Over the past months I have received some very meaningful donations to support our Habitat mission to eliminate poverty housing in Genesee County and I wanted to share a couple with you.  I take this letter out of my desk every week or so and read the simple message,” Just wanted to help someone realize the dream of home ownership while my family tries to buy our first house.  Help the community grow.  Keep up your good work.  It’s not much but maybe it can help.”  Inside this anonymous letter was tucked a ten dollar bill and two ones.  

On a chilly afternoon late in our building season last fall I found myself at the job site.  As many of you know our worksite lunches are often made by loving hands and provided to the volunteers at no charge.  One of the young men volunteering that day handed me a $5.00 bill and said simply, “for my lunch”.  I gently handed it back as I know this young man and I believed his resources to be very thin and this $5.00 didn’t come from his surplus; but looking into his eyes I clearly saw the purity of this heartfelt gift and accepted his mite in the spirit in which it was given.

These two gifts are amongst the most meaningful gifts Genesee County Habitat for Humanity has received.  Our mission has been supported by many generous donors, some small and some very large indeed and as we forge ahead in this unsettling economic period we persevere in faith that all the gifts entrusted to us are converted to the most basic of needs, simple decent shelter, the roots to grow in community. Thank you to all who keep the dream alive.

In 2009 Genesee County Habitat for Humanity will continue to work in partnership in the Grand Traverse Neighborhood in downtown Flint.  Soon we will be breaking ground for our first Youth United home that has been planned and will be built by youth age 5-25. Two homes built in partnership with Thrivent Financial and local Lutheran Churches together contributing close to $130,000 to the project.  Methodist Churches throughout Genesee County will be working together on a home in the neighborhood and Grand Blanc area churches who have cooperatively raised funds and built 9 homes with Genesee County Habitat will be building in Grand Traverse in 2009. All of these projects have been supported by CS Mott Foundation, Ruth Mott Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.  In addition, Isabel Foundation, AG Bishop Trust and Katherine B. Miner Trust have contributed funds to our Grand Traverse Neighborhood project as well. 

Please join Habitat as we join with our homeowners, building their dream.

In Partnership and Peace,

Margaret Kato, Executive Director