FW: blog

#veterans day..how we live, how we roll, how we move, with freedom, to speak, move around and exist.

This becomes our challenge..for our Vets, who return often with no job, no homes…we are blessed to know today we dedicate two homes for Mike and Nikki and Jeff and Tara, to live and have family lives with the dream of home ownership of habitat…

Mike and Nikki were in Afghanistan, met as marines, returned to Nikkis birth In Yonkers…they heard about us thru our band leader Will, who lives in the hood..who knew we needed homes for families.  Chosen, great parents, Mike working as an electrician, Nikki a nurse….their lives changed forever in what we call Battle Hill….the battle for Veterans to take it back to help to make it work.

I remember the reverence we had for  our uncles in WW2 , who fought in Anzio and overseas…three brothers of my mother all who served. I remember the day we got the call my cousin had died Michael….who served in Vietnam.  I remember my cousin, a prisoner of war and hero, who came back and started a drivers school…..I remember visiting the graves of all of them, Memorial day..and the remembrances of freedoms….

I also remember being in countries where I felt unsafe…helping to rebuild and returning to freedom, to life and love.

With that in mind, we celebrate every veteran today.

Ivan and his family

Mike and his family, our next vets applying for homes. we remember Arthur a WW 2 vet who we rehabbed his house in Hurricane Sandy areas….we continue…..

May God bless every vet with a home and a job…may we take no freedom for granted..may the centurions of great faith the bible spoke of lead and love all of us in freedoms and may we remember each one of them and pray for them today….and then act to help them. Please donate to our Vets initaitives today http://www.habitatwc.org

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

Poverty, because it’s not just in third world Countries. It’s in our world too. 

War on Poverty; Walk for Homes Sunday, Novermber 2, 2014

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

Habitat for Humanity Westchester NY - 25 Years

Spring into action; the next 25 years!

 

 

 

 

FW: blog

A rainy day, but God works..and so don’t our volunteers…these are the days when I see the #retirees helping that amazing things  happen…our HOPES retirees…The biggest exchange of retirees in history is happening…and they love to #volunteer with us..what an honor and a blessing…

Their wisdom, their hands, their sweat equity, like Rich and Lee and Big Tom and Mary and Ron, and Donald, Sue, and Norma..and all the gang..their contribution is invaluable…no question.

With that in mind we continue we celebrate, we honor them, we bless them, we t hank them.

They worked in the rain today..on two #Vets families…homes today..two marines who served in harms ways…

What an honor to see them work so hard for #Veterans families…what an honor it is to write about them.

Please contribute to our cause, more homes await our rehabbing them..for the sake of lives, neighborhoods and the American way!--

 

FW: blog

Plutocracy development…a new term I coined…that is really the way we see all our towns and cities developing..what about seniors, vets, working people…what about ownership by the people, for the people, not the developers and politicians…

Part of it is the way the system is gamed…tax credits don’t increase taxes , increase kids in the school system, and don’t create a long term intergenerational new York…then why do we believe it..who is making out…the plutocracy, the marketing to other wealthy countries, the areas that are being gentrified, and the models of perpetuating poverty, that have not empowered people to live with dignity.   Its time for change…join us in our WarOnPoverty Walk for homes now, this Sunday….two miles, and for those that want to walk with me from yonkers more…see our website.. God bless you..change is coming…

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

Poverty, because it’s not just in third world Countries. It’s in our world too. 

War on Poverty; Walk for Homes Sunday, Novermber 2, 2014

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

Habitat for Humanity Westchester NY - 25 Years

Spring into action; the next 25 years!

 

 

 

 

FW: blog

2^nd anniversary of Sandy…surreal, tragic, hope for a better tomorrow, sad, grateful…for so many who are helping.

We work with volunteers from Credit Suisse,today on Breezy point sandy homes…helping to make sure that another family gets closer to getting in..

The power of one…I think of it often..the power of one volunteer day, volunteer group, one home being finished…one day in giving..

It is with great gratitude to all the groups who have helped us ..in the power of one, helping so many lives be changed…

I think of my friends from Fordham,Sai,  from Israel Aid, from Bank of America, from Goldman, from Holy Child, from Stacy to Allie, to big Tom and Norma to all who helped…to Sesh, and the team….so many helped me to lead this charge, the charge to change the way we live, to save lives, to help families survive…and have a new life.

Thank you to all who helped..to the many families I cried with celebrated with, worked with …..being helped to work with us and realize we are all one NY, one family…due to Sandys wrath great things have happened. We  have much work to do now…

FW: blog

A great day no question…today we work on so many things, always amazed at what we do..

One week from today is the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy too..so many things..

Today I announce 10/22/ rebuild america day, rebuild NY day…why not! It makes sense.today I am honored to speak at

Insitutional investors, and to 80 companies..ab out getting involved…..amazing.. thank you II..

These companies, like yours have the power to change the world, a neighborhood a community..and their own lives at the same time..when will you step up no matter how large or small…

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

Poverty, because it’s not just in third world Countries. It’s in our world too. 

War on Poverty; Walk for Homes Sunday, Novermber 2, 2014

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

Habitat for Humanity Westchester NY - 25 Years

Spring into action; the next 25 years!

 

 

 

 

FW: blog

Next week we put on Solar Panels on two more homes..amazing..

Along with that we get ready for our #WaronPoverty Walk for Homes..

This event will take us to a different level..helping to make recognition that there are so many without homes ..so many living in substandard housing..incredible.

A mother came in crying…”there is no kitchen, no working light, ceiling crush down and life wires from the fixer are exposed..Apartment is infected by mice.”  It continues..this in #NewRochelle…it becomes harder and harder for us to be able to hear these stories..but we are getting our second wind, our fight, our voice…where are all the voices that should be speaking…about moms and kids and families and homes…..

Luxury development is not needed….any more..the numbers of people who need homes here is unbelievable..

Its time! Join us in our #WaronPoverty Walk for homes NOW…ITS TIME!  GET OUR PLEDGES, pledge my ten mile walk for homes…Nov 2^nd..

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

Poverty, because it’s not just in third world Countries. It’s in our world too. 

War on Poverty; Walk for Homes Sunday, Novermber 2, 2014

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

Habitat for Humanity Westchester NY - 25 Years

Spring into action; the next 25 years!

 

 

 

 

FW: blog

Each second is gift…we are blessed to help , all over the world and here..

On this Columbus day, I celebrate Italian heritage Spanish heritage, Indian heritage..

After all they were here first..

I just ate at Esquina El Salvador….pulpusas sir..no gracias..but beans, and juevos y mas..

I remember Easter Week going to El Salvador, helping with earthquake victims there…having gone with Habitat and a team…

An interesting country, beautiful , we stayed in Sonsonate, while others worked in Salvador, el capital…

Houses were rocked, devastated, the whole time, I mixed concrete..all I did…mas mexcla more mix, more concrete mix..

Pouring water, mixing, it was what we did…

To help someone have a home, love in the mortar joints as one of millards books stated, the founder and friend..

Donde vive, I ask the mujer at the counter..Portchester….

I remember machine guns, outside the doors of our place we ate…protecting us…have you ever had to be protected by machine guns…

Seeing places like that, I understand why people want to live in Portchester, or Ny, or anywhere but…     tu quiere un mas Bueno vida….you want a better life..

So heres to Italy, and El Salvador, and Mexico and Ireland..and America….i had no machine guns outside the restaurant, just great food, and now off to our new Restore…bendiciones! Viva America!!!!!! Viva Salvador..gracias a Dios para todo!

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

Poverty, because it’s not just in third world Countries. It’s in our world too. 

War on Poverty; Walk for Homes Sunday, Novermber 2, 2014

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

Habitat for Humanity Westchester NY - 25 Years

Spring into action; the next 25 years!

 

 

 

 

FW: blog

Last nite as I returned back from Brooklyn from one of my #Sandy staffs moms wake..i remember getting lost on the same street, early after Sandy, as I tried to figure easier roads to return.

The road was flooded, desolate..like a  Halloween movie..

With that in mind..i remember how hard we worked and still worked..i sat down with Sesh and Tom too of my diehards for Sandy relief..Sesh my main construction manager, and inspiration…

And Big Tom, our Hopes retiree who went out for 20 months…as I went to pay the bill, the woman said thank you for all you do….thank you..for being here….so many still are not in..

Two years later…so many still are not in..

I called Tom McCarthy of breezy point…Tom…how are you man…he said Jimmy boy, we need to meet, your idea that Biden and Cuomo took, we  need to get the National Disaster university going….

On Jan 24, 2013 proposed a National Disaster University be created…at Suny Purchase the last speaker…to speak and the only one Ch 12 interviewed….i proposed with Cephan Kim interviewing me later..in front of the now defunct Moreland commission, and commission that has been damaged for lack of credibility…that a university be created…stay tuned….Gov and Vice Pres Joe..credit needs to be given where credit is due….

More important..no matter what party, both sides have not the capability nor the wsdom yet for recovery….16000 families still now in….unacceptable…..

Its time..stay tuned for my #Sandy special shows coming up…..

 

Yesterday our retirees helped us….and joined me for lunch..once a month we are joined…

We move ahead..we are blessed with so many who help us…the retirees with wisdom, financial support, sweat equity, families services and more are always there……God bless you!

Our work continues at our new Restore/greencenter/disaster center… with that in mind our grand opening is Oct 2^nd…join us!!!!!!!!!!

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

Poverty, because it’s not just in third world Countries. It’s in our world too. 

War on Poverty; Walk for Homes Sunday, Novermber 2, 2014

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

Habitat for Humanity Westchester NY - 25 Years

Spring into action; the next 25 years!

 

 

 

 

FW: blog

Each second in life is gift..no question.

With that in mind, we pray, we work, we breathe, we are blessed..in all we do..

Tony lost his home in a fire, we are helping him, met he and his family at 1030 at nite with the Alvarez..they have been taken advantage of, but we will fight..initially the landlord

Asked me to raise money for them, while he has made thousands upon thousands on them over the years…unacceptable..

We hit the ground running, like our troops did and still are doing in #Sandy relief..no question..

It is time, for us to change the way new York rolls….75 percent of nyc is surrounded by water..

The sound shore by ocean…hudson valley, well by the Hudson river, saw mill, Bronx river etc..with waters rising we have to build more resilient.we are there.

To that end..its time to redesign ny green, robert moses would not be happy, but his car happy highway happy overdevelopment usually through minority neighborhoods,

Causes much problems asthma and overdensity.

But we can change this..we can grow food, urban gardens, solar roofs, urban green hoods..NMU and yes its good to be in the hood!its time…

 

 

 

Jim Killoran, Executive Director

Habitat for Humanity of Westchester

524 Main Street, New Rochelle NY 10801

(914) 403-4821

 

Poverty, because it’s not just in third world Countries. It’s in our world too. 

War on Poverty; Walk for Homes Sunday, Novermber 2, 2014

 

"Like Us" on Habitat for Humanity of Westchester Facebook!

 

Habitat for Humanity Westchester NY - 25 Years

Spring into action; the next 25 years!

 

 

 

 

FW: blog

On 911 the world was changed forever this 911 past week we had 300 volunteers, so grateful! From all over they came, from Greenwich, and Horace Mann and Goldman Sachs, and Avalon…from M and T Bank and Hastings high school and more….amazing..so much work done..then we culminated with a day of our Young #Vetsclub working and celebrating each second together with a cookout in Battle  Hill…amazing!

With that in mind we continue, we are blessed to work to continue our Vets homes….we are blessed to move in five more Sandy families, we are blessed to live with freedoms  and love and life….its time to help…email relief@habitatwc.org to get involved, and please make a donation today!

God bless America!