Happy Holidays from Habitat!

From all of us at Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County we wish you happy holidays and a wonderful new year!

We love holiday hats around here, evidence below. We took two volunteer recognitions as opportunities to break out not only the Santa hats but also an Elf hat.

Santa hats in the ReStore!

Thanking Bill for all of his hard work. Hours worked: countless.

Roby's going away cake timed well with the holidays!

Showing off our matching fleeces!

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree that is!

We at Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County love to share cool ways that people, companies and cities are helping Habitat complete the mission of providing safe, decent, and affordable housing. If you're like us and you love seeing the big Rockefeller Tree each Christmas, you'll love this story: 

The 2010 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will help build a Habitat for Humanity home

NEW YORK CITY (Dec. 23, 2010) The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree will be donated to Habitat for Humanity for the fourth consecutive year to help build a simple, decent and affordable home.

After the holiday season, the 78th annual Christmas Tree will be milled into lumber in Rockefeller Plaza. The lumber will be used for the framing of exterior walls of a home built by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh, located in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York, near the community of Mahopac where the tree grew.

"The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a symbol of the holiday season for millions of people across the country and around the world," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "Habitat for Humanity is both humbled and proud to have an ongoing role in this great tradition, and with the help of volunteers, we will see that the lumber is put to good use to bring hope to a family in the form of better housing."

Habitat used the 2007 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lumber to help build a home in Pascagoula, Miss., in partnership with a Hurricane Katrina survivor. Lumber from the 2008 tree was used to help build shelving in a multi-unit building constructed by Habitat for Humanity New York City. The 2009 Rockefeller Christmas tree lumber was used in the construction of a home in Stamford, Conn.

Fun slideshow of this years Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: habitat.org/photogallery/2010/Rockefeller/index.html

New Property Acquired!

Don't put your hammers and nails down just yet. Encouraged by the success of the San Pascual site, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County closed escrow on December 15th on property which will be the future site of twelve new Habitat low-income homes. As you may recall, our dedication ceremony for the San Pascual homes was on December 14th. Yes, just one short day later we closed escrow on the next property. We don't let any time waste around here!

We were able to purchase this property, located on Canon Perdido near Milpas Street, with a generous loan from the City of Santa Barbara. We are eager to get to work on this larger project and are humbled and grateful for the support of the entire community. Stay tuned for more information as we move ahead with our third major home-building project.

We would not have been able to acquire this new property without the dedication and support of so many. Their dedication to the mission and vision of Habitat will help us provide housing for an even lager number of local families in need. 

More San Pascual home dedication photos

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Well without the snow and with plenty of rain! If you're bundled inside this week, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County has some more pictures from our lovely dedication ceremony to keep you entertained.

One thing we're especially thankful for is that our dedication ceremony was last week and not in the middle of this deluge that the central coast is currently wading through. Wow this is a lot of rain! Thankfully the San Pascual site has excellent drainage (yep, we checked!) 

The lucky few that got seats!

Garden table and chairs in the common area.

Always a fun time at the Habitat site!

Special thanks to Steve Hanson Landscaping for the gorgeous work. As you'll see above, the landscaping fits in beautifully with the aesthetic of the homes.  We would also like to thank the following companies for their support: Peikert Group Architects; Mike Gones, civil engineer; David Black, landscape architect; Ashley & Vance, structural engineers; Schipper Construction; Terra Firma Equipment; Gordon-Fiano Framing; Doug Mershon Electrical; Leonard Roofing; Estrada Plumbing; AC Ramirez Flooring; Ben Ewart Construction;and David Chase Construction. 

And special thanks to Robby Guevara for the above photos. Thanks Robby!

Dedication Ceremony

On Tuesday, December 14th, Habitat for Humanity dedicated the four new homes at 618 San Pascaul Street and handed over keys to the new homeowners. These four homes were built in partnership with Habitat's volunteers, donors, corporate partners, churches, and organizations. Please join us in welcoming the Do Carmo Family, Escamilla Family, Trujillo Family, and Ortiz Family to their new homes.

Hugh Davis introducing the Partner Families and Mentors to the crowd

Ribbon Cutting with Major Helene Schenieder

L: new homeowner Mauricio Trujillo, R: new homeowner Gabriel Escamilla with Site Supervisor Phil Archenbronn

ReStore Assistant Manger with volunteers Charlie, Betty and Bob celebrating after the ceremony.

Photo courtesy of Robby Guevara

ReStore manager Ruairi Bateson with Site Supervisor Phil Archenbronn

These homes were built in partnership with Habitat for Humanity's volunteers, donors, and partners. Thank you for making dream of homeownership and reality for four deserving and hardworking families in Santa Barbara.