The culmination of three years of reporting, writing and editing by Assumption College students has come to fruition with the release of the web site Finally Home. This web site and associated book contain the work of two magazine-writing classes at Assumption, both taught by Associate Professor Mike Land. The combined works are dedicated to telling the stories of those involved with Greater Worcester Habitat for Humanity, including family partners, volunteers and staff members. Also included is a history of Habitat for Humanity, both at the local and international levels, as well as additional overview material.

GWHFH is thankful for the dedication of these Assumption College students and Mike's ongoing stewardship.

Greater Worcester Habitat for Humanity is now on YouTube! We have uploaded our informational video, produced in 2007, which gives a great overview of the work done by Habitat for Humanity in the heart of Massachusetts. If you have not seen it at one of our volunteer info sessions, be sure to check it out. Better yet, pass on the link to your friends and family so they can see why you are involved with Habitat.

On March 11, the Sudbury Board of Selectmen approved our proposal to build a duplex at the corner of Dutton and Pratts Mill Roads. Many thanks to the selectmen for moving the Sudbury project a step closer to our anticipated July groundbreaking.

We also are grateful to all the organizations and individuals who spoke in support of the project. They include the Sudbury Clergy Association and its member congregations, the Earth Decade Committee, the Martin Luther King Action Project at Lincoln-Sudbury High School, Metropolitan Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope (MICAH) at St. Elizabeth's Church and several neighbors.

Sudbury public information sessions will be held regularly on the third Wednesday of each month. Check the GWHFH Calendar for the date and location of the next meeting.

On January 22, Pamela Faustine, president of Greater Worcester Habitat for Humanity, and Christopher Ross, president of Habitat for Humanity MetroWest, announced the merger of the two affiliates to be known as Habitat for Humanity - MetroWest/Greater Worcester. Anticipating gains in production capacity and other efficiencies, the action culminates over a year of discussion and planning, leading to the Worcester organization's adoption of MetroWest's service area and business activities. This merger is already bearing fruit as the Sudbury Housing Trust has granted our organization the construction award to develop an affordable housing site in that town.

The combined organizations will be responsible for the development of volunteer-built, affordable housing in the 29 municipalities of Ashland, Auburn, Boylston, Charlton, Framingham, Grafton, Holden, Holliston, Hopkinton, Leicester, Marlborough, Millbury, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Sutton, Wayland, West Boylston, Westborough and Worcester.

The merged entity has already developed 25 affordable homes in the region since 1985. We anticipate the spring completion of our Stowell Avenue duplex in Worcester and the start of another duplex in Sudbury. Additionally, local planners hope to culminate their work with the start of two, single-family homes in Sturbridge by the end of the year.

Look for our new name to propagate through the website in the coming months.

Earlier this year, GWHFH implemented VolunteerHub, an online volunteer management website. This user-friendly site allows us to easily schedule individuals and groups on our work-site.

Individual Build Slots

Individuals can sign up for any build-day that has a SIGN UP button next to it. Slots are typically available approximately two weeks before the build-date. Those who have attended one of our monthly Volunteer Information Sessions should have received a special "Join Code." When you register at VolunteerHub, enter this join code and you will receive access to build-days not yet available to the general public.

Group Build Slots

Group leaders interested in scheduling a day on the work-site should contact Volunteer Coordinator Kat Vriesema-Magnuson (see contact information below). Once a reserve date has been determined, you will be given a Join Code. You may either use this code to register all your volunteers or give the code to your group members so they may register themselves.

After you have registered, VolunteerHub will send you a reminder email three days before your build-day. If you have a last minute schedule conflict and are unable to keep your commitment, please reenter VolunteerHub and release your slot so others may sign-up.

For any questions or problems with VolunteerHub, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Kat Vriesema-Magnuson at katvm@gwhfh.org or 508-799-9259.

With more than 10 institutions of higher learning located in our service area, college students fill an important role among our volunteer base. Having volunteered countless hours on our build sites, on administrative projects and in fundraising initiatives, they are a core part of our mission. GWHFH's College Consortium Committee held its Second Annual Student Stampede for Habitat 5K road race/walk, November 11, to raise money for our Stowell Avenue project. Those involved in planning the event included students from Anna Maria College, Assumption College, Becker College, Holy Cross College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

This year's event had the added feature of a walk, allowing for a wider range of participants. Thirty-seven entrants, including 18 walkers and 19 runners, took part in the event. In addition to local college involvement, the Habitat for Humanity chapters at Nipmuc High School and St. Peter Marian High School got involved.

Worcester State College's Adam Boudreau took first place honors with a time of 18:37 over the 3.1 mile course. Anna Maria College alumna Lisa Savarese was the top female finisher, placing 12th overall in 26:23. Individual male and female age group winners were:

• Adam Boudreau, WSC (under 19 male)
• Francis Song, WPI (20-29 male)
• Lisa Savarese, Anna Maria alum (20-29 female)
• Chris Kardos, unattached (30-39 male)
• Kim Kerr, UMass-Medical School (30-39 female)
• Bob Rentsch, GWHFH (40-49 male)
• Bob Turbidy, GWHFH (50+ male)
• There were no female entries in the under 19, 40-49 and 50+ categories

Earning both team awards for school spirit and top fundraising was the Habitat for Humanity chapter from Nipmuc High School. Led by sophomore Olivia Denn, Nipmuc's team of nine walkers raised $830 for the event. Worcester State College received an honorable mention nod for raising $400. The top three individual fundraisers were: Olivia Denn, Nipmuc HS, $400; Kim Kerr, UMass-Medical, $131; and Megan Armstrong, Nipmuc HS, $110.

"We are thrilled that the student community has come together to fund and build a house for a local family in need," said Pamela Faustine, GWHFH president and race coordinator. "With so many colleges and high schools in the Worcester area, there is a wealth of energy and enthusiasm for community service." Faustine praised Central Mass Striders running club, and Kevin Fallon in particular, who graciously assisted with race planning as well as timing the event.

We are grateful to all who helped make the Second Annual Student Stampede for Habitat a success ~ the participating runners and walkers, the college students and Habitat volunteers who helped organize and run the event, businesses that local sponsored the race, and everyone who donated money to support those walking and running for a great cause. Thank you all for your support!

GWHFH's Project Manager, Bob Turbidy, was recently featured in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette's On the job profiles. Click here to read the full story to learn more about the challenges and rewards of coordinating the work at our building sites.