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To New Beginnings: 225 Freeport Street, New Kensington, PA 15068 Phone: 724-594-1051 Website
To New Beginnings: 225 Freeport Street, New Kensington, PA 15068 Phone: 724-594-1051 Website
Spring
Newsletter
Board of Directors
appropriate safety protocol and social distancing. As the pandemic restrictions are lifted, we Ms. Kristin O’Sullivan
Board Member
will continue our efforts into the summer as
Now, we have embarked on what will be our 25th John Tamiggi, Ph.D.
we support various improvements including Executive Director
home build in the region, and we are delighted to
Food Distribution Center at Saint Mary the
say that this house will soon become a home for
Assumption. If you are interested in further
Ms. Lauren Brewer and her family. Lauren said she
helping us support such build efforts and
is so excited to have a safe home with a yard and
desire to host a local volunteer group, please
quiet street for her kids to play. Her father, David,
contact our office at 724.594.1051.
who is a retired engineer, has lent his expertise to
the construction and volunteer crew to assist with
the build process. “We are delighted to see our
volunteer crews back in full force helping grow
and support our communities” states Executive
Director John Tamiggi. Such efforts will continue
into the summer months and will utilize the
passionate hearts of our community along
Lending a Helping Hand to our Neighbors
with Lauren and family to soon make this
Habitat Construction Lead Chris Andring & Fr. Yaroslav
house a home. Koval
Habitat for Humanity Updates:
Meet two of our local volunteers!
Jim & Sue Bires are residents of the Lower Burrell
area and have been steadfast Habitat volunteers Critical Repairs for AV Homeowners
for almost a decade. Jim and Sue grew up in the
region and settled together in Lower Burrell. A safe, decent and healthy home has been the
After retirement, the couple both decided they first line of defense for families around the globe
wanted to serve and volunteer at Habitat for during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the
Humanity to help create opportunities for future work of Habitat for Humanity, more than 5.9
families. Recently, we sat down with Jim and Sue million people have accessed better housing in
wanted to hear their story! the last year, according to the global nonprofit’s
fiscal year 2020 annual report released today.
What first brought you to Habitat? Here in the Allegheny Valley, we understand how
Jim: My wife and I first met while working at hard some of our most disadvantaged
Westinghouse, we married and ultimately settled communities have been hit during the pandemic,
in Lower Burrell. I spent 44 years and my wife have worked with local leadership to develop
spent almost 30 years with the company, and once inroad strategies to best support recovery efforts.
we retired, we knew we wanted to spent our days
volunteering and we were both fond of the work While our crews made efforts to address some
at Habitat. critical repairs locally in the area over the autumn
and winter months, pandemic restrictions created
How long have you volunteered at Habitat? some difficulties with access. Yet, our crews still
Sue: We have been on Habitat builds for over 6 were able to have some impact on some of the
years; our first house build was in Lower Burrell. most vulnerable populations. As the pandemic
restrictions lessen, we are working with the St.
What are some of your most memorable Vincent de Paul Society to assemble larger
volunteer days here at Habitat? volunteer groups during the summer months to
Sue: I loved the opportunity to be part of the key provide critical repairs to those most in need. We
ceremony on our fist home build in Lower Burrell look forward to being in full force building and
and to see the twin boys’ face light up when they serving our neighbors.
had a backyard of their own to play and enjoy.
That was really special!
Jim & Sue pictured together (front and center) along with
their granddaughter on the Animal Protectors build project
2
25 Years of Hope & Change
The Cost of Doing Business This past year, Allegheny Valley Habitat for
As we craft this newsletter, the cost of Humanity celebrated its 25th anniversary serving
lumber has increased by 375% since May the community. Unfortunately, the COVID-19
of 2020. Other commodities have seen a pandemic thwarted any opportunity for public
major increase including the price of steel celebrations, but that didn’t stop us from
which has created inflationary prices, most reflecting on our success while looking forward to
especially in home construction. While the next 25 years. We are so blessed to say our
these rapid and skyrocketing price rich history depicts thousands upon thousands of
increases have had an effect on all passionate volunteers serving and building
demographics, once again the together to create a better tomorrow. These
marginalized communities face the most efforts have spawned 25 homes for families,
crushing financial blows. hundreds of home repair projects, multiple
community park enhancements, and various other
A recent report by Forbes Magazine community revitalization builds.
reported that as commodity prices rapidly
rise, cost of living increases from income Our founding members set forth a vision to create
channels including wages, social security, a more equitable community with access to
and disability are slow and often times decent and affordable housing. Over the years, we
stagnant in efforts to keep pace. These have been so very blessed to work and serve in
instances create further hardships for efforts to carry out this mission. Our efforts now
marginalized populations, as they further are placed on assessments to better understand
squeeze budgets and, with often limited how our diverse communities grow and interact,
reserve savings, members of marginalized and we are excited to continually evolve into new
communities are often forced to utilize heights and achievements, all made possible by
high interest quick cash loans, rental each and every passionate heart that serves.
centers, or more often than not, left to go
without.
Interested in volunteering?
Like us on Facebook ---Habitat For Humanity Allegheny Valley & visit us at www.habitatv.org