Dear Editor;

On behalf of Habitat for Humanity, we thank your newspaper for your continued support of our organization. Stories like Bruce Bartlett’s on Cheryl Green and her daughters, Keesha and Tiffany, warmly and aptly articulate the goodwill, generosity and friendship of community that goes into each foundation of a Habitat for Humanity home.

We thank the many sponsors and volunteers, who gave generously of their time, labour, goods, services or cash. Their caring made a dream come true for Cheryl and her daughters, who, having put many hours of their own labour into their home’s construction are well-deserving of some praise themselves.

A warm thank you goes to our major sponsors: Investors Group; The Greater Saint John Community Foundation; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 502; Strescon; Cavalier Home Construction & Renovation; Classic Construction; Creative Services; Kent; Fundy Engineering & Consulting; W & S General Contractors.

Thanks also to: Heat and Frost Local 131 Insulators Union ; Angus Melanson Ltd.; Campbell_s Plumbing and Heating Ltd., Bayview Credit Union; Paul Hebert; Cox Electronics & Communications; Lawton’s Drugs, 640 Manawagonish Road; Norman S. Sancton & Son Ltd., CEP Local 601-W; Andrew F. Simpson Contracting Ltd.; Stonehard; Thornes; Dobson Chrysler Dodge Jeep; Subway Sandwiches and Salads, McAllister Drive; Subway Sandwiches and Salads, Fairville Blvd.; Captain Submarine, Kane’s Corner; Father Keating, St. Rose’s Church; Gold Star Industries; Atlantic Superstore Deli, Millidgeville; Holly's Pizza Hut; Irving Oil Refinery; Creative Services; Chemistry Lab Atlantic Health Sciences Corp.; Cool Closets Shelving; Xerox; Aluma- # 1386 Workers Weekly 50/50 Draw IOL Refinery; Kelson and Kelson; Hoyt’s Moving & Storage (NB) Ltd.; Rob Scott, Sate Farm Insurance; Thomas J. Zed and Trevor Stagg, Zed and Company.

We must also acknowledge the countless volunteers, too numerous to name, who helped with everything from hammering nails, wielding a paintbrush, crack filling, or providing lunch for the workers on site. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, is greatly appreciated.

As Cheryl, Keesha and Tiffany are packing and preparing to move into their new home, Habitat is looking for applicants for the 2002 build. Criteria for applicants includes: the need of adequate shelter; a willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity in the construction process, by investing hundreds of hours of “sweat equity”; and the ability to repay a long-term, interest-free mortgage.

Applications can be picked up at the reception desk, Investors Group, 1st floor, Mercantile Centre, 55 Union Street or at Holly’s Pizza Hut, 416 Rothesay Avenue. For more information contact: Ken Milner at 635-0995.

Deadline for applications is January 15, 2002.

Thank you once again to our many friends and volunteers, and to your newspaper for your continued support.

Beverly Stears
Chairperson, Public Relations
Habitat for Humanity