November 2020—We hope this letter finds you safe and healthy this holiday season.
To say this year has been challenging is an understatement, but we remain hopeful and continually inspired by our volunteers, supporters and partner families. During these uncertain times, we're doing our best to stay focused on how we can better serve our partner families and the community as a whole, as well as ensuring the safety of our staff and volunteers. We’re wrapping up this season with grateful hearts.
If there's one thing this pandemic has taught us, it's the importance of having a safe and healthy home. On this Giving Tuesday, we're asking for your support in providing affordable housing to those who need it most in our community.
Our affiliate recently purchased land in Silverton, where we could potentially house up to 19 families, but we need your help to make it happen.
Some of the challenges we're facing this season:
INCREASED CONSTRUCTION COSTS:
Because of the pandemic and the recent Oregon wildfires, the cost of lumber and other construction supplies have increased dramatically. According to one of our local suppliers, lumber costs have gone up a staggering 45 percent. This means our homes will be more expensive to build than previous years.
FUNDING GAP:
We rely heavily on income from our ReStores. In fact, our current home build (which remains our top priority) is "the House that the ReStore Built." When the pandemic first hit, we had to close the Canby and Woodburn stores for three months, causing a massive funding gap. The stores are currently open, but with limited hours of operation.
We are incredibly grateful for each and every volunteer and donor. We couldn't do what we do without your help. THANK YOU.
If you are able to contribute financially, please consider making a donation to NWV Habitat this holiday season. At this point, there’s no way to know when the virus will be under control or when the economy will be stable again. One thing we do know is that the aftermath will likely create more need for affordable housing, making the work that we do even more crucial and timely than ever. Thank you for your consideration.
Happy holidays, from all of us at NWV Habitat!
Take care and stay healthy,
Kari Johnsen
Executive Director