Richmond ReStore donates Friday sales to Oklahoma tornado victims

Posted on by HabitatAdmin

MEDIA RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          

Contact:

Kristin Vinagro

(540) 903-0577

kvinagro@richmondhabitat.org

http://www.richmondhabitat.org

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Richmond Habitat ReStore donates Friday sales to help those affected by tornadoes in Oklahoma

 

Richmond ReStore logoRichmond, VA (May 22, 2013) — In the wake of the devastating tornados that hit Oklahoma on Monday afternoon and destroyed 2,400 homes and impacted over 10,000 people, the Richmond Habitat for Humanity ReStore is ready and willing to do something about it.  This Friday, May 24th, the Richmond Habitat ReStore will donate all proceeds from sales that day directly to the Red Cross to help victims affected by the tornados.

 

“As the retail operation for a local nonprofit, we understand the importance of giving back to our community.  The devastation that was caused this week is tremendous and they need all the help they can get.  This is the least we can do,” said Stephen Wilson, Vice President of Retail Operations at the Richmond Habitat ReStore, “We invite the Richmond community to join us in giving back this Friday by shopping at our store or donating funds towards the cause.”

 

Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity has also agreed to match the amount raised by the ReStore to send to Red Cross.

 

“If we were in an area affected by such tragic events, we are sure other nonprofit organizations would reach out to help us,” said Nancy Melton, Vice President of Development and Marketing, “We just want to do what we can and let them know they are not alone during this devastating time.”

 

Several Habitat for Humanity ReStores throughout the country will also join in support of the victims in Oklahoma by donating their Friday proceeds.

 

The Richmond Habitat ReStore is located at 1901 Roane Street, Richmond, VA 23222 and will be open 9AM until 5:30PM on Friday, May 24th.  They sell new and used building materials, appliances, furniture, and other home improvement items.

Habitat for Humanity honored for disability inclusion in housing programs

Posted on by HabitatAdmin

ATLANTA (April 29, 2013) – Habitat for Humanity received the 2013 Disability Inclusion Award during a special presentation at InterAction’s annual Forum today in Washington, D.C. InterAction is an alliance of more than 180 U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations that work in developing countries to overcome poverty and improve quality of life.

 

The Disability Inclusion Award recognizes InterAction member organizations that have worked toward greater inclusion in their general activities and operations. The award specifically recognizes Habitat’s programming to promote community living for individuals with intellectual disabilities in Romania, psychosocial support to individuals with mental disabilities in Kyrgyzstan and job skills development and soft loans for businesses in Indonesia.

“Poverty and disability can be a devastating combination and can result in a downward spiral,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “We believe that including people with disabilities in our housing efforts improves both their living conditions and enhances their roles within the community. Having access to proper housing also can provide great relief and reassurance for families and caretakers.”

 

In Romania, the award recognized a Habitat program that created a home where six people with severe intellectual disabilities are able to live together with their peers without being isolated in institutions, providing the opportunity for a degree of independent living. This social protection also forms an important aspect of adapted disaster risk reduction by ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities have access to services following disasters.

 

In Kyrgyzstan, Habitat has partnered with families coping with mental health issues or intellectual disabilities by providing both psychosocial support and home renovations and repairs to heating systems, insulation, roofs, plaster and plumbing.
In Indonesia, Habitat’s community-based disaster management program takes a special focus on identifying vulnerable groups and integrating their specific needs into the community planning. Following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, reconstruction efforts included the development of self-help groups that provided skill development and soft loans for starting business enterprises for individuals with special needs.