HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

University of California - Riverside

Reflections on 2001-2002...

I thank you for putting your time, your effort, and your heart into Habitat, especially in context of our hectic academic and social lives. No matter how small your job was, may it be hammering a nail, cleaning the bathroom, putting up a flyer, or telling a friend about our fundraisers, they all amount to helping a family build a home. Just reflect on how you have helped three families with their homes (Redlands, Colton, and Hemet).

Mother Theresa once said: "We can't do great things, but we can do small things with great love."

I had been fortunate to have been with Habitat for four years. There had been a lot of firsts for us:

first website (actually we have 2)
first to provide shirts for our members
first to establish an account with ASUCR
first to have business sponsors (in fact we have 8: Coco's, Shakey's, Ben & Jerry's, Juice It Up, Krispy Kreme, Sub Station, KGGI 99.1-FM & Archetype)
first to have numerous fundraising events
first to have our fundraisers broadcasted on radio
first to have committees

Sometimes, with all these events and fundraisers, it is easy to lose sight of what Habitat is about. Be proud of being a part of something so simple, ingenious, and revolutionary. Your efforts will not only help that one family but also generations thereafter. Not only does Habitat provide a home, it also gives the families a sense of self-worth and a sense of accomplishment after building their own house.

There always has been a controversy concerning federal welfare, which is stigmatized as "hand-me-downs" because people could easily depend on it.  It is said that it could even worsen their socioeconomic status.  Habitat has provided an alternative solution to decrease the socioeconomic gap by endorsing the idea of a mutual aid society, in which community members support each other socially and financially.  It allows welfare to be taken into the hands of the community, instead of the federal government.

Being with Habitat is helping ourselves build the sort of community and society we and our kids would want to live in. In a world where individualism is rewarded and celebrated, our need for a community, or simply a group of people who cares for us, is often neglected.

Again, thank you for being a part of something so good. I had been blessed to have met, worked with, and known you all, who care so much for each other, for others, and for our future that you were eager to contribute to Habitat's cause.

So...please support Habitat wherever you will be, and may Habitat be close to your heart as it is to mine.

Sheryl Militar
 

Counter

For questions or suggestions, contact esheryl@netzero.net

Modified 06/23/2002 12:44 AM