Habitat for Humanity, Garland County, Arkansas

New Board Members

(Seated left to right) Elizabeth Farris, Carla Thibodeaux,
(Standing left to right) J. David Gardner, Steve Trusty, and Mike Ferguson.

Shaw Habitat Village Blessing Service

As a part of their commemoration of 100 years of service to the community of Hot Springs, St. John the Baptist Catholic church is sponsoring a home in the new Shaw Habitat Village on Juniper Street. On a glorious and sunny Saturday morning, April 12, Father T.J. Hart conducted a blessing of the property where the home is being built. Participating in the blessing service were members of the church, along with board members and friends of the GCHFH affiliate. After the impressive service, members of the Social Justice committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Hot Springs served a bountiful brunch at the site for volunteers and participants in the ceremony. The Habitat projects chair of the Social Justice committee is Dorothy Clark.

Left Photo: Blessing Service -Sue Ann Albers, interim director for the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, stands to the left of the sign identifying the home being built in Shaw Habitat Village by the members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Behind the sign are volunteers from the church who will help construct the home. Dr. Clint Henson ( behind the sign on the right) a member of the centennial committee for the church, welcomed guests. Immediately to Dr. Henson’s left is Father T.J. Hart who performed the blessing of the property.

Right Photo - GCHFH Interim Executive Director Sue Ann Albers (far right) introduces the family who will inhabit the home: Habitat Partner Tequila Summerville (second from left), daughter Marquita, age 15, and sons Aleric (age 1) and Rongerald (age 9).

Get Involved - The Carpenter Club of Garland County Habitat for Humanity

THE CARPENTER CLUB CAMPAIGN FOR SHAW HABITAT VILLAGE IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY

It’s the easiest –best way to make a substantial contribution over time. The ultimate goal is to fund a Habitat home before the completion of Shaw Habitat Village in late 2009. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

Ground Broken for Shaw Habitat Village

Ground breakings for the first new home and the village itself took place Jan. 26 with two ceremonies at the beautiful new development site.

Fog, mud, rain dripping from trees and cold temperatures did not interfere with the enthusiastic ground breaking taking place Jan. 26 as GCHFH administrators, Southern Bancorp executives and Elk Horn Bank dignitaries, along with representatives of the Chester Shaw family gathered to inaugurate the latest Habitat Village in Garland County, Shaw Habitat Village, made possible by a donation of land from Chester Shaw and family. This newest village will be located at the end of Juniper Street off Whittington Avenue atop a most breaktaking hill bordered by National Forest land and overlooking Linden Park.

Pictured to left: GCHFH Building Supervisor Gordon Hegg, Lacy Shaw, Toni Shaw, Alan Sing, CEO of Elk Horn Bank Bill Wright, CEO of Southern Bancorp Phil Baldwin, and Jim Ferguson. Right: Lacy Shaw, Toni Shaw, Walt McFatridge, Gordon Hegg and Patrick McCruden. Ground was first broken for the next house to be built for a GCHFH Partner Family. Following that ceremony was another groundbreaking for the Village itself.

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Coast to Coast Walk Across America

Dick Mattson and John Goodman display banner designating their courageous trek for Habitat.

In an amazing leap of faith and courage, Dick Mattson, dedicated GCHFH volunteer, and Executive Director John Goodman began an history making Coast to Coast Walk to promote the ideology of Habitat for Humanity beginning March 19. The pair set out from San Juan Capistrano, California and aim for completing 16 miles per day, five days a week in the ensuing nine months. Their walk will end at Brunswick, Georgia.

The men's wives, Ruth Goodman and Carol Mattson, are following the walking pair in their RVs, traveling to campgrounds nearby for each night's stay. While along the route the two men will address every civic and religious organization who wants to hear their message concerning the philosophy of the hammer: eradication of substandard housing in America.

Click Here to View Trip Log, John Goodman Blog and Photos of the Walk

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Annual Soup Supper

Volunteers of Year 2007: Ralph and Marvin Davis An - During the festivities at the Annual Soup Supper at the home of Helen and John Selig, Executive Director John Goodman announced the recipients of the award for Volunteers of the Year 2007. It was an award well deserved as Marvin and Ralph have been faithful volunteers with GCHFH since its inception in 1996.

Spindler steps down as Construction Chair - Also recognized during the evening was retiring Construction Chair Bob Spindler who gave loyal service to the affiliate for 11 years. "Bob's fingerprints are on every house we have built," said Executive Director John Goodman. Bob will be sorely missed.

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Wheatley Village Dedicated

Wheatley Habitat Village is now complete with 15 proud new homeowners. Dedication for the village was on Feb. 26, 2008, with Karen and Ken Wheatley, who donated the property for the village in attendance. Also participating in the day's events were the family of Lynn Kuykendall in whose honor the picnic area of the development was named. Check this link for stories about our newest families and their home dedications.

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New Partner Families

Five more families became proud homeowners in Wheatley Village. Click here to see pictures and stories of Partner Family Dedications.

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