Realtors, and the 6,000 members of the Monmouth/Ocean Multiple Listing Service, the region's leader in the real estate information and services business, operate from two locations - one each in Monmouth and Ocean counties (Holmdel and Toms River). The Monmouth County Association of Realtors purpose is broad in scope and includes: establishing and maintaining high standards of integrity, honor and character among its members, protecting the public's right to buy, own and transfer real property and promoting better public understanding of the profession and the real estate transaction process. A Home of Their Own The COASTER, June 7, 2001 From a very early age there were two things Alberta January wanted in life; to be a nurse and a homeowner. Thanks to the partnering efforts of January, Coastal Habitat for Humanity volunteers, and Habitat donors, this mother of five is about to have a place to call home. On what was once a vacant lot in Neptune, now sits a lovely four-bedroom house, originally donated by a couple in Sea Girt and rehabilitated by family partners and Habitat volunteers. These individuals worked hundreds of hours under the guidance of House Leader Dick Martel.   Alberta January (second from left) with her five children moved into their new home in Neptune last week. Volunteer work groups included Nortel Networks, as well as representatives from local businesses including Superior Roofing, Hardie Siding and Pat Fahy, mason. Dedication ceremonies were held last week at 138 Division Street in Neptune. Homeowner January, along with her family, friends and the local volunteers who helped build the house, were on hand when the keys to the home were presented to the January family. Guests were greeted by Coastal President Carol Wilusz, Coastal Board Members and Committee Chairs. Alberta January's pastor, Rev. Johnson of St. Stephen's AME Church, participated in the dedication as will many of the volunteers who have partnered with her in the building of this home. From the time she was a young child, January knew she wanted to be a nurse. Her plans, however, were put on hold after she left college to marry her high school sweetheart and moved with him from Newark to Missouri. A series of life crises including a broken marriage and drug and alcohol addiction prevented her dream from happening. In 1990 she had moved back to Newark with her five children. After unsuccessful attempts at drug rehabilitation, in 1996 January entered Epiphany House, an all-women treatment center in Long Branch. As a result of treatment there she got a job as a housekeeper at Monmouth Medical Center. Later she continued at the hospital where she successfully gained entry into the Patient Care Assistance Program. Through her church, St. Stephen's AME Zion Church, Asbury Park, she discovered Coastal Habitat and was approved as a homeowner partner. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that builds simple decent homes in partnership with God's people in need. Habitat for Humanity is funded by tax-deductible donations and aided by local volunteers. Partner families invest hundred of hours of "sweat equity" into building their home, which Habit for Humanity sells at no profit with no-interest mortgages. Habitat for Humanity invites people from all walks of life to share their time, talents and resources to eliminate poverty housing from the face o the earth. Coastal Habitat's next Volunteer Orientation is June 19 at 7:30 pm at Martin Luther King Church, Memorial Drive and Heck Avenue, Neptune. Habitat for Humanity was the 15th largest homebuilder in the United States in 1999. It has built more than 100,000 houses around the world, providing some 425,000 people in more than 2,000 communities with affordable shelter. Neptune Family Housed by Coastal Habitat The COASTER, February 1, 2001 Janice Thompson, a mother of three and a person in need, has waited and dreamed for years of having a house of her own. Thanks to her partnering efforts and those of Coastal Habitat for Humanity and Habitat donors, the Thompson family, on Feb. 3, will move into a place they can proudly call home. Dedication for the home, at 271 Fisher Ave., Neptune, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Keys for the house will be presented to Ms. Thompson by Coastal president Carol Wilusz and other Coastal members. Ms. Thompson’s pastor, Cedric Miller, senior pastor of Living Word Christian Fellowship, will be among those on hand. The four-bedroom home was built on an abandoned lot by Thompson family members, friends and church members and nearly 200 Habitat volunteers, who worked some 3,800 hours under the guidance of house leader Eric Oberer. Work groups from AT&T and Goldman Sachs and Alburtus Modular Homes, Hardie Siding and other local businesses helped with construction of the home. Ms. Thompson, a single mother since her divorce, and her children have lived in Neptune with her mother for the past seven years. She works as a permanent part-time clerical assistant at Jersey Shore Medical Center. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit , ecumenical Christian housing ministry that builds or renovates homes in partnership with people in need. It is funded by tax-deductible donations and aided by local volunteers. Coastal Habitat for Humanity was incorporated in Asbury Park in 1994 by 13 people including clergy representing eight Monmouth County municipalities. The first home was completed in Asbury Park in 1997. Partner families invest hundreds of hours of sweat equity into Coastal homes, which Habitat for Humanity sells at no profit with no-interest mortgages. Down payments and mortgage payments are used to build more homes through a revolving Fund for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity reports it was the 15th largest homebuilder in the United States in 1999. Family celebrates own home Asbury Park Press, February 2001 By Tracy Robinson Neptune – Janice Thompson stood surrounded by people and the smell of fresh paint in her newly carpeted living room as a woman approached her and squealed in excitement. “Today finally came,” exclaimed Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser Clarice Hepburn as she embraced the new homeowner Saturday. Those words may well have been an exact description of how Thompson was feeling on the day her first home was dedicated. The day of celebration in cluded prayers and songs from members of The Living Word Christian Fellowship in Neptune and comments from Mayor Joseph Krimko. Although the four-bedroom home on Fisher Avenue is spacious, Saturday it was crowded with friends, family, local community members and the volunteers instrumental in erecting it. In approximately 3,800 hours of hard work, more than 200 volunteers built the one-story house and garage on property donated by Neptune Township. For more than four years, Thompson, her daughter, Jeri, 12 and her 13-year-old twin boys, Jerrel and Terrel, have been staying at her sister and brother-in-law’s 6th Avenue home. “We’ll stay here, and you can have my house,” joked her sister, Loreta Fanning. “It is just so exciting to see it all come together after so long,” said Hepburn. And Thompson agreed. “It will be wonderful. There will be privacy, and my sister and brother-in-law will have their privacy back,” said Thompson, standing in her unfurnished bedroom. The fact that there are three more bedrooms, one for each of her children, is what excites them toe most about the new house. When asked what her favorite part about the new residence was, Jeri Thompson said, “my room because it is mine.” “It will be nice to have some breathing space for me, too,” Thompson said. After getting divorced in 1996, Thompson and her children moved back to her hometown of Neptune from California. Thompson said the plan was to buy her own home here but she was finding it difficult to do so on a secretary’s salary. “When I got back here I saw the cost of living was the same but the salaries were not,” said Thompson, noting that she made $22 an hour in California as a word processor. Thompson said she decided to aim for a Habitat for Humanity house two years ago and went to a seminar in Asbury Park to learn more about the program. She had been volunteering on the Fisher Avenue home last year when she learned it would be hers. She credits the prayers of her fellow church members as aiding her to get the house. During the project, Thompson said she learned how to put up Sheetrock, painted the living room and put together the interiors of closets, as well as did a lot of yard work on the formerly abandoned property. As part of the 350 hours of sweat equity that homeowners are required to complete in order to gain a Habitat for Humanity house at a reduced mortgage rate, Janice also enlisted the aid of family, friends and church members to help her. Another way to work off sweat equity hours is by putting in self-development hours. Thompson is enrolled in courses at Brookdale Community College and her self-development plan is to eventually gain a degree in business administration and use it to better the community. Down the road I would like to participate in community development, said Thompson, who was raised in Neptune from the age of 8. I saw how it declined, and it really isn’t the same so I would like to be a part of bringing it back up, she said. ROTC refurbishes Sea Girt home for Coastal Habitat for Humanity The Coast Star, December 21, 2000 By Desiree A. DiCorcia The Wall High School ROTC recently helped refurbish a home for future use by a single mother and her five young children after the four-bedroom home was donated by a Sea Girt couple to the Coastal Habitat for Humanity last spring. The ROTC participated in the massive renovation effort on Saturday, Dec. 9 with volunteers from Coastal Habitat for Humanity. ROTC cadet Sarah Bosak, a senior at Wall High School, coordinated the effort on behalf of the ORTC as a community service project. It [Habitat for Humanity] is a not-for-profit organization that needs workers, especially kids from local schools, said Sarah. Volunteering on behalf of the organization is as easy as one-two-three, explained Sarah. Upon placing a telephone call to the organization, Sarah was immediately informed of projects where help was needed. It is real easy to get involved with the organization if you want to help out and have fun, said Sarah. They are wonderful people to work with.Instead of demolishing the Sea Girt home, the couple who purchased it called Habitat for Humanity to seek out a more worthy solution. The non-profit organization then scheduled the home to be moved to its new location in Neptune. The home was transported by truck to the new site, where a pre-made foundation with a basement was constructed by Habitat, explained ROTC Commander Joel Nahari. The house was then secured to the basement with hurricane clamps. Sarah explained that the group of 11 cadets worked through the day replacing the tiles on the roof, siding the home, painting, fixing the floorboard, and cleaning the inside of the home. The following cadets will receive Community Service credits for partaking in the effort: Dana Bilella, Sarah Bosak, Tom Capaci, Adam Clark, Vince Crotty, Tom Kowalski, Justin Pierce, Jon Pierson, Mike Praschil, Becky Tayloer, and Neil Zamberdino. Cadet Tom Winemiller also helped organize the effort, but could not participate because he is not yet 16. Thanks in part to the ROTC’s efforts, the refurbished home will be donated to a single mother with five children. While she will have to pay an interest-free mortgage on the home, it is so low that rent for a one bedroom apartment would be higher, explained Commander Nahari. She will also be required to volunteer to help the organization renovate homes in the future. Jen Rike, a representative of Coastal Habitat for Humanity, explained that the old home was donated and moved last spring to the new site at 138 Division St. in neptune. Ms. Rike explained that the organization was involved with a different project, delaying the work on the Sea Girt home. However, Habitat did lay a foundation for the home and recruited enough volunteers to initiate the refurbishment effort on Dec. 9. We are always looking for volunteers to come in, said Ms. Rike. The volunteers will continue to work on the project from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday and Saturday until the home is ready for occupancy. Ms. Rike explained that completing the project in a timely fashion weighs heavily on the number of volunteers. Especially useful to the organization are voluntee4rs with carpentry skills, but the organization will take and train anyone willing to work. While the requirements for each project differ due to the circumstances, the volunteers on the Sea Girt home have the arduous task of repairing the damage from moving the home, adding on the garage and roof, repainting and landscaping the house, replacing floorboards, and cleaning the inside of the home. Ms. Rike is hoping that the ROTC will continue working with the organization to build and refurbish homes as a service to the community. For more information about volunteering for the group, call the organization at 732-775-7270 and ask for Eileen. We are always looking for skilled and unskilled laborers to help, said Ms. Rike. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry based in locations throughout the world. The ultimate goal of the organization is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth by building basic, decent housing. Coastal Habitat was incorporated in Asbury Park in 1994 by a group of 13 people who were concerned with the need for decent, affordable housing for low income families in the shore communities. The organization constructs the homes solely through donations of money and materials. Families in need of affordable and decent housing apply to local habitat affiliates. The future homeowners are selected based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program, and their ability to repay the no-interest mortgage. Bayberry Garden Club landscapes house for underprivileged family The Coast Star, November 16, 2000 By Bill Kolbenschlag Members of the Bayberry Garden Club in Brielle recently volunteered their time to landscape a house in Neptune that was built by Habitat for Humanity for underprivileged families. Club members, headed by Carole Eggert, Elsie Lough, and Mary Lou Bolger, spent a total of about 15 hours landscaping the house for a single mother and her three children. The team of Bayberry Garden Club members pulled out weeds, tilled the soil, and put grass seed in the front of the property. They also planted Azalea and Andromeda shrubs and other plants around the house. Wildflowers were also planted on the side of the property. Otta Lee Kossack, the president of the Bayberry Garden Club, came up with the idea to landscape a habitat home after it was brought up at a meeting of their parent organization. According to Mrs. Kossack, someone at the meeting spoke about Habitat for Humanity and their need for people to do landscaping for the homes. Mrs. Kossack thought it was a good idea so she brought it up to the Bayberry Garden Club members, who then decided to undertake the project. While the club paid for the cost of the shrubbery for the project, the Jonathan Green Company donated grass, seed, fertilizer, and wildflower seeds. The Bayberry Garden Club used funds that were derived from their Brielle Day fund-raisers to pay for the plants. Before they started the project, Bayberry Garden Club members didn’t really know what to expect. They wondered if the job would be quick and easy or long and tiring. According to Mrs. Eggert, the project took a lot of work, and the group worked on different days for a few months on it. She said that laying the grass seed was very difficult. Laying down the grass seed doesn’t seem like much, but it took a lot of work, she explained. Mary Lou Bolger, one of the other members who participated in the project said that one of the more difficult things about landscaping the house was that they worked during several hot days. It seemed as if all of the days we picked to work turned out to be very hot, she said. Mrs. Eggert said that before the Garden Club started landscaping the property, the area was very barren, and the land was in bad condition. The group met a few times a month to work on the land. When they were complete, the property had fresh soil, green grass, shrubs and wildflowers. We wanted to make it nice, but we didn’t want to overdo it, Mrs. Eggert said. She explained that the person moving into the house works full-time, and also has to find time to take care of her children. Mrs. Eggert said that if they planted too many things that constantly needed to be kept up, the resident may not have been able to maintain it. Despite having to work her full time job, the resident of the new habitat house also helped out with the landscaping. Habitat for Humanity required her to put 100 hours of work into the house. According to Mrs. Eggert, the resident of the home was very happy and thankful for the Garden Club’s efforts. Mrs. Kossack said that she isn’t sure whether or not the Bayberry Garden Club will perform a similar project in the future. However, she did say that the group put a lot of work into a very worthwhile cause. Photo caption: Members of The Bayberry Garden Club, Brielle, recently helped landscape a house in Neptune that was built by Habitat for Humanity, which is an organization that develops houses for underprivileged families. The Garden Club planted grass, seed, shrubs, and flowers around the house. Volunteers help to build a future Asbury Park Press, October 14, 2000 Habitat for Humanity volunteers joined former President Jimmy Carter to build homes in New York City in September. Habitat affiliates of the Northeast region nine states in all came together to be a part of the 22-house build, which is part of the 2000 Jimmy Carter Work Project. Each year, Carter and his wife, Roslyn, spend one week working with volunteers from around the globe to build affordable housing for low-income families. Forty-four affiliates from various communities in the nine states gathered in Brooklyn to build the homes; they provided 27 skilled construction leaders and nearly $20,000 in funding. Eric Oberer, Colts Neck, a director of Coastal Habitat for Humanity in Asbury Park, was a construction leader for house No. 6 at the Brooklyn site, while volunteers, Dot and Wally French, Avon, worked on the fourth-floor, two-bedroom unit in Harlem. Habitat for Humanity New York City was the first of three host affiliates for this year’s JCWP. After completing the work in New York City, Carter traveled to Jacksonville, Fla., where Habitat built 100 homes in 17 days. For information about Coastal Habitat, call 732-775-7778. Habitat Volunteers Join 2000 Jimmy Carter Work Project The Times...at the Jersey Shore, October 5, 2000 New York – Habitat for Humanity affiliates from the northeast region came together to be a part of the 22-house build completed earlier this month as part of the 2000 Jimmy Carter Work Project (JCWP). Each year the former U.S. president and his wife spend one week working along side volunteers from around the globe building affordable housing for low-income families. The annual event, which began in New York City in 1984, featured the construction of Habitat’s 100,000th home. Habitat affiliates from nine states in the northeast – New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine – came together in September to build two houses (#5 and #6) at the 12-house JCWP site in Brooklyn. In all, 44 affiliates from different communities in the nine states were represented, providing 27 skilled construction leaders and nearly $20,00 in funding. House #5 at the Brooklyn site is the future home of Amy Morris and her family. Ms. Morris, her 2-year-old daughter Camilee and her year-old-son Thai-Daniel had been living in a neat, but severely overcrowded studio apartment. Ms. Morris, a Brooklyn resident for seven years, supports her family without any government assistance by working at Macy’s department store as an assistant sales manager. As a Habitat partner Ms. Morris has contributed hundreds of hours of sweat equity working on her home. As with all Habitat homes, ms. Morris will purchase her home at no-profit to the organization and with no interest on her mortgage. Eric Oberer, a Director of Coastal Habitat for Humanity in Asbury Park, was the construction leader for House #6 at the Brooklyn site. Mr. Oberer, a Colts Neck resident, says “It was an unforgettable experience to help build a home in Brooklyn as the representative of Coastal Habitat for Humanity… For me, helping to build a home in Brooklyn seemed a natural extension of my work with Coastal, which is building homes for those in need in the Neptune/Asbury Park area.” (For information about Coastal Habitat call 732-775-7778). Two other area residents, Dot and Wally French from Avon-by-th-Sea, also participated in the JCWP. The Frenches worked on one of ten units completed in Harlem during the JCWP. The fourth-floor two-bedroom unit in harlem will soon become a home for a family of four that includes a three-week baby girl. Ms. French indicated that it was a great experience to partner with the prospective homeowners, other volunteers and Habitat for Humanity New York City in order to help this family have an opportunity to purchase an affordable, decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity – New York City was the first of three host affiliates for this year’s JCWP. After completing the work on Habitat’s landmark home in Harlem, President Carter traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, where Habitat built 100 homes in 17 days, and then onto his home in Sumter County, Georgia, where he worked on the last homes in a project whose aim was to eliminate poverty housing in the county. “The northeast affiliate house is the greatest example of people from different communities being willing to work together to make the idea of Habitat for Humanity successful throughout the world,” said Lora Fasolino, JCWP Director for New York City. “For the affiliates to contribute their resources in the form of small financial contributions and/or by sending their skilled construction leadership to help the NYC affiliate be successful with JCWP was fantastic. Coastal Habitat volunteers make their mark Asbury Park Press, June 17, 2000 For some volunteers, constructing a home for a family in need was a busman’s holiday – a “working” vacation of sorts – and for others, a major role change. Building a house, primarily with volunteers, is not simple, but with help from Eric Oberer of Coastal Habitat for Humanity, a four-bedroom house on Fisher Avenue in Neptune, started in January, is nearly complete. Oberer assembled a working crew from Hardie Siding, Avon, and Goldman Sachs to lend a hand. On a Sunday, Howard Hardie, president of Hardie Siding, and some of his associates, took a busman’s holiday to lead a siding blitz where they not only installed vinyl siding, but instructed other volunteers in the art of siding. By the end of the day, with most of the house sided, Hardie promised that his crews would swoop in over the next couple of weeks to tackle some of the remaining siding tasks. With the house framed, sided and electrical wiring and plumbing largely in place, Oberer set his sights on supervising his Goldman Sachs volunteers. These desk-jockeys were quickly turned into fledgling sheet-rockers. As part of the Goldman program, “Community TeamWorks,” three teams of Goldman employees were dispatched to Neptune to partner with Coastal Habitat to work on the house. The Goldman program provides employees with time of from work to volunteer for team-based community service projects. The three Goldman teams, along with a handful of local folks, including one of Coastal’s prospective homeowners, soon became quite adroit at marking, measuring, cutting, and attaching the Sheetrock to ceiling joists and studs. Coastal Habitat for Humanity, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, building simple homes in partnership with those in need. Partner families invest hours of “sweat equity” into building their home, which Coastal sells at no profit and with an interest-free mortgage. For more information about Coastal Habitat for Humanity and its ministry, call 732-775-7778. Making the world a better “Habitat” The Coast Star,  June 15, 2000 Local volunteers add to the success of Coastal Habitat for Humanity By Alison Manser Manasquan residents Jack and Elaine Sherman retired about two years ago, but their work in life is far from over. After seeing a Coastal Habitat for Humanity home go up in Asbury Park in 1998, the Shermans wrote to the group and were contacted shortly thereafter. The next thing they knew, they had their hands full helping to build a new house in Neptune and assisting in the restoration of another home that was relocated to Neptune from a Sea Girt donor. Today, they find themselves atop the list of logged hours at one of the group’s latest sites at Fisher Avenue, Asbury Park, where they have worked 101 hours. The couple also donates their time to two of the Coastal Habitat for Humanity committees. Mrs. Sherman is on the Family Nurture committee, which assists the new homeowners in adjusting to their new life and responsibilities, and Mr. Sherman is on the Volunteer Relations committee, who recruit and service the Habitat volunteers. Nationally and internationally, Habitat for Humanity has built thousands of homes for needy families. Locally, many residents like the Shermans have contributed to these numbers. Manasquan resident Dan Bittner is just one of the many local volunteers. He heard about the group from his church, the First Presbyterian Church of Manasquan, which also assists Coastal Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Bittner worked on the transported Sea Girt home and the Fisher Avenue house in Neptune. Although he has to take the summer off, he plans to return to the construction sites in the fall. About a year ago, Brielle residents Jim and Sue Stenson also got involved with Coastal Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Stenson spends two days a week working on the construction of the homes and Mrs. Stenson devotes her Habitat time to the Fund-raising Committee pursuing grants. The couple plans on continuing their involvement with the group of “great people,”Mrs. Stenson said. Avon resident Howard Hardy agrees. “It’s a real nice atmosphere,” he said. Mr. Hardy got involved a few years ago by lending advice on siding and windows to the group. The next thing he knew he found himself out on the site. “I’m glad I did it,” he said. The First Presbyterian Church of Manasquan and the Church in Brielle also offer their assistance to the organization by providing the work crews with lunches once a month. In The Beginning Coastal Habitat for Humanity, Inc. is an independent affiliate of the national non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, which began in Asbury Park in 1994 by a group of 13. The 13 people, including clergy, spanned eight Monmouth County towns, representing their interest in the need for decent, affordable housing for low income families in the shore communities. The volunteer board of directors began by organizing the core committees of Building Site Selection, Fund Development, Family Selection and Family Nurture. Today, there are 14 directors on the board and several other committees including: Volunteer Relations, Nominating, Public Relations and Church Relations. In 1998, the group completed construction on its first home in Asbury Park and shortly thereafter, the rehabilitation of a Neptune home that was severely damaged by fire in 1999. For 2000, the group has set its sites on two new homes on lots donated by Neptune and the restoration of a donated home moved from Sea Girt to Neptune. Partnership building plans will also result in three Neptune Township homes: a Community House of Faith, a Corporate House of Hope and a Community House of Hope. Globally, Coastal Habitat is a partner in building a home in Kenya along with three other homes overseas. To qualify, a prospective homeowner must presently be living in inadequate housing. Additionally, they must meet a minimum income and debt-to-income guideline and have a demonstrated ability to make regular monthly payments for rent, utilities and other credit obligations. A willingness and ability to partner with Coastal must be demonstrated by the prospective homeowner, understanding that there is a requirement for the timely investment of 350 to 500 hours of “sweat equity.” Want to Join? Coastal Habitat for Humanity is always looking for volunteers. They hold volunteer orientations each month and can be contacted at 732-775-7778 for more information. People Helping People Coastal Habitat Gives People a Hand Up… Not a Hand Out The Times… at the Jersey Shore, June 6, 2000 By Alesha Williams You may have seen the homes popping up around Neptune and the surrounding areas – on Division Street, Eighth Avenue, and now on Fisher Avenue – with a sign on the front lawn which reads “Habitat for Humanity.” And you might have thought that Habitat for Humanity was just another rent subsidy or assistance program. You might have even thought that it was just another “handout” program for the indigent. You would be wrong. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is an organization which is working toward eliminating poverty housing by providing homes at cost for those who are eligible. Eligible homeowners are those who have a need for shelter, are gainfully employed, have a good credit rating, and can offer their own time to volunteering with the program. Habitat provides affordable housing by harnessing volunteer efforts to build the homes. And it’s those people – the volunteers, the corporations that donate services, and the potential homeowners, the community involvement – that set Habitat apart from other programs. The Homeowners… Meet Janice L. Thompson. Janice was married and living with her husband and family in Los Angeles, they were leasing to own a lovely home there, her salary was upwards of $49,000. After her divorce, however, she found herself returning to the shore three years ago, where she says the salaries were lower than what she was paid in California, while the cost of living stayed the same. With three children in tote, she had little choice but to move into an overcrowded situation with family members in Asbury Park. In 1998, Janice applied to a number of rental assistance agencies in Asbury Park in order to get her family into an apartment, but, she says, “It seemed every time I tried to apply, they were always out of funds.” And that was when Janice applied to Habitat for Humanity – and was turned down as a potential homeowner. Apparently, Janice and her husband had acquired a number of outstanding debts during their marriage, and that counted heavily against Janice in the determination process. One of the cornerstones of the Habitat philosophy is that potential homeowners have good credit and can be relied upon to pay the reduced mortgage. “I had a need, the children were living on top of each other, the living arrangements were making it harder for them to study. But I didn’t have the good credit I needed. Going through the process at Habitat is just like being a normal homeowner. Lots of people think they’re giving these homes away, but you can’t be on government assistance like Section 8, you have to have good credit, you have to be responsible.” “Some people actually choose not to get involved with Habitat because they don’t want to make the effort necessary,” Janice adds, “You have to work sweat equity hours with Habitat. A person has to be willing to get their hands dirty.” For the next year, Janice worked on cleaning up her credit record and paying back old debts. She maintained her position as a secretary at Jersey Shore Medical Center. She volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to show her good faith. She applied to Habitat for a second time. And she prayed. “One of the church members told me that she didn’t see me renting, she saw me in my own home,” said Janice, “She put me on a prayer list, and for six months, my church kept praying for me. And God opened the doors.” With her credit debts cleared away, and because of her efforts with the organization, Janice was selected to be a future homeowner at a four-bedroom home the organization is currently building on Fisher Avenue. Today, a regular day for Janice consists of attending classes which she recently started at Brookdale Community College, serving as a youth leader at Living Word Christian Fellowship, attending church services on weekends, getting her daughter to Girl Scout meetings and drill team practices, and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. “It’s a full day, and a big workload, but I hope to obtain a degree in business management, and to use that and my experience with Habitat to help community redevelopment projects,” says Janice, who would like in the future to work on projects such as Neptune’s Neighborhood Empowerment Strategic Plan. She hopes that having home will give her and her children a better life. “The kids are so excited,” says Janice, “In Los Angeles we had a nice house with enough space for everyone. The miss that. They look forward to having their own space again.” The home should be complete and ready for Janice and her children to move in sometime during the summer. Habitat for Humanity will hold a seminar for prospective homeowners at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 17 at the upstairs meeting room of the Neptune Township Public Library. All interested parties are invited to attend. The Volunteers Eric Oberer of Colts Neck, has been involved with Coastal Habitat for Humanity for approximately two years. Since his retirement from AT&T as an engineer in 1998 he has volunteered countless hours of his time to the organization. He serves as Co-Construction Chairperson and as site manager for the Fisher Avenue house that will soon belong to Janice Thompson. His responsibilities include obtaining plans for the homes, getting materials, hiring contractors, and overseeing building at the homes. Eric has taken on the responsibilities of his position with an amazing positive attitude, and says that he fully enjoys the work he does. Unfortunately, Coastal Habitat is having trouble finding people that are willing to devote the time necessary to be in a leadership position such as Eric’s. “Being responsible for building the house is basically a full-time job, and a lot of people don’t want to take on that kind of responsibility,” says Eric, “When we don’t have a lot of volunteers, the regular workers get spread very thin.” He encourages people to keep in mind that the volunteer effort is the core of Habitat – without it, the organization would not be able to provide homes at cost. “And volunteers get as much out of meeting someone like Janice, learning about her, her children and her aspirations, as she will get out of having a new home. If I weren’t doing this work, I would probably not have a chance to meet so many wonderful people. The fulfillment is giving back a little to society of what we’ve all taken out.” He encourages people to think about the positive impact you bring to yourself and the community when volunteering, rather than being discouraged by the work involved. “A lot of people would like to contribute, but think they don’t know enough about homebuilding, or being financial officers,” adds Eric, “The reality is, most of us aren’t experts either. Don’t be intimidated because you think you don’t have enough experience.” And if you’re thinking you simply don’t have the time to devote to volunteering, you’re wrong. Eric says that every minute that a person can volunteer, even if only occasionally, helps the project along. “Frankly, we don’t have many regular volunteers,” says Eric, “If it weren’t for the volunteers that stop in occasionally, the regular volunteers would never get the job done.” He hopes that once people learn more about Habitat, the more people will contribute to the cause and volunteer their time. “The more people know about us, the better it works out for the entire community,” adds Eric. Coastal Habitat has openings for Committee members to work with Fund Development, Public Relations, Church Relations, Construction, Family Selection, Site Selection and Administration. Construction crew leaders are also needed. For additional information, please call Dot French at 732-774-4307. The Businesses Howard Hardie of Hardie Siding and Windows, Avon, is one of the businessmen that has made a significant contribution to the Fisher Avenue home. After learning about Coastal Habitat’s need for donations and services from another Habitat volunteer, Mr. Hardie talked to six of his workers about joining the work effort on Fisher Avenue. The volunteers, ages 13 to 49, donated half of their time and Hardie paid them for the other half of their services. “One of the employees’ pregnant wives even joined in at the site to help out,” said Hardie. “I think they feel good about the fact that they’re helping somebody out. It’s not just a payday. It gives them a morale boost to know that it’s not jus about the bottom line.” The company donated all the house’s siding, and did the labor involved with help from other volunteers. The Hardie group helped to get the entire main frame of the home completed in one day, he added. They’ve donated approximately 100 man hours since the start of the project last fall. “The area has always been very good to us. I figure if you can help somebody else along the way, it’s the right thing to do. These homes aren’t handouts, they’re people that are working hard, so why not give them a helping hand?” Hardie Siding and Windows, 813 Main Street, Avon, has been serving Southern Monmouth County since 1972. If your company is interested in being placed on a volunteer list for construction (both skilled and unskilled), please call Mary Winkler at 732-775-7778. In addition, Habitat will host an art exhibition and auction, “Beautify the Community Inside and Out,” at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 80 Embury Avenue, Ocean Grove, on June 17, with a preview at 3 p.m., and the auction beginning at 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded. $10 per person donation is requested. For more information on the auction call Wally French at 732-774-4307. Charity begins and ends at home The Star Ledger, May 25, 2000 “In six months, we can build a family a new house for the same $60,000. The only reason to do it is not to destroy a great house.” CAROL WILUSZ, on Coastal Habitat’s reasoning for moving the donated house 10 miles. By Mary Jo Patterson It seemed like a wonderful idea. Rather than tear down a fine house they wanted to replace, the owners would donate it to charity. They considered it a perfect solution to the demise of their charming white-and-blue-shuttered Cape Cod, being razed to make way for a bigger, more expensive model. One family would get a home, and the other a warm glow from helping someone – plus a tax write-off. Instead, it wound up being an exhausting, expensive and complicated process that took a whole year and ended up costing $60,000. Just consider the logistics of moving a 30-by-40 food house from Sea Girt to Neptune Township, some 10 miles north. In between are four towns, a bridge over the Shark River, railroad tracks, untold lengths of overhead wire, countless trees and lots of parked cars. Coastal Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit housing group that received the couple’s gift, pulled the feat off. But it’s not likely to repeat the experience. “The house is lovely. It will change the new owner’s life. But it wasn’t cost effective, or time-effective,” said Carol Wilusz, volunteer president of Coastal Habitat and a real estate broker whose drive and can-do attitude were responsible for the project’s success. “In six months, we can build a family a new house for the same $60,000. The only reason to do it is not to destroy a great house.” The saga started last year when one of the owners of the house was sitting on the beach with a girlfriend. “I was telling her how upset I felt about the house,” said the woman, who with her husband insisted on anonymity. “My husband had said, ‘Let’s knock it down,’ but I found myself getting all emotional. When I told my girlfriend, she said, ‘Why don’t you call Habitat for Humanity?’” Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical Christian ministry, is dedicated to eliminating poverty and homelessness throughout the world. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates houses. They are sold – at no profit, and with no-interest loans – to families who must put in hundreds of hours of their own labor, called “sweat equity.” The donors originally bought the four-bedroom house in 1990 as a weekend retreat. After the birth of their first child, however, they became full-time occupants. Several years later, when the woman became pregnant again, they decided against expanding the Cape in favor of building a new house on the same lot. The Coastal Habitat group in Asbury Park was divided about the offer. Some thought accepting the gift would be biting off too much. Others thought the project strayed from the Habitat method. Clarice Hepburn, then president of the group, was dubious. She sent a volunteer to look at the house, who reported back that it was too nice to destroy. Hepburn drove to Sea Girt to eyeball the house herself. “When I first saw it, my first thought was, ‘What has this world come to?’” she said. “It made me think, ‘What is this country we’re living in, that we have so many people with so much and so many without?’ It was kind of mind-boggling.” She agreed that the house was too nice to tear down. So did Dick Martel, a retired engineer who serves as Habitat’s volunteer construction manager. “It was so nice inside, with hardwood floors,” Martel said. “I decided, ‘Why not?’” Habitat’s first problem was to find a home for the house. Hepburn approached Asbury Park, but the city couldn’t find a lot, she said. Then she turned to Neptune Township. A seller offered the right-sized lot for $16,000, $3,000 of which was donated by the house’s owners. The hardest part proved to be planning the route. “I was dealing with eight or 10 men, who let you know they were ‘in charge,’ saying, ‘Not down my road,’” said Wilusz, now Habitat’s president. Meanwhile, expenses mounted. The move itself would cost $10,500; the foundation $14,000. The utilities were also asking for money. Bell Atlantic’s original $17,000-plus bill was whittled down to $6,000; GPU, the electric company, wanted $5,000. Happily, the six police departments involved donated their time. Two weeks before moving day, Martel got shocking news: The house, 26 feet tall, exceeded a height requirement. He lopped three feet of the top, to be rejoined later. The house also lost its garage and sunroom, which did not make the trip. At noon on Nov. 30, the move commenced, with the house atop a monster flatbed. The owners, accompanied by their parents, rode in the front of the procession. The husband, in a truck, videotaped the scene. His wife was in a car, with daughter and new baby in tow. Utility crews and police followed. Along the route, little boys and grown men flocked to the spectacle. “It did create somewhat of a crowd and a traffic jam,” said Lt. Thomas Volante of the Bradley Beach Police Department, where the house had its hairiest moment. Traveling at about 5 mph, it failed to make one turn until the local road department rushed in to clear tree limbs. “We were holding our breath, but the whole thing went great,” said Wilusz. By 4 p.m., the house was at its new home on Division Street. Sitting on I-beams over a foundation hole, it spent the winter there. The foundation itself was built later. Two weeks ago, four jacks inched the house into place. More work remains. The interior must be re-assembled and painted, and the exterior recovered. But, come July, the new owner – a hospital worker and single mother of five – will have a new home. More and more, Habitat gets offers of donated houses, for teardowns are routine in New Jersey’s flush Shore towns. Across the country where the phenomenon is common place, the charity has moved about 100 houses. Wilusz turns them down, but makes it clear that contents are welcome. “We can always have a house sale as a fund-raiser, with profits from contents as a donation,” she said. “We just can’t take the whole thing.” Donated Sea Girt house to become family’s home The Coast Star, December 2, 1999 By Colleen O’Connor As the movie “Miracle on 34 Street” concludes, little Susan, played by Natalie Wood, receives the gift she most wished for from Kris Kringle – a real house for her and her mother. This week, one family in need from the shore area is one step closer to a home of their own thanks to the generosity of a Sea Girt couple and the determination of Habitat for Humanity. Although not delivered by sleigh, a four-bedroom Cape Cod style house that used to be located at 207 Crescent Parkway in Sea Girt was moved to an empty 100 ft. square lot at 138 Division Street in Neptune on Tuesday, Nov. 30. With plans to construct a new, more modern house on the property in Sea Girt, the 1950-vintage Cape, which was in good condition, could have fallen victim to the new trend in the shore area, demolition. Rather, the couple, (who do not wish to be identified), sought to donate it to a good cause rather than see it reduced to a pile of rubble. Crossing through six municipalities, the entire house balanced atop a long flatbed truck, minus the garage and about two feet of its roof, as it made its way along a route that hugged the shore line from Sea Girt up through Neptune. “It was just incredible,” said Carol Wilusz, vice president of the Coastal Habitat for Humanity, the southern Monmouth County affiliate, and coordinator for the project. The move was done by W.A. Builders, Westfield, and went without a snag, until the house reached one unaccounted for traffic light on the north side of the drawbridge in Belmar. It hung too low for the massive structure to pass under. After roughly 30 minutes, country workers were able to temporarily move the light, allowing the home to continue on its unusual journey. “This has taken a lot of coordination and effort, by us, by the county, by the police in all of these towns, and the utility people,” Mrs. Wilusz said. It has cost Habitat for Humanity $60,000 as the group had to pay for the move. The funding covered the actual move and re-installation of the home, the permit application process and, most daunting of all, to pay the utility companies to disconnect the house from services at its original location in Sea Girt. Although the home, which measures 40 feet by 30 feet wide and has hardwood floors throughout, was more than a generous donation, pulling some holiday spirit from the utility companies has not been so easy. Their services in all, billed to Habitat, will cost about $12,000, Mrs. Wilusz said. The new foundation for the home cost about $17,000. However, Neptune went so far as to donate the property for the house for free. “People just think you donate a house and then a family who needs one just moves in. Unfortunately it’s not that simple,” Mrs. Wilusz said. While the move in all will cost about as much as building a new home, which is the usual route for Habitat for Humanity, the project had some benefits. Building a house from scratch, which is all done by Habitat volunteers, typically takes 6-9 months and is done through sweat and hard labor. The benefit of having a house already build means a family can move in much sooner and comes without the labor-intensive hours while still achieving the same results – giving a family a home. This was the first time that Coastal Habitat, an affiliate that has been in operation less than five years, had ever moved a home. Though Mrs. Wilusz had hoped to have a family in for the holidays, she said they now plan to have the house ready for the family in just three months. “It’s still quite a treat for the holidays though. It’s a nice size house and a beautiful home,” said Mrs. Wilusz. Habitat for Humanity provides homes to persons in need of housing and who have the ability to pay the mortgage, which are interest free. Recipients also dedicate 500 hours of their time to help construct another home, creating a partnership rather than a free handout. Now that the house has been relocated, Habitat will construct a new garage and restore the roof, while the home is connected to sewer, water, electric and gas lines. Habitat for Humanity is an international non-profit organization. The overall goal is to provide simple, decent, affordable homes to families, restoring hope and dignity to their lives. Coastal Habitat is always looking for volunteers, regardless if they are experienced or not in construction. “Everyone can be used in our projects,” said Mrs. Wilusz. With the successful move, which lasted from 11 a.m. until dusk that day, more property owners are encouraged to think about the tax deductible donation rather than demolition, as the house will continue to be utilized for many years by people who will continue to call it “home.”