Volunteer expo at mall March 23, 2008
	Coastal Habitat for Humanity - A Brush With Kindness Program October, 2006
	Coastal Habitat or Humanity To Break Ground On The First Ever Women Build House In Monmouth County October 1, 2004
	Coastal Habitat for Humanity Announces House Dedication Ceremony  May 29, 2001
	Coastal Habitat for Humanity Seeks Construction Volunteers  February 2001
	Coastal Habitat for Humanity Announces House Dedication Ceremony  January 23, 2001
	Coastal Habitat for Humanity Seeks Skilled Crew Leaders  January 16, 2001
	Habitat volunteers from Coastal Monmouth County join Jimmy Carter to build in New York City - September 2000
	Volunteer expo at mall EATONTOWN - Thinking about volunteering? You could learn a lot from “The Day of Caring” to be held from 1 to 5 p.m. April 5, 2008 near the food court of Monmouth Mall. Representatives of nonprofit agencies will be on hand with information on volunteer opportunities and services. The event is designed to help people create lasting change in the lives of children, families and seniors throughout the Monmouth County community, according to a flier released by Arlene Salts, manager of the Volunteer Center of Monmouth County. Among the nonprofit agencies involved are 180 Turning Lives Around, the American Red Cross’ Jersey Coast Chapter, the Affordable Housing Alliance ARC of Monmouth County, Aslan Youth Ministries, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Coastal Habitat for Humanity, CPC Behavioral Healthcare, Francis Asbury Manor, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, HABcore Inc., LADACIN Network, the Long Branch Concordance, Monmouth Medical Center, The Monmouth Museum, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Senior Corps/Reading Buddies, the Visiting Nurse Association, the Volunteer Center of Monmouth County and The Wellness Community. For information, call Saltz at (732) 728-1927.
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	A BRUSH WITH KINDNESS Coastal Habitat for Humanity is stepping up to expand their goal of helping those who need a safe and decent place to live. They are addressing the challenges resulting from a shortage of available land on which to build new affordable homes, by introducing an innovative program called, A Brush With Kindness. This new program, begun this summer, is designed to assist low income homeowners who, due to age or physical limitations, are unable to keep up with the exterior maintenance of their property. Homes that have fallen into disrepair create safety issues for the homeowners and detract from the overall well being of their communities. After years of deferred maintenance, homes fall into a downward spiral of code violations, loss of homeowner insurance and ultimately in mortgage foreclosure that impact not just the individual homeowners and their extended families, but entire neighborhoods. A Brush With Kindness brings volunteers together to live out their faith and values through helping restore homes… helping homeowners to avoid issues that can lead to losing their homes. It helps communities break down spiritual, political and cultural barriers by extending grace and hope to struggling neighborhoods through simple acts of kindness. Utilizing the services of volunteers, from teenagers to seniors, corporate and church groups, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts….. Habitat mentors oversee the painting, minor repair work, property clean up, lawn maintenance and gardening chores at sites that have been pre-screened to ensure they meet the eligibility guidelines and qualify to be part of the program. This program also involves the homeowner, relatives and neighbors in contributing their hands-on efforts or “sweat equity” in helping with the work. It is truly a team effort. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is the first Habitat affiliate in New Jersey to successfully introduce this ABWK program. Three homes have been completed so far and a fourth is scheduled to be done in October. Plans for 2007 include another 8 to 10 homes to be restored in the area from Deal Rd to the north, Brielle to the south and the area east of the Garden State Parkway. For further information or to become involved in the A Brush With Kindness program or Coastal Habitat for Humanity, please contact the main office number at 732-974-2422 or go online at http://www.coastalhabitat.org and follow the links for ABWK and how to volunteer. Check out the pictures of our latest ABWK homes and volunteers in action, making a positive difference in our Shore communities.
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	COASTAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO BREAK GROUND ON THE FIRST EVER WOMEN BUILD HOUSE IN MONMOUTH COUNTY. Coastal Habitat for Humanity, the local affiliate for Habitat for Humanity International, is sponsoring Women Build, an extraordinary new project that will bring together women from all walks of life to address the problem of substandard housing and its effects on the health and well-being of children. In the United States alone, more than 12 million children—one out of every six—live in poverty. Women Build challenges and empowers women to address that problem—one house, one family at a time. On October 2, 2004, Coastal Habitat for Humanity will break ground on the first ever Women Build house in Monmouth County. Over the next year, a crew—composed mostly of women—will build a simple, decent, and affordable home for a family in need. Nationally, women make up 50 percent of Habitat’s volunteer force, yet often because of lack of training, they account for 15 percent of workers on the construction site. This project will provide an opportunity for women to learn construction in a supportive environment. In January 2004, Women Build launched a campaign to “raise the funds” necessary to “raise the roof.” Since then, several foundations and local businesses have generously contributed to this project. Major support for Women Build has been provided by Weichert Realtors, who made a leadership gift of $10,000, and CMM Construction of Manasquan, who volunteered to excavate the foundation. Other major donors include Amboy Bank, Brielle Women’s Club, the CHFH Demolition Committee, Fleet Bank, Hudson City Savings, Lauber Imports, The Mary Owen Borden Foundation, and Sovereign Bank. Over the summer, Women Build hosted a number of fundraising events, including a Wine and Cheese Reception at the Belmar Fishing Club and a day with the Lakewood Blue Claws. To date, $65,000 of the $75,000 needed has been raised. On October 14, 2004, Women Build will host a Fashion Show, Dinner, and Gift Auction from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at The Breakers in Spring Lake. Tickets are $50.00. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Women Build, or to learn more about this effort, call 732-974-2422. Coastal Habitat for Humanity With the extraordinary support of our community, Coastal Habitat provides safe and affordable housing for low-income families in the communities stretching along the New Jersey shore, from Deal Road in Ocean south to Brielle, and from the Parkway east to the Ocean. Coastal Habitat is funded primarily by private donations and staffed almost entirely by local volunteers. Dedicated to the elimination of sub-standard housing, Coastal Habitat works with select families who are in desperate need of decent shelter. Houses are basic in design and modest in size. The cost for each home is approximately $75,000, which includes the property, professional fees, permit fees, and all materials necessary for building the house. Over 3,500 volunteer hours of labor are required to complete a home. These hours are provided by individual volunteers, church groups, corporate groups, students, and others who want to help eliminate poverty housing and homelessness. Once identified, partner families invest hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” into building their homes, alongside Coastal Habitat staff and volunteers. Homes are then sold to them at no profit, with no interest mortgages. Since our incorporation in 1994 in Asbury Park, Coastal Habitat has provided safe and affordable shelter for eight needy families.
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	Coastal Habitat for Humanity Announces House Dedication Ceremony May 29, 2001     Pictured is Alberta January with her children: from left to right are Stephen, Alberta, Amanda, Ernest, Aisha and Christina. NEPTUNE, NJ – – 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, 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. Volunteer work groups included Nortel Networks, as well as representatives from local businesses including Superior Roofing, Hardie Siding and Pat Fahy, mason. Dedication ceremonies are scheduled for 11:00 am Saturday, June 2, 2001 at 138 Division Street in Neptune. Homeowner Alberta January, along with her family, friends and the local volunteers who helped build the house, will be on hand when the keys to the home are presented to the January family. Guests will be greeted by Coastal President Carol Wilusz, Coastal Board members and Committee Chairs. Alberta January’s pastor, Rev. Johnson of St. Stephen’s AME Church, will participate in the dedication, as will many of the volunteers who have partnered with her in the building of this home. 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 Habitat 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 of the earth. Coastal Habitat’s next Volunteer Orientation is June 19th, 7:30pm at Martin Luther King Church Memorial Drive & Heck Ave, Neptune. Habitat for Humanity was the 15th largest homebuilder in the U.S. 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. Background Information on Alberta January and Family Some people struggle all their lives to figure out what they were meant to do, but from the time she was a young child Alberta January knew, without a shadow of doubt that she wanted to be a nurse. Plans to go into nursing, however, were put on hold when she left college in her freshman year to marry her high school sweetheart and move from Newark to Missouri where he was stationed in the Air Force. Alberta lived in Missouri for 13 years where she worked in the field of medicine, never forgetting her desire to enter nursing. A series of life crises including a broken marriage and drug and alcohol addiction prevented her dream from happening. The downward spiral continued so that by 1990 Alberta was single again following a second marriage and she had five children all under the age of seven. Three years later, Alberta moved her family back to Newark to live with her mother, but several months later Alberta moved into a shelter and then into an apartment. She quickly found herself slipping backward once again. During much of that time, her mother and brother regularly put food on the table and took care of the children. Things finally got so bad, custody of her children was remanded to her mother.  After unsuccessful attempts at drug rehabilitation, in 1996 Alberta entered Epiphany House, an all-women treatment center in Long Branch. As part of her treatment program, she was required to work both inside and outside the center. Alberta got her first job at Kmart where she learned to deal with a variety of customers. Her second job was as a housekeeper at Monmouth Medical Center. When the program was over, Alberta continued at Monmouth Medical Center, where she successfully gained entry into the Patient Care Assistance program. In 1997 she moved her three daughters and two sons into a small apartment in Asbury Park. A year later, Alberta read about Coastal Habitat for Humanity in her church bulletin at St. Stephen’s AME Zion Church in Asbury Park. Her pastor Rev. Johnson and his wife put her in touch with Thelma Sessions, chair of Coastal’s Family Selection Committee and shortly thereafter Alberta was approved as a homeowner partner for a house in Neptune. (As things turned out, she and her family partnered in renovating a four-bedroom house that they will call home in May 2001). At the same time she pursued homeownership, Alberta began work on an associate degree at Brookdale Community College to become a registered nurse. Alberta cites the power of prayer and recalls the time when, after completing the Epiphany house program, she told God that she didn’t need a “castle on a hill” -- just more space for her family. The January family is active at St. Stephen’s: Alberta sings in the choir; the girls, Aisha, Christina and Amanda, participate in the youth groups; and, the boys, Stephen and Ernest do readings at Sunday services. The children range in age from 10 to 16. [ Back to Top ]   Coastal Habitat for Humanity Seeks Construction Volunteers February 2001 COASTAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY is preparing to build its next house and is seeking volunteers to work at a Neptune Township construction site. The volunteers would be under the direction of a crew chief and work on various phases of construction and related site tasks. No skills are needed and tools and material are supplied. Coastal Habitat, which operates in Southern Coastal Monmouth County, usually has the work site open two days each week (Saturday and one weekday), but volunteers can choose their work schedules, working as many days as they want each month. Any individual 18 years of age or older may volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering to help us build affordable housing or would like more information, contact Eileen Quinn, Chair of the Volunteer Relations Committee at 732-775-7270. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry building 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 Habitat 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 of the earth. Families are selected based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner by working 350-500 “sweat equity” hours in the construction of their house and the houses of others. Coastal Habitat continues to have numerous non-constructions opportunities for individuals who wish to volunteer their time and talents. For information about such opportunities or homeowner selection criteria, contact us at 732-775-7778. [ Back to Top ]   Coastal Habitat for Humanity Announces House Dedication Ceremony January 23, 2001     Pictured is the Thompson family in front of the house that will be their new home. The family members from left to right are Terrell, Jerrell, Jeri and Mrs. Thompson. NEPTUNE, NJ – January 23, 2001 – Janice L. Thompson has waited all her life to have a house of her very own and after years of dreaming, her wish is about to come true. Thanks to the partnering efforts of Ms Thompson, Coastal Habitat for Humanity volunteers and Habitat donors, this mother of three is about to have a place to call home. On what was once an abandoned lot, now sits a lovely four-bedroom house, built by family partners and nearly 200 Habitat volunteers. These individuals worked roughly 3800 hours under the guidance of House Leader Eric Oberer. Volunteer work groups included AT&T and Goldman Sachs, as well as representatives from local businesses such as Alburtus Modular Homes and Hardie Siding. Dedication ceremonies are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, February 3, 2001 at 271 Fisher Avenue in Neptune. Homeowner Janice L. Thompson, along with her family, friends and the local volunteers who helped build the house, will be on hand when the keys to the house are presented to the Thompson family. Guests will be greeted by Coastal President Carol Wilusz and several Coastal Board members and Committee Chairs. Ms. Tompson’s pastor, Cedric Miller, Senior Pastor of Living Word Christian Fellowship, will participate in the dedication, as will a number of other people who have partnered with Ms. Thompson in the building of this house. Special music will be provided by The Living Word Christian Fellowship. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that builds and renovates 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 Habitat 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 of the earth. Down payments and mortgage payments are used to build more houses through a revolving Fund for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity was the 15th largest homebuilder in the U.S. 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. Background Information on Thompson Family Most people are lucky to have one person to call their model, Janice L. Thompson is one of the fortunate few in a position to name two – her mother and her pastor as having a major influence in her life. It is in part, the support system, guidance and wisdom that these two people who represent her past and present have imparted on her that has helped make Janice, a mother of three, the woman she is today. Strength of character has been a guiding force for Janice who has, through good times and bad, persevered. She says growing up she learned a lot from her mom, whom Janice describes as “a hard working woman who always wanted better for us kids and who stuck to her goals without getting down.” Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Janice’s family moved to the Neptune/Asbury area when she was six. As a single mother, her mom worked two jobs to support Janice and her two siblings and their dream of owning their own home. Her mother eventually purchased a home in Neptune, where the family still lives today. Janice’s mother passed away in 1984, but the morals she imparted in Janice and her family are still alive today. After graduating from Neptune High School Janice moved to Los Angeles where she met and married her former husband. The pair had three children: twin boys Terrell and Jerrell who are now in the 8th grade and a daughter Jeri who is in 7th. Janice returned to the shore area with her three children after the couple’s divorce in 1996, moving in with her family in Neptune where she has lived for the past several years. Hard work helped turn her temporary job as a clerical assistant into a permanent part-time one at Jersey Shore Medical Center, enabling her to be home when her children get out of school. It has been Janice’s dream since moving back to New Jersey to own her own home – a dream she has fought hard to make a reality despite being told repeatedly that help was seemingly beyond reach. Assistance programs she applied for were either short on funds or, as was the case with Section 8, the wait was more than five years. Janice worked hard to erase a series of debt incurred while married and was accepted by Coastal Habitat for Humanity. As part of the 350 hours required of sweat equity from participants prior to moving into their new house, Janice has enlisted the help of family, friends and church members to fulfill the obligation. For her part, Janice is putting in self-development hours by taking courses toward her business administration degree at Brookdale Community College. In addition to her mother, Janice credits Cedric Miller, pastor at Living Word Christian Fellowship in Neptune for having helped motivate her the past two years. Janice and her children are very involved in church activities. [ Back to Top ]   Coastal Habitat for Humanity Seeks Skilled Crew Leaders January 16, 2001 COASTAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY is preparing to build its next house and is seeking skilled construction volunteers. We are looking for individuals with carpentry, electrical and plumbing experience who would be willing to volunteer as crew chiefs for a house that is to be started in the near future in Neptune Township. A crew chief works with 3 to 5 unskilled or semi-skilled volunteers, teaching and guiding them as they work on one phase of the building process. Coastal Habitat, which operates in Southern Coastal Monmouth County, usually has the work site open two days each week (Saturday and one weekday), but volunteer crew leaders can choose their work schedule, working as few as two days each month. If you are interested in helping us build affordable housing by serving as a crew chief or would like more information, contact Joe Beliveau, Chairman of the Building Committee at 732-449-3796. Coastal Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry building 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 Habitat 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 of the earth. Families are selected based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner by working 350-500 “sweat equity” hours in the construction of their house and the houses of others. Coastal Habitat continues to have numerous other opportunities for individuals to volunteer their time and talents, both at the construction site and with non-construction committees. For information about general volunteer opportunities or homeowner selection criteria, contact us at 732-775-7778. [ Back to Top ]   Habitat volunteers from Coastal Monmouth County join Jimmy Carter to build in New York City September 2000     Homeowner Amy Morris and House #5 volunteers took a break from construction to be pictured with two prominent workers, President and Mrs. Carter. Eric Oberer (fifth from left), the Coastal Habitat representative, led the construction of House #6. 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 US president and his wife spend one week working alongside 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 $20,000 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-the-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 in their skilled construction leadership to help the NYC affiliate be successful with JCWP was fantastic.” [ Back to Top ]