Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity

Dedication of House #13

techie — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:37:11 +0000

Hello Friends and Volunteers

Sunday July 18, 2010 at 2pm will be the dedication and blessing of house number 13. Please join us in this happy event.

WVHH 5th Annual Appreciation Dinner

techie — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:48:39 +0000

Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity (WVHH) held its Fifth Annual Appreciation Dinner April 29, 2010 at the Chapel in the Hills. Nearly 80 volunteers enjoyed a traditional barbeque dinner from Miss Mae’s. Heather Burgin of Wimberley performed traditional folk and inspirational music for the event

WVHH is completing House # 13 in the area, with the help of homeowner partner family Martha Dietz, and sons, Taylor and Parker Teutsch. Interior painting is well under way on the home and the dedication will be scheduled when the final major work is completed.

The local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International builds one house a year in the Wimberley Valley. Habitat’s mission is to provide affordable, quality housing to selected homeowners , who themselves provide 300 hours of sweat equity as a partner in the building process.

President Brent Pulley recognized the special contribution of a group of volunteers from the Church of Christ . This group traditionally provides a Big Lunch on the Big Build Saturday, when the entire house is framed in a day. Nearly 60 building volunteers turn out for the Big Build, and the volunteers from the Church of Christ feed them well.

WVHH also honored another group of volunteers who are integral to its success. A significant number of people who volunteer at the Village Store donate their time to Habitat. These volunteer hours translate into revenue for building expenses on each Habitat home built in Wimberley.

In addition to the large group of volunteers who come to the Big Build, there is a core of volunteers who work diligently as a small and faithful group to advance the building process from framing to completion. President Pulley recognized this hardworking group, which is ably led by Jim McMeans, Past President of WVHH. McMeans recognized two of these dedicated volunteers for their exceptional service. Max Hawthorne was honored as the 2009-2010 Volunteer of the Year. Darrell Peterson was presented with the “Tough as Nails” award. Peterson, a licensed electrician, has wired ten of the thirteen houses built by WVHH.

More than forty businesses, churches and non-profit organizations provide support for building Habitat homes in the Wimberley Valley. Each part of each home is touched by the generosity of this group. In-kind donations of services, labor and material are a key component of the process. Other businesses, churches and non-profit organizations provide financial support.

Mike Lopez of Habitat Texas was the keynote speaker. Mr. Lopez is responsible for educating Habitat affiliates in sustainable building practices. After spending the afternoon in Wimberley touring Habitat homes, with Board Member, Rick Burleson, local architect who plans the design of WVHH homes; and Anna Fisher, who serves to increase our awareness of recycling and other ways to protect our environment, Mr. Lopez admitted to being duly impressed with the WVHH homes he observed.

WVHH thanks all of those who contribute to the success of Habitat in the area.

Help WVHH by helping at the Village Store!

techie — Thu, 06 May 2010 15:08:18 +0000

The Village Store on River Road donates money that helps build houses for the Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity. Volunteers can just show up, no experience necessary. For each hour worked, Habitat receives money. Volunteers sign in under Habitat. The hours are Monday through Saturday 9-2. The Village Store is open on Thursday night until 7. Each hour worked helps. Please consider volunteering when you can. For additional information call Charlie Fleming at 512-847-2184.

WVHH Volunteer Work Schedule Updates

techie — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:11:44 +0000

06/15/10

Hello Volunteers and Friends. The septic tank for House #13 is set and the lines will be connected next Tuesday. The trenches for the septic lines and the main water supply line were cut this Sunday, 6/13. We are trying to schedule the plumbers for the water line connection and plumbing top-out this coming week. After the septic lines are in place, John will call for an inspection by the County. After the inspection passes, the tank can be backfilled and graded.

Two loads of topsoil will be delivered early in the week so we can begin the front yard landscaping on Thursday, 6/17. We will need to build up about 8″ of soil at the front to insure proper drainage and also to provide soil for the planting beds across the front of the house. We will also need to grade the driveway. When we are satisfied with the driveway grade, will order a load of granite gravel to top the driveway.

After the beds are built, we will purchase purchase and install plants and seed the yard.

There will be lots of work this week, beginning Thursday, 6/17, so if you are available, your help will be appreciated.

06/04/10

Work continues on house 13. This week the trim along the vinyl floor will be installed.

The Village Store on River Road always can use help. Please sign out under Habitat. Each hour works earns money for Habitat’s houses.No experience necessary.

Thank you for all your hard work. It is needed and appreciated.

05/23/10

Martha’s house is on the final stretch. Finish-out of plumbing, floors and the septic system remain, along with grading of the driveway. We are on the path to closing sometime in June. We will keep you advised as to the date of the dedication ceremony, when we would like to have a great attendance to celebrate the start of a new page in Martha and her family’s life.

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05/06/10

House number 13 is nearing completion. There is still a lot of work to be done. The interior and trim need to be painted, shelves and rods installed in closets, and lots of clean up. Please volunteer your time. Your work is appreciated and needed.

04/29/10

This week we need lots of volunteers to help build on the house. We will be doing the following:

1. Installing base board trim throughout the house

2. Installing door trim

3. Painting all trim

4. Installing rods and shelves in closets.

5. Complete painting the interior of the garage.

6. Set pull down stair.

The cabinets/countertops and vanities have been installed by K & J Woodworks. The garage door will be installed on Wednesday by San Marcos Overhead Door. John Strobel will start the septic system installation this week.

Please come by the house so you can see the work that is underway!

04/21/10

This week, Habitat will be installing interior doors and trim. The trim will have to be primed and painted. Window sills and base molding will be installed . The garage needs painting. The closet shelves and rods will be installed, along with the pull down stairs.

Please come out and help finish the 13th Habitat house. Your work is appreciated. Thank you..

04/09/10

This week, Habitat volunteers will be taping and bedding the Sheetrock. Earlier this week, workers had a huge task of moving all the scraps to a trailer, and then to the transfer station. Extra sheetrock also had to be moved so it can be returned to the store. Thank you for all your hard work. Work will continue on the normal work schedule 9 am to 3:30 pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

03/29/10

House # 13 is progressing well. This week workers are installing the Sheetrock. Last week, the foam insulation was installed. We will not need volunteers this week ; but next week we will need workers. An email will be sent out early next week informing volunteers of what work is required. Thank you for all your efforts in building Habitat’s 13th house in the Wimberley Valley.

03/17/10

Work continues on house 13. Jim is away, but we had better not play ! Work begins at 9am, and continues until 3:30 pm. Everybody is welcome, and your work is appreciated.

03/03/10

There is a lot of work to accomplish this week. Habitat will welcome all volunteers. Your work is needed and appreciated.

This week, the second coat of exterior paint needs to be applied, dirt will be spread in the backyard, a 4′x10′ deck will be built at the back door, installation of electrical wiring and exhaust fans will be completed, and a pocket door beside the laundry room will also be installed.

If you would like to volunteer for Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity, but feel uncomfortable working at a construction site, please consider volunteering at the Village Store on River Road. For every hour volunteered for Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity, it receives funds for its building projects. For more information contact Charlie Fleming at 512-847-2184.

02/24/10

Thursday February 25, volunteers will prep and clean the outside and inside of the house to prepare for painting. The wires will be pulled for the electrical, and primer will be applied to all unpainted wood.

Friday February 26, Habitat will obtain the paint and supplies for the exterior of the house. The final prep of the outside will include wrapping the front cedar rails with plastic, taping, and covering exterior windows and the front porch.

Saturday February 27, two coats of paint will be brushed or rolled on the Hardiplank, and two coats of paint will be applied to the trim. Lunch will be provided for volunteers on Saturday.

To get to the site go west on RR 2325 and turn onto Woodcreek Drive. Turn right at the first street El Camino Real, and proceed to the first street on the right, Lomas Verde Trail. Turn onto Lomas Verde Trail and follow it to the house site 8 Lomas Verde Trail.

If you would like to volunteer for Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity, but feel uncomfortable working at a construction site, please consider volunteering at the village Store on River Road. For every hour volunteered for Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity it receives funds for its building projects. For more information contact Charlie Fleming at 512-847-2184.

02/17/10

We are blessed with good weather this week ! Lets get some work finished. Everybody is welcome, and your work is appreciated.

02/10/10

Work on the house is cancelled for Thursday, February 11. ‏Regular work is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 12 and 13. The framing and prep for the outside paint will be completed. The electrical is waiting to be inspected.

02/03/10

The weather will be too wet to work on Thursday. Habitat will work Friday and Saturday, February 5th and 6th. Work begins at 9am, and continues until 3:30 pm. This week, the house exterior will be completed in preparation for paint. The electrical wiring will be finished so the AC and Heat can be installed. Everybody is welcome.

01/26/10

This is a reminder that work days are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Work begins at 9am, and continues until 3:30. Everybody is welcome. Your work is appreciated and needed.

The house is coming along. The electric boxes are in place. the plumbing is partially completed. The tub and shower enclosure will be delivered soon.The remainder of the Hardi plank and trim to the exterior will be installed next.

Thank you to the youth group from Cypress Creek Church. They helped with caulking on Saturday.

01/19/10

This week is back to normal. Habitat will work Thursday, Friday. and Saturday, January 21, 22, and 23. Work days begin at 9am, and continue until 3:30. Everybody is welcome. This week, work will be on the exterior ; installing Hardi siding, caulking, and finishing the soffit. A youth group from Cypress Creek Church will be helping on Saturday.

To get to the site go west on RR 2325 and turn onto Woodcreek Drive. Turn right at the first street El Camino Real, and proceed to the first street on the right, Lomas Verde Trail. Turn onto Lomas Verde Trail and follow it to the house site 8 Lomas Verde Trail.
If you would like to volunteer for Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity, but feel uncomfortable working at a construction site, please consider volunteering at the village Store on River Road. For every hour volunteered for Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity it receives funds for its building projects. For more information contact Charlie Fleming at 512-847-2184.

01/14/10.

Work has been cancelled for Friday and Saturday January 15 and 16, 2010‏ due to wet and muddy conditions. Thanks to volunteers, lots of work was accomplished on Monday and Tuesday. Hardiplank was installed to the exterior!

Work on house #13 will continue Thursday, Friday, and Saturday January 21, 22, and 23.

01/10/10

Habitat is a little behind due to the cold weather. To make up for lost time, work will begin at 10am on Monday January 11, 2010 . On Tuesday January 12, work will begin at 9am. There will be no work Wednesday. Work will resume it’s normal schedule on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday(January 14,15, 16) 9am until 3:30pm.

01/09/09

WORK IS CANCELLED FOR TODAY, 01/09/09, DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR NEXT WEEKS SCHEDULE. THANK YOU!!

01/08/09

Due to the cold weather, the building committee cancelled work for Thursday 01/07 and Friday 01/08. Work will continue Saturday January 9 at 10 am. Everybody is welcome, and help is much appreciated.

Progress continues on House #13

techie — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:37:18 +0000

Below is a photo of the house showing progress of work as of Saturday, November 21st. This includes installation of exterior sheathing, hurricane straps, Tyvek on the front of house, three windows, and start of blocking for foam insulation. Volunteers installed and nailed sheathing and placed “Perma Felt” as a waterproofing cover for the roof. Tuesday and Wednesday a crew from Strobel Construction set the roof tresses, decked the roof, and installed the fascia board.

After taking Thanksgiving week off, work will resume Thursday December 3 through Saturday December 5. Work begins at 9 am and continues until 3:30 pm. All volunteers are welcome each day, especially volunteers who helped on the Big Build.

The following photo was taken on Tuesday November 17:

What a difference a few days makes!! If you would like to help in the transformation, please contact WVHH’s Volunteer Coordinator, Liz Wayland, at ewayland.wvhh@gmail.com. Or if you would like to volunteer for Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity, but feel uncomfortable working at a construction site, please consider volunteering at the village Store on River Road. For every hour volunteered for Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity it receives funds for its building projects. For more information contact Charlie Fleming at 512-847-2184.

Lucky # 13 – Big Build a Big Success

techie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:11:06 +0000

The superstition surrounding Number 13 was given no credence November 14, 2009, as Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity gathered at the future home site of Martha Dietz and her sons Taylor and Parker. Fifty-five volunteers, of all ages and talents, joined hands and hammers to erect the walls of Habitat House #13, located at 8 Lomas Verde Trail. The framing was finished by noon, following a well-orchestrated process, using building leaders and teams of varying sizes to first construct and erect outside walls. The interior walls were framed and erected using the same process. It is an amazing sight to see—a full sized house and garage framed in less than three hours. Facilitating this happening in such a seamless manner was two days of pre-build activity in which every wall was planned, measured, cut and marked by skilled Habitat volunteer builders under the leadership of John Strobel and Jim McMeans, who Co-Chair the Building Committee.

As has been their habit on Big Build Saturday, the Church of Christ provided lunch for the volunteer builders. Sylvia Dinsmore, a church member who initiated volunteering this service, plans with the women of her church for a wonderful spread of sandwiches, chips, homemade desserts, and all of the trimmings, which they have served at the last three of our Big Builds. Pastor Tim Moore and other recruited men help with the heavy lifting as the women serve the large volunteer group.

Lunch was followed by more construction activity. The frame of the house was trued up—plumbed and squared to ensure that subsequent work will be true as well. Then crews began putting up sheathing on the exterior of the house. The workday was completed by 4:00 p.m.

We are so grateful for all of the volunteers who came out to make the Big Build day successful, and for the Church of Christ volunteers who fed us so well. Martha Dietz, our Partner Family, is responsible for earning 300 hours of Sweat Equity to qualify her for home ownership. Friends and Family may contribute 100 of those hours. She was fortunate to have friends sign up to share their hours with her on Saturday. Please consider contributing your hours to her when you come to help during the construction of her home.

Habitat will now begin a regular weekly schedule of work every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with breaks at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. The workday begins at 9 am and ends around 3:30 pm. If anyone is interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Liz Wayland at ewayland.wvhh@gmail.com.

Groundbreaking for Habitat Home #13

techie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:14:35 +0000

Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity has broken ground for Habitat house #13 being built in the Wimberley Valley. The house will be built in partnership with our newest Partner Family, Martha Dietz and sons, Taylor and Parker Teutsch. As Habitat Partners, Martha and her sons are required to contribute 300 hours of Sweat Equity toward their Habitat home. A portion of the hours may be earned with the help of Friends and Family.

At the Groundbreaking on Sunday, October 18, Martha was surrounded with the support of friends and family. The Rev. Bobby Arnold, Pastor of Recovery at Cypress Creek Church, offered a spiritual blessing for this new beginning in the lives of Martha, Taylor and Parker.

Construction is underway, with the foundation in process and a BIG BUILD SATURDAY scheduled for November 14, 2009. Each Big Build is an amazing event. Last year nearly 60 people joined hands and framed house #12 in a single day. Seasoned Habitat volunteer builders work alongside those with less experience to complete such an amazing task. The Community is invited to participate in the building of the Dietz home. If you plan to work, please visit the Safety page of this website and look at our work rules. You may also download the Safety Program Acknowledgement and Liability Release forms that must be signed before you can work at the jobsite.

To get to the build site at 8 Lomas Verde Trail, go 2325 to the Woodcreek entrance. Turn right on Woodcreek Dr., Right on El Camino Real, and Right on Lomas Verde Trail.

3rd Annual Walk 4 Habitat Oct. 24

techie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:02:41 +0000

Bluebird skies and fine temperatures greeted participants of the Third Annual Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity Walk on Saturday, October 24, 2009. The event also featured a Classic Car, Truck and Motorcycle show. The walk originated in the Old Baptist Church parking lot on Old Kyle Road and wound down RR 12 past the Square. Walkers had the option of going up Mill Race Lane or further on to the Wildlife Sanctuary. Over forty people, young and old alike enjoyed the day and the walk. Several walkers brought dogs to enjoy the stroll through Wimberley. For the second year in a row, a number of local car enthusiasts brought antique and classic cars, pickups and motorcycles. Twenty-three owners brought 27 vehicles. WVHH would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the walk and our local Habitat affiliate:

Junkin Law Office,Lutheran Church of the Resurrection,The Davis Moon Project, Stormwater Research Group,Wade & Debbie Wilson, Julie Harris – RE/MAX Wimberley Realtors, Aunt Jenny’s Attic, Larry D. Williams – State Farm Insurance, High Rock Powder Coating, Law Office of Brent H Pulley, Shelton Smith, Attorney at Law, A Studio Z

WVHH thanks all those who walked and participated in other ways to help increase awareness of Habitat for Humanity in the Wimberley Community.

Work starts on WVHH 13th home

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:56:06 +0000

10/2/2009–

The area of the foundation for house #13 at 8 Lomas Verde Trail has been cleared of cedar thanks to Tom McComb and Cedar Removal Specialists. Today the stumps have been removed and pushed aside thanks to John Strobel and his bobcat. The house foundation is ready to start with Scottie Conger of Waterford Homes in charge of that operation. Jim McMeans will get a volunteer over the weekend to help reset the stakes for the back of the house. Then Scottie can begin setting his foundation forms, etc.

Looks like we are off and running if the weather cooperates. The groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively set for Sunday, October 18th.

We still have a lot of cedar to clear and remove from the septic spray field areas – two 50′ diameters behind the house. Tom McComb will check on the continuing availability of the Cedar Removal folks. If they can’t help us, we will schedule a cedar chopping party and get the big shredder from Wimberley Rental and make more mulch.

Family Support welcomes Martha

pastor — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:28:10 +0000

Family Support Committee welcomes our newest Building Partner

The Family Support Committee welcomes our newest Building Partner, Martha Dietz. From left to right in the above photo: Family Support Chair Rev. Jennifer Fuhr, Martha, WVHH President Cookie Hagemeier, Sally Pool, and Barbara Barks.

WVHH will start construction on Martha’s home in October. Martha and her sons Taylor (18) and Parker (12) will be working along with our volunteers to complete her sweat equity hours. WVHH welcomes Martha and her family to our WVHH family as we together build our 13th home in the Wimberley Valley.