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HBApdx.org
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MARCH, 2013
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UP FRONt
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HBA HOME BUILDING NEWS
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7
ciates having skilled builders and
contractors help out at construc-
tion sites.
“Because a lot of our volunteers
don’t have those skills, it’s very
helpful to have them come and
help out,” she said.
Besides helping out a local fam-
ily, Davis said volunteers who put
time in on a Habitat project expe-
rience other rewards as well.
“You get to work with different
types of people from all across
the community,” she said. “It’s
so diverse, so you have everyone
from HBA members to the family
who will be living in the home
working side by side. To get the
chance to work with a family
that’s never been able to own a
home before, that’s a really spe-
cial thing.”
Habitat ’s free HopeBuilder
Breakfast, coming up this year on
Wednesday, April 24, at the Or-
egon Convention Center, offers
attendees the chance to learn
more about Habitat for Humanity
and the families served by it. Da-
vis said the event is a great event
for anyone considering getting
involved with the organization.
For more information about it,
contact Tracy Matchett at (503)
287-9529. Ext 25 or
tracy@habi-
tatportlandmetro.org.
ReFIT
ReFIT may be a local nonprofit
that offers remodeling services to
help people in need stay in their
homes, but according to Anish
vonAhlefeld, a board member
at ReFIT and active HBA mem-
ber, the organization is looking
for more than just contractors to
help out.
“We need PR people, writers,
marketing professionals, bankers
and lawyers, all kinds of people to
run an organization like this,” she
said. “You don’t have to swing a
hammer to be involved.”
Indeed, vonAhlefeld, who owns
the graphic and web design firm
Huckleberry Resources, lent her
services to ReFIT and built the or-
ganization’s web site.
Yet while ReFIT certainly needs
all kinds of volunteers to do
what it does, its work out in the
field requires skilled contractors
who can complete the kind of
renovations that ReFIT’s target
beneficiaries need. According to
Laurey Maslyk, executive director
of ReFIT, that means contractors
who can build wheelchair ramps,
make bathroom modifications,
install grab bars, widen door-
ways and other similar projects.
Because ReFIT uses donations
and other funding to purchase
supplies, volunteer contractors
don’t usually have to worry about
contributing materials or money.
“That’s what we really look for,”
Maslyk said. “We need people
who can give us their time and
their talents.”
She also said that volunteers
can commit to any level of partici-
pation they choose, from a quick
grab bar install to full project
management on something like
a bathroom remodel.
“They might think it’s a huge
commitment,” Maslyk said, “but it
doesn’t have to be. We will make
the commitment fit whatever you
can do.”
vonAhlefeld said helping out
an organization like ReFIT and the
people it helps can have a huge
effect on anyone.
“Once you talk to people who
have been impacted,” she said,
“you’re changed forever.”
Home Builders Foundation
For HBA members looking to
stay as close to the HBA as they
can with their philanthropic en-
deavors, look no farther than the
Home Builders Foundation.
Founded in 1997 as the HBA’s
charitable arm, the Foundation
focuses primarily on building
transitional shelters for families
in need. Over the past 15 years,
it has created more than 134 new
shelter beds and built more than
$1 million worth of transitional
housing in the Portland area.
The HBF also provides con-
struction-related educational op-
portunities for local students, and
since its inception, it’s awarded
more than $133,000 in scholar-
ships.
“It really is the charity of choice
for HBAmembers,” said Cowdery.
In addition to the projects that
the HBF undertakes, Cowdery
said the Foundation is also an at-
tractive draw for HBA members
because of how closely it is linked
to the HBA. Foundation staff are
in the same office as the HBA,
and the board comprises mostly
HBA members. The HBF recently
added Nicole Bailey to its staff
and she, along with Cowdery and
Brenda Ketah offer plenty of sup-
port to members working with
the Foundation.
Members looking to get in-
volved with the HBF can do so
through a range of avenues, from
Builder Captains to in-kind do-
nations of supplies and labor to
volunteering for Painting a Better
Tomorrow, the Foundation’s an-
nual shelter spruce-up day. The
Foundation also sponsors fund-
raising events throughout the
year, from a summer party at the
NW Natural Street of Dreams and
the annual auction in April to its
wildly popular fall trap shoot.
“It’s really easy to get involved
with us and give back,” Cowdery
said.
The HBF’s annual auction and
gala celebration is coming up on
Friday, April 5. Find out more on
page 8 of this issue of the Home
Building News.
Organizations:
Members do good things through community projects
Continued from page 1
ater Environment
e seeking partici-
ent practices and
ndards, plus Hill-
Get involved
Want to get involved with
any of the organizations pro-
filed? It’s easy — and starts
with just a little research.
Home Builders
Foundation
buildhopepdx.org
or call (503) 684-1880
Habitat for Humanity
Portland/Metro East
habitatportlandmetro.org
or call (503) 287-9529
ReFIT
refitportland.org
or call (503) 698-8382