East Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity

2004 builds:

Willow River (pine county)

mora (kanabec county)

willow river and mora Welcome ECM HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. We are PREPARING TO BUILD IN both cities WITH THE 2004 SPRING THAW! The Fun begins!

willow river Family Selected!

Congratulations to a wonderful family of eight children and their remarkable mom. Blueprints for a five bedroom two bath home are being finalized.

Willow River: Volunteer sign up is underway! A retired building contracter from Willow River has agreed to lead the volunteers as the construction site supervisor. Many more volunteers will be needed. See our volunteer page. Phone toll free 1-866-600-0288 to volunteer.

THANK YOU RV CARE-A-VANNERS FOR COMING TO WILLOW RIVER

The weekend of June 13th, 2004 Habitat Care-A-Vanners' RVs will arrive in Willow River from around the nation to help ECM HFH begin to build a home for and with a selected family. The RVs will be hosted for two weeks by a Willow River based Business and will park near the construction site.

This hard-working dedicated crew with assistance from the community will completely frame and enclose the house, weather permitting! Thank you gang!

MORA FAMILY SELECTED!

Congratulations to a wonderful family of two child and their parents.

The Family Selection Committee chooses homeowners based on need, willingness to become partners in the program by helping build the house, and must have the ability to repay a small no-interest loan. Applicants need to have lived in our five-county service area for at least one year prior to the application date.

Volunteer sign up for mora is underway! A construction site supervisor from the Mora area is needed to lead the volunteers. Many more volunteers will be needed. See our volunteer page. Phone toll free 1-866-600-0288 to volunteer.

ISLE, MN CELEBRATES THE COMPLETION OF TWO NEW HABITAT HOMES

October 25, ECM HFH hosted two home dedications and open houses on behalf of the new Habitat partner families. Over 75 residents of Isle and the surrounding communities attended. Volunteers and neighbors joined to celebrate and congratulate the families.

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - ISLE REFLECTIONS

Wayne Eller

During the 2003 summer, ECM Habitat for Humanity has again witnessed God's love in action. In the town of Isle, MN, two houses were built side by side for families in need. It is a remarkable experience to witness firsthand this joy-filled outpouring of that community's generosity. This love of neighbors from a small town on the map with such a big heart must surely be divinely inspired.

One of the slogans of Habitat for Humanity reads, "Every Habitat house is a symbol of Gods love." It is God's love that brings volunteers from around the nation to work tirelessly for a selected family they have never met. It is God's love that brings folks from the family's neighborhood to say, "We love and care for you."

And so it is in communities where God's love is the driving force;where God's people recognize the teachings from John 15 that God is the true vine and we, as his branches, will realize true joy as we bear fruit in His name.

SEARCH FOR BUILDING LOTS IS UNDERWAY

donating a lot can be a great tax break! Habitat searches for lots – in Isanti, Cambridge, North Branch, Princeton and throughout Pine, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Chisago and Isanti Counties.

Please contact your local builders, city officials, service organizations, businesses, or friends to help. (Selling a lot at a reduced price or donating a lot can be a great tax break!)

ECM Habitat for Humanity desperately needs lots! We have families waiting but we find only lots that are priced beyond our financial reach. East Central MN Habitat needs your help, your donations, your ideas, and your prayers that we can make dreams come true for low income families. Everyone deserves a chance! Lets help families in need have a decent home in a wonderful community to grow into all that God intends for them.

As a community with a tremendous depth of talent and generosity, we have made dreams come true before - can we make one happen now? We have been trying year in and out to find local affordable lots to build upon. Lets put our heads and our hearts together and make it happen.

CONTACT US AT:

ECM Habitat for Humanity
218 Ashland Street South
Cambridge MN 55008

PHONE/FAX:

763-689-0288.

E-MAIL:

chabitat@ecenet.com

2004 HABITAT 500 BIKE RIDE was a great success!

The 12th Annual Habitat for Humanity 500 Bike Ride will be held July 11-17, 2004. The ride travels through Southwestern Minnesota in a 500 mile loop starting in Hutchinson. The stark beauty of the Minnesota River valley is augmented by many new bike trails that have just opened throughout this region.

The ride is fully supported including a professional bike mechanic and supplies, massage therapists, daily route maps, marked roads, emergency phone numbers, tag vehicles to carry your personal gear, and overnight camping sites with showers. Breakfast and dinner are provided by local HFH affiliates in the host towns and there are regular food and water stops along each day's route.

The 2003 riders raised $225,000, of which $142,000 was raised for affiliates and programs in Minnesota. East Central Minnesota Habitat is genuinely interested in recruiting one or more riders to raise some or all of their pledges for the building of homes in our area in 2004. e-mail or contact www.habitat500.org.