The ReStore is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
The ReStore is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
The store will open its doors at our new location beginning TUESDAY, AUGUST 27 at 1oAM
70 Fuller Road Albany, NY
We have twice the retail space, better parking and even more incredible deals on furniture, appliances, building materials and more. Look for our exciting NEW product lines like AmeriWood cabinets & Valspar interior paint.
Looking to donate items to the ReStore?
Please call 275-6638 for information or to schedule a pick up.
St. Rose has ‘Urban Launch’ on Multiple Habitat Sites
Incoming first year students from the College of St. Rose in Albany volunteered on site in Fox Hollow today and then gathered for lunch at the Sheridan Hollow work site as part of their Urban Launch program.
(Above: St. Rose first years and their leaders get ready to volunteer in Fox Hollow).
Urban Launch is one of St. Rose’s “Pathway Programs” offered to incoming students. Their other programs include Adventure Challenge, ALANA, and Arts Encounter. Students participating in these programs were welcomed onto campus this past Wednesday, 3 days earlier than all other students, giving them time to unpack and meet other incoming first years. That is- if they have time. Urban Launch participants have already volunteered with the West Hill Community Center, St. Anne’s, Damien House, and the Capital City Rescue Mission! This program allows students to get involved with their community and give back.
Colleen Cavanaugh is in her second year of graduate school at St. Rose and has taken a leadership role in planning this years Urban Launch. As an undergraduate student at St. Rose Colleen was involved with the Urban Launch program and she is now the Graduate Assistant in the Community Service Office. Students are able to be involved with this program after freshmen year by becoming “Student Leaders” (sophomores) and “Urban Launch Chairs” (Juniors). Today in Fox Hollow we had a good mix of first years, Student Leaders and Chairs which made for a fun and productive morning.
Left: Student Leaders and Urban Launch Chairs help organize first year students while on site in Fox Hollow.
After volunteering on the Troy site, the Urban Launchers headed to Sheridan Hollow for some lunch. The students were joined by Habitat staff Christine Hmiel (Director of Development), Sara Rising (Development Associate), Melissa Moore (Albany Volunteer Coordinator), and Mandee Nann (Troy Volunteer Coordinator) to discuss the plans for Sheridan Hollow and answer any questions they had. Students were able to see the neighborhood actually ate lunch on the ground where we will be starting Phase 1 of Sheridan Hollow. The first year students who continue to volunteer with Habitat will be able to see our largest project to date develop over the course of their college career.
(Above: St Rose first years learn about Sheridan Hollow).
(Above: Habitat staff share pictures and information about Sheridan Hollow with St. Rose students. From left: Melissa Moore, Sara Rising and Christine Hmiel).
Thank you for all of your volunteer efforts St. Rose students- we can’t wait to have you on site in Sheridan Hollow!!
RPI Back on Site in Fox Hollow!
First year students from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) are back on site today in Troy for RPI’s Navigating Rensselaer and Beyond Event! For this event students are able to “try on” the clubs and extra-curricular activities that RPI has to offer. Students can pick from organizations including Ballroom Dance Club, Chess Club, Bowling Club and many more. Today we welcome the 15+ students who were interested in learning more about RPI’s Habitat for Humanity Club.
This group was lead by RPI’s Habitat for Humanity Club President, Carla Toland. Carla is a senior at RPI majoring in Electrical Engineering. She started with the Habitat Club her first year at RPI, became the Vice President of the club Sophomore year and is going into her second year as club President this year. She originally found out about Habitat for Humanity in high school but really became involved her first year at RPI, “…I like getting the concept of Habitat for Humanity better known on campus…”. She has been able to do this by taking a leadership role in the club.
Among the volunteers today was also Joe Vantassel, a sophomore at RPI majoring in Civil Engineering. Joe is the Build Coordinator for the Habitat for Humanity Club and also became involved with Habitat in his first year at RPI. The Habitat for Humanity Club was a natural fit for Joe as he ran his own landscaping company for four years and also worked as a Construction Inspector before attending RPI. Joe says he likes “…that we are able to plan as a small group but able to get a large group to volunteer on site, it’s easy to get people to come out”.
Savanna Fielder (a first year from Georgia) joined the volunteer group in Fox Hollow today, however, she is not new to Habitat for Humanity. She volunteered a few times in Statesboro, GA while working with the Beta Club there. Savanna plans on becoming a Civil Engineer and is already committed to the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). Upon graduation she will complete 4 years of active duty for the Marine Corps. When asked why she chose the Habitat for Humanity Club today she said, “I like doing stuff like this because my dad is a carpenter and I’ve grown up helping him around the house and always enjoyed ‘Bring Your Kid to Work Day”.
We so rely on our surrounding schools and colleges for support and we look forward to another great year of RPI students helping us build safe, decent, affordable homes in the Capital District. Thank you RPI!
Times Union & Spotlightnews Announce Our Homecoming!
The Times Union and Spotlightnews interviewed Dave Harrion, the manager of the Habitat ReStore and Mike Jacobson, the Executive Director about the move from 454 North Pearl Street to our new locations. The ReStore moved to 70 Fuller Road in Colonie and Habitat Headquarters re-lcoated to 200 Henry Johnson Boulevard.
The ReStore is double the capacity, which means more amazing deals! Doors are expected to mid-August.
Check out the TU story here!
Check out the Spotlightnews story here!
CEO’s Foster Grandparent Program Makes a Difference in Fox Hollow
Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) Youth Build participants have joined us on site for another session but with a new face this year! Carlton Jenkins is one of CEO’s Foster Grandparents and has been volunteering in Fox Hollow alongside Youth Build participants for the past two weeks.
The Foster Grandparent program has been in operation at CEO since 1976 and now serves nine counties and hundreds of youth each year. The program allows participants to earn a stipend for volunteering anywhere from 15 to 40 hours a week, helping youth to learn and grow through fun and educational activities.
Above: Carlton with Youth Build participants on site in Fox Hollow.
Carlton originally learned of the program by reaching out to CEO’s staff at their soup kitchen. When he presented them with his resume, it was clear where he would fit in perfectly. Carlton has 40-plus years of plumbing and 25 years of engineering (to name a few) under his belt. While he has not worked directly to teach this specific age group, he is picking up quickly, “I love it…I have a lot of grand-kids and I respect them…you have to talk to them very diplomatically and respect them”, he says. In Fox Hollow, Carlton is able to lead a group of participants in projects like painting and sheetrocking.
Youth Build’s staff agrees that Carlton is a huge asset to them. Frank Drzewiecki, Youth Build’s Occupation Skills Track Assistant, said, “…he’s here early everyday and shows up on his days off…he takes a small group of kids and teaches them…”. This helps the staff keep the group numbers lower and gives the participants a better atmosphere to learn in.
If you would like to learn more about the Foster Grandparent opportunity, or other volunteer opportunities at CEO, please check out their website: http://www.ceo-cap.org/services/education-opportunities/foster-grandparents/.