Community Involvement

On a cold December day, a group of dedicated, selfless women put on their hard hats and came together as a team to spend the day swinging hammers and working power tools.  They were all a part of Raritan Valley Habitat For Humanity's Woman Build, a program which empowers women to learn new skills while helping to build decent, affordable homes for those in need. 

At the helm of Woman Build stands Kathy Tanaka, program coordinator.  Kathy, a retired schoolteacher, has inspired hundreds of women to step out of their comfort zones, discover new talents and use those talents to help others.   Not surprisingly, Kathy was recently honored as one of the recipients of the 2009 New Jersey Monthly Garden State Seeds of Hope awards.  The awards are held each year to honor individuals who selflessly volunteer their time and efforts to help others in New Jersey.   Congratulations Kathy!

All of the women working on this project; including Kathy, the volunteers and the future homeowners, are contributing to a milestone in the history of the Raritan Valley Habitat For Humanity.  The project they are helping to build is the organization's largest to date - a nine home community in Bridgewater, NJ.  In addition to building the homes, the complex project also involves putting in the street and associated sewer and stormwater infrastructure.  The homes will consist of 4 standard ranches, 2 extended ranches and 3 two-story homes along a cul-de-sac called Dutch Lane.  When complete in 2011, the neighborhood will house nine families comprised of 38 people, including 26 children!

The ambitious undertaking is the first of several large projects planned for the coming years.  In fact, the Raritan Valley Habitat For Humanity has stepped up its goals and nearly doubled the amount of homes it plans to build each year.  To support this effort, the More Homes, More Hope Campaign was launched during the site dedication event for the Dutch Lane project in October.  In attendance at the event were Governor Thomas Kean and Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Honorary Co-Chairs of the More Homes, More Hope Campaign as well as Campaign Chair Judy Lewent, Congressman Leonard Lance and Bridgewater Mayor Patricia Flannery who all spent some time working on the site.

Mr. John is thrilled to be able to lend assistance at such a notable project and is honored to work among the many committed people who lend a hand to help support this important cause.  For more information about the Raritan Valley Habitat For Humanity, please visit their web site at http://www.rvhabitat.org/.