We are excited about our next project - a duplex located on Madison Street in the City of Frederick.

One of the homes is going to be our first Women Build project.    Habitat International started the Women Build program in 1998, and has since empowered women in their communities to build more than 1,650 homes within 30 countries around the globe.  This program empowers women everywhere to address poverty housing for themselves, their families and their neighbors.

Our Women Build partner (homeowner) comes to Frederick with an incredible story of surviving Hurricane Katrina.    Deborah Gilbert comes from Eastern New Orleans.  Living in an apartment complex when the hurricane hit, she picked up what she could carry and walked with many of her neighbors to the University of New Orleans to find relief. Deborah's journey began by foot, then bus and plane to arrive in Maryland in hopes of a better future.  Deborah now begins a new journey, the journey of homeownership and place to call her home.  Deborah has a strong faith in God and realizes that this is part of God's plan. She has been waiting patiently for her home since early 2007, her faith has carried her through the wait and now the excitement and joy.  Please visit Deborah's First Giving page at http://www.firstgiving.com/deborahgilbert

The second half of the duplex will become home to Marialva DeMatos and her two teen aged daughters.  Marialva is from Brazil and became a very proud American citizen just a little over a year ago.  She is employed by Health Families Frederick and works with Spanish speaking clients from the Heartly House, advising them on Childhood nutrition.  Marialva has plans for an organic garden in her back yard and wants to teach her new neighborhood about organic gardening and simple ways to be 'Green" ( it will be her way of giving back to the community and volunteers who will help build her home).  She is an accomplished photographer and is an ardent supporter of our earth.

Once we reach $125,000, we can start construction.   We have more and more “in kind” donations coming in from local contractors, and we should be able to kick off this project this summer.

We thank our many sponsors for their generous support :

      Citi 
     Women’s Giving Circle
     Freddie Mac
     Nancy Tome & Computer Associates
     All Saints Episcopal Church
     Frederick Lions Club
     Lowes
     JP Morgan
     Randall Charitable Trust
     Tri-State Home Services, LLC (Heating and Cooling plus all labor to
        install as well as Solar Hot Water System Installation)
     Sim’s Landscaping
     Carpenters Club Members

Children who visited the Habitat for Humanity ReStore Activity Table this past First Saturday acquired basic construction skills and left the event as licensed future Habitat for Humanity volunteers. Organized by the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the month’s theme was “Go Green”, and featured various reuse and recycling family activities.  In an effort to increase awareness about the importance of repurposing, the ReStore provided pictures with tips and ideas on renovating affordably and conscientiously. Children also had fun building and deconstructing model sheds and even learned the two-hand method for using screwdrivers.

Established in January of 2008, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a nonprofit reuse center that provides major funding for our local Habitat for Humanity by selling donated home improvement materials and home furnishings to the public. With an estimated 300 tons of usable materials diverted from the landfill each year, the ReStore is also a tool for environmentally conscious people.

Easter flower orders are being taken until March 24^th.   The flowers/baskets will be available for pick up at Fox Realty (470 West Patrick Street, Frederick) on Saturday, April 3^rd from 9:00AM – 3:00PM and Sunday, April 4^th from 9:00AM – 2:00PM. Delivery is available for orders of $50 or more.