Somedays i think i could day in a minute and would be so happy with Gods gifts to me in my life..Habitat being a major part of it..so many people appreciate what we do...from Leslie and Dave and Phoebe and Laura and a woman who came into our Restore tonite to say Bendiciones congrads and Feliz..to our family member who said thank you to a supervisor a Lions leader and an architect....God just gives me so much...Kevin, now a construction manager in Bridgeport, worked as an intern and a summer, came to New Orleans with me, and now is doing great having graduated Providence College..at Bridgeport Habitat...Chris is back from Washington for the campaign being done, and a lawyer now, wants to talk tomorrow..my son comes in to help with the Restore tomorrow and understands the importance of giving back...and even abuilding inspector calls reminding me of things a staff needs to complete and i am so grateful...daily we have so much, daily God writes a new Story of Thanksgivng for us, with roads that turn, and people that say HI and Cry and others who have greed and others who have need...in the middle I am blessed to be in the middle...and say thank you to all of you!!!! whether you have agreed with me, liked or loved or hated me, i am so grateful for your interest in Habitat and the important mission of helping make it unacceptable for ANYONE TO GO TO BED AT NITE, THIS CHRISTMAS HANNUKKAH WEEK TO GO TO BED AT NITE IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING. GOD BLESS, JJK
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Fw: BLOG
New Years is a day away..every day can be New Year though if we want…I am asking you New Years morning to pray for our mission…the important mission of creating simple decent homes throughout this county.. no question..to create a local project committee in your town….start with a prayer of THANKSGIVING if you can, that you have a home for you and or your family..that you have friends, that you can read this, that we have much to be JOYFUL over for 2008 and for the future of 2009, NO QUESTION…NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE IT IS ENOUGH…just think you are not a refugee having been migrated from home to home, you are not an elderly person whose pipe brokes this week…Zazz a great friend who got the police to come out and build with us from New Rochelle, came by the ROCK..RESTORE LAST NITE…the Norman Rockwell Restore we have created at 591 Main ..more to follow on that…Zazz volunteered with us, stated, Jim went by the Yonkers homes we worked on with the guys..look great..Jim can you come with me in the morning an elderly man on the west end has no water, no heat, 75 with a mom 90…had no money for oil..what can you do for him…in his own Zazz way…great guy..works hard..knows when to ask and what to do..we will go this morning to help this gentleman with our Brush with Kindness outreach…
Be glad that you have running water today.. we also have 240 volunteers in Mexico with a group Ray Melvedt started and I about 15 years ago…not thousands go over the border to club dust, Ray and I and his wife met in Paterson NJ my first Habitat board of directors and we helped raise money for some of the many first homes…there..a plague on my wall goes back to 1989..which means I started there at least in 1988…20 years with Habitat..With hope, with helping with the Holy Spirit, the Ruah of Hanukkah and of Christmas and yes of Ramadan of the one God that loves us and gives us breathe…so Rejoice,join us in Prayer New Years Day if you can…and be Grateful..and this year like in the book of Kings and Nehemiah, we will REBUILD LIKE NEVER BEFORE.. GOD BLESS YOU..JJK
Monday, December 29, 2008
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A day to start the week before New Years..New Years eve.. It is a chance to say ok, where do we go from here, how do I look at my life, our lives, our organization this week and move ahead to set goals for us to be able to make this the best organization, to make our own lives the best personally as well and our family lives…we can get caught up in the hype and reality as well as of the challenges for today..but every time in history has had challenges…and these challenges, even though new in our lifetime, will call us to get back to basics in community..
For us how do we move into the next twenty years…Here are some of our goals and I will add to them each day of the week.
A New Urbanism model..including Main Street . And affordable homeownership…
As mentioned who has heard of Main Street over the past years..very few.. who has heard of Wall street losing precedence in discussion over Main Street ..Habitat is a Main Street type organization.. as a matter of fact our wrok to have home ownership and condos within distance of local transportation is paramount to our vision for Greener communities, combined with public transportation, increased biking, increased trolleys for instance, and condos that are really affordable in the downtowns…for all economic backgrounds…looking at a collective as we can have a nice home in a nice town, but if our family is burdened by taxes, or no public transportation, it becomes difficult…However nice towns need affordable homes too, for the teachers, municipal workers, janirors, tellers, who have to travel in and out of those towns to help run them…with overpriced gas and commuting and polluting over the Tappan Zee Bridge…
So we hope to create a New Urbanism Model this year, that is Green and you will hear more about it this year for sure..
Tomorrow discussion of LPCs all over the county!
By the way each day I will name at least five groups who I can think to thank for their particpation this past year.
Like the Lions group…the Lions Internationally and nationally and locally are on fire for Habitat, I must thank them for all they have done and do…
A shout out to the Lions club members..who are meeting with us in Somers who want to help us with a project…there, stepping up big with us. As a Lions Members I am honored to see so many clubs involved with us….
Also shout out to the Whalen family who gave us a great Christmas gift in the form of their holiday party, they had people bring tools and donations and they were a big help to us in a strong way there…
Also thanks to St. Augustines Church, who have gotten involved annually with our Walk for Homes….at their church in the fall, as well as helping with all the flood victims and for Anne Avenius there..
Great Gratitude also goes out to youth groups like Tikkum Elum, climbing Jacobs ladder and Habitats ladder to heal the world, to help us and to help reach out to others with us across the county…and to Resurrection youth group who recently got out with us to help us with their faith in action service on a Mamoroneck Flood home..
Each of these is vitally important for us, each of these and there are many more to follow in the corporate world…like Diversified Advisors and others who we will cite during the week, It has been a blessed year because of all of you and will be a great 2009 because of you!
With gratitude, JJK
Friday, December 26, 2008
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Today is a new day, life is beginning now that Christmas is over...retailers still rushing..but it is such a hype..Christmas is every day, in the way we treat one another and care..just like doing good Mtizvahs..or showing love...today we have a skeleton staff working at our Restores, and three construction team members working hard..on the sites..getting ready for our Martin Luther King buildathon already...preparing our sites, so we can get extra work done..and honor the life of Dr. King and a new president as well....
a historic time..This is truly a historic time...but with HOPE and Hard work and cutting back, we will see a Great stronger foundation for our work in the future, no question...so heres to our Future and to you and Christmas everyday..thank you all who send in donations...and if you didnt yet, please do, help our FOUNDATION OF HOPE BE STRONG FOR THE FUTURE..JJK
Thursday, December 25, 2008
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Christmas Day..calls from my New Orleans families…Rodney in Harlem, returning to s Carolina .. Devante the 8 year old son who lost his home in Gentile New Orleans …then friends came into our Restore…Brian and Shawn…then a jazz musician, Ely Fountain…who walked in…
Every day is gift, every person that comes into our Restore gets a sense of Christmas love..by Mary or Cece or me, or Tom or our staff and volunteers.. and we hope the same for all the volunteers who come to our site…
I think of the many families too, who have homes now, from here to New Orleans and Argentina and India and Asia where we have tithed too..
Oh the Spirit of Christmas runs deep in Habitat…the same spirit of Hannukkah or of the Muslim friend who came in today and wished me Merry Christmas with a big hug…so your donation to us helps Christmas be every day, your donation in good thought or prayer or hope for a better tomorrow…2009 will be a profound year for us ..no question in changing the face of this county,with the Spirit of Christmas in our heart and hands, and in our hope and the Spirit of community that binds us all together no matter what faith..Merry Christmas!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Fw: bl;og
Isaiah 9:6 ..Wonderful Counselor Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords..Isaiah in the Torah is a book we can all relate too as well asthe book of Nehemiah...where we shall Rebuild the cities.....
Our wonderful Counselor in the Christian Tradition is the Lord...Jesus..and in the Torah...the coming of the Messaih is announced in the One God we all believe in...what a Holy Week this is...a week for all of us to remember to help one another..to help one another...to help each other work together..to rebuild our cities..
a discussion on the Radio this morning talks about the lack of accountability of the Bailout of the Banks, of the bailout of the average citizen..how even though money was released, the banks have not now helped Main Street...what a time it is ..the Worst of Times, the Best of Times...The time for us to rebuild our cities, to rebuild our communtiies with real affordable homes, with real accountability, with real support of the local small business person..all of this is so important for sure!!!!!! we have so much to be done!!!!!!
So Now let us Rebuild with one Another, Let us Rebuild Together....let us help one another..!!!!!! Let us Support One another...and if we do this we will be helping each other to make it in a positive way for the future...Join Habitat in its important MISSION..NOW to help us to make our cities and towns communtiies again..that Greed that is hidden in caring of people over there, is now going to be knocked down and real need will be met on this side of the Tappan Zee Bridge...
Today at noon a family from Harlem, who was displaced from Katrina, from New orleans..comes today to meet with me ....they are moving to S Carolina..too expensive here, hard to make it.. the effects of katrina still are prevalent, are still in the balance for so many, our commitment continues for them..
Then Rosa will stop by ..last nite we gave her a ham and wreath..for her two kids and herself...and today a check will be given to her for her holidays...her husband was killed two years ago this december and we have been helping her and her two kids for two years now...Also the Padilla famly called, they are now living well in their home on Lincoln Avenue we completed...we are blessed to have them there....another family awaits getting in...and i also meet with a family on the verge of eviction today....WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR..PEOPLE ON THE VERGE OF EVICTION OR THEIR SON SHOT OR THEIR LIVES FRAGILE, AND ONCE THEY COME TO HABITAT, THEY REALIZE THEIR FOUNDATION WILL BE STRONGER, THEIR LIVES WILL BE BETTER, AND REBUILT...AND THAT A WONDER COUNSELOR FROM ABOVE THROUGH ALL THOSE WHO HELP HABITAT, HAS NOW HELPED THEM..TO MUCH HAS BEEN GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED...GOD BLESS, JJK
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Fw: BLOG
TWAS TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND ALL THRU THE HOUSE..CREATURES WERE STIRRING AND EVEN A MOUSE..IN SOME HABITAT HOMEOWNERS APPLICANTS APTS..MORE THAN MICE SADLY TO SAY..SOME OF THE CONDITIONS PEOPLE STILL LIVE IN ARE SUBSTANDARD..HORRIBLE..AND UNINHABITABLE, BUT PEOPLE TAKE THEM ANYWAY DUE TO A NEED TO STAY SOMEWHERE, THAT IS WHERE OURMISSION COMES IN SO VITALLY.
WE HAVE MOVED MANY OUT OF HARMS WAY OUT OF THE WAY OF RODENTS, AND NON HEATED APARTMENTS, SLUM CONDITIONS AND MORE. SO VITALLY IMPORTANT..AND WHEN WE THINK OF CHRISTMAS WE THINK OF THESE THINGS....OF THE REAL GIFT OF JUST LIVING DECENTLY.. HAVING HEAT IN A HOME ON THE 25TH..LIKE HAVING OIL IN A MENORRAH, WE ASK GOD TO CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR VITAL MIISSION....
ALONG WITH THAT OUR GREEN MISSION IS SO IMPORTANT...LOOKING AT OUR GREEN INTIATIVES WE SEE SO MUCH OVER THE PERIODS OF TIME..THATWE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
GOING GREEN SINCE 1997
A GREEN ENERGY COUNCIL
CONSULTANTS HELPING IN LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
WEATHERIZATION OF HOMES
HELPING WITH A GREEN ANNUAL CONFERENCE EACH YEAR FOR THE PUBLIC..
EXCITINGLY THESE THINGS HELP THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER REALIZE THERE IS HOPE.
IN A WAY IT IS TIME TO HELP EMPOWER PEOPLE TO SAVE, TO HAVE A SIMPLE DECENT HOME, TO BE GREEN AND TO GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE.
Monday, December 22, 2008
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Heres to a great Christmas week and 8 days of Hannukkah..what a time..what a Holy Week for sure…we have so much to be thankful for..so many people to be grateful for..on cold mornings I like to open the restore at 7am so many can come in and be warm…one woman comes in.. you are all a God send..we helped her fax to her mom and son, at our office.. three others come in, pray for my son, who was in court.. pray for my son in law…here are toys Jimmy to give away, I know you will give them to someone good…like Santa..we are blessed to GIVE…the whole reason for the week is to be THANKFUL AND TO GIVE….so to all of you we are blessed to be part of Habitat and for all of you who GIVE WE ARE THANKFUL..IN TIME HEART. IN MONEY AND INKIND LABOR, IN PRAYER AND THOUGT..HERES TO THE REAL WEEK OF GIVING, THIS BEING HOLY WEEK FOR JEWS AND CHRISTIANS ALIKE..AND LIKE THE MENORRAH… WE WONT RUN OUT OF OIL…WE HAVE ENOUGH.. WE HAVE EACH OTHER, AND WE CAN GIVE..J
Saturday, December 20, 2008
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The Rock..I am writing this from the Rock..."the Rock"...our new Habitat Restore named after Norman Rockwell....the other store may be called the Remington....but the Rock is named after Rockwell who lived in New rochelle and painted here for at least twenty years...
I unconscioulsy decided that even if it wasnt an ideal world, it should be and so painted only the ideal aspects of it, pictures which there are no drunken slatterns or self centered mothers...only foxy grandpas who played baseball with kids and boys who fished from logs and got up circuses in the backyard... he wrote...
.as he used New Rochelle as his canvas.. a place where he cared about the average common person.... "Without thinking too mcuh about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and oberved to others who might not have noticed. Myu fundamental purpose is to interpret the typical American. I am a story teller." wrote Rockwell....well our stories in Habitat are written in the walls of 2 x 4s in sweat equity of Hastings high school kids in Mamoroneck today, in Anthonys bullet lodge forever in his body, reminding us to get him out of the tough neighborhood as soon as we can.....in the common person who works side by side with the CEO who is as common and as important as the next..in the Jew and the Gentile, in the wonder counselor, in the Prince of Peace of the streets, in the Christmas hearts of every one who dreams of a better tomorrow and a better today....for no one is common, we are all unique but no one is better than the next...and we are all deserving of living in decency in happinenss and with the same freedoms...this was Rockwells dream, this is Habitats dream.. God bless
so let us work together in this endeavor .....plese help us be supported..KJoin us atthe Rock Rstore at 591 Main Street...for a presentation by the Rockwell Muesum on Jan 19th as Norman Rockwell as civil Rights activist...also a whole schedule will be planned here as we develop the community for the common person on Main Streets and in the nieghborhoods building in love together...JJK
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CNBC did a year in Review..what a short selling out of the American Public..does everyone get sold out..did we get sold out overseas..did we forget the basics, i think we did...so many lost their shirts, their lives their livelihoods..from Madoff to Meryl Lynch from Bear STearns to Bernake the world we know it took a dive on Wall Street right into the East River it would seem, only middle america, the taxpayer, the homeowner, everyone lost, along with credit crunches, no lending, and no loads..but there is HOPE...HOPE COMES IN THE FORM OF HABITAT, OF HELPING OF NO INTEREST MORTGAGES OR REAL COMMUNITY, OR NOT USING YOUR HOME FOR A TOOL OF CASH TO BE LEVERAGED FOREVER, NOT USING YOUR HOME TO BE USED ADJUSTABLY, OR FOR MORTGAGE BROKERS GAINS, AND NO ONES GAIN..BUT REALLY USING YOUR HOME AS THE HEART, AND SOUL OF YOUR FAMILY OF YOUR COMMUNITY OF STABILITY AND LIFE....
so heres to HOPE to HO HO HO, and to HABITAT...MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANNUKAH. THE EXCITEMENT IS STILL BUILDING..!
Friday, December 19, 2008
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Santa came in the form of high school elves last nite...
they all came out to help our families have a great holiday party..They came from Eastchester High and Bronxville High and Rye High and New Rochelle High again hosted.. Scott Rubins the advisor was the Big Elf taking pictures of everyone and putting them on butterfly..Mary was always the elf gving toys who gave notice to the families and made everyone have fun ..working so hard..
the families..Anthony was there, who had been shot, looking good since i saw him thanksgiving..walking happy, we prayed before we ate...he goes back to school in Jan thank God!
How do i get scholarship money, JIm the others ask...how do we apply for this...my kids are ready for college.
the little ones come running to a make believe Santa..hi ..Santa, i want a wee, i want a gameboy, i love you Santa..
all the high schoolers brought food, so grateful to know they have a roof over the head...and that when they go to bed, and hear Santa and the reindeer, ole Saint Nick..they realize they helped our Habitat families have a simple decent roof over their head, this Christmas and Hannukah season.. perhaps one of hte most important parts of their high school careers.. thank you to New Rochelle High school and to all the elves and to everyone!!!!! HO HO HO>>..
Thursday, December 18, 2008
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almost here the holidays...running around, the pressure of buying or not buying, having or not having, the challenge during these economic times...watching tv filled iwth impeachments in Illinois..Mad money Madoff and somehow the holiday gets lost...
however this weekend, people always come out the week before Christmas and Hanukkah to volunteer with us, to get involved to do something good.
Yesterday i had a family come into my office to see about getting help from being evicted out of the Avalon...they had run into tough times, they had not been able to make it..they had had misfortune...like so many out there, living in challenging ways...they now may end up in a shelter..we are seeing about a mortgage foreclosure assistance program.. and eviction assistance..I call one agency that its mission is just that..to stop evictin..we can t help them we are stretched....not easy times..pray for this family and for us today as we try to help them as we also move the next family in...our work is so vital.jjk
Monday, December 15, 2008
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Resurrectoin parish youth were out in full force today on our site in Mamoroneck, along with Iona Prep, and Bedford Presbyterian Church..always to grateful for this blessed groups to come and join us..no better thing than to work on a Habitat home, especially during this Holy Season of different traditions getting together to praise the one God we believe in...helping someone have a home, the right way, not with mortgages that are out of site, is the Habitat tradition....so thank you for those who inspired me today in all you did...by working along with our board, and Mary and Chuck and Bernard, and all the gang...we keep on keeping!!!!!!
just the beginning....Anthony who was shot four weeks ago is doing better...speaking to him he sounds great.. pray for him as we hope to get him out of a tough neighborhood into a great Habitat home.. God bless,
Fw: blog
Today we see 50 billioin dollar scam..many losing their pensions, their livelihood, their whole savings and others, like the Massachusetts pension fund, universities..millionaires, Sen Frank Lautenberg and more...all successful in the past...tied up and lost in Madoffs scheme..it comes it goes..while still people have no money, no place to eat, no decent plan for changing affordable homes...the times and headliness we see daily should be a radical change for us towards a pendulum swing back to basics..Credit Unions? Coops? small banks? small businesses? the burden of the individual to cover the follies of so many has caused the debaucles of today..but there is HOPE..THERE IS GROUPS THAT COME OUT TO HELP US, TO WORK WITH US, LIKE THE JCC, OUT THERE TODAY, OR J TEENS ON A SUNDAY, OR RESURRECTION YOUTH ON A SAT..OR THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER TOTAL PERFORMANCE ON MAIN OR EDDIE AT ODYSSEY FLORIST...
All people who worked hard, and work hard, 6 or 7 days a week, not with back door politicking, but with hard work to get a good customer a citizen a good product, no matter what the wealth level..like we at our Restores, on Main and in Yonkers and in the bronx...so what is old is new again..stay the course, realize you are blessed..you didnt lose millions today probably...or maybe you did.. but if you did, know you too can have hope, get out and help, build some homes, be with others, like the volunteers today...because HOPE IN HOMES, IN HELPING AND IN HEARTS..IS WORTH MORE THAN MILLIONS ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, GOD BLESS, JJK
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Everyday is Christmas in Habitat, and Hannukkah and a holy day…no question..
With homes being built..volunteers helping, Tikkum elum comes out yesterday a youth group..how do we start, how do we move ahead, where do we begin…oh this was the flood area they ask..youth in action, Years ago a friend shared with me about "TO HEAL THE WORLD." Like climbing Jacobs ladder..moving up daily to make the world a better place.. Hebrew in word, loving in theology..like Abraham Heschel or Mother Teresa, who I met in her lifetime. We are all called to heal the world daily…to change it, to be agents of change with love and community building, be in our church or synagogue..or in our temple or company, or in our home or on the street…you will be amazed if daily you start with a little Prayer, Lord let me change the world for a better place today…that is why each of us is here on earth..
In Habitat we believe it comes in the form of safe warm, clean decent simple homes. For families, working together, like a big Kibbutz,, like a Communidad de Base..like a company on a team building mission to drive profits, only in this case prophetically…so join us this holiday season..to me coming from the term Holy…for the next ten days, I am calling the ten days of Christmas I ask you to join in Healing the world..sacrificing, or fasting…and to make a commitment to help our mission that much more….with a dollar, with a hammer, with a window, with a day volunteering…remember our families..this Dec 18th we have our Holiday Party at New Rochelel high school for our families, all helping us and coming to join us….even some New Orleans families..so join us..God bless you!!!!!!!with gratitude. JJK
Fw: BLOG
EVERYDAY IS GIFT..LAST NITE THERE WERE TWO MAJOR FIRES IN YONKERS AND IN WHITE PLAINS...FIRES THAT PEOPLE LOST THEIR HOMES..REMINDS ME OF MY FATHER, WHO USED TO HELP GO OUT AND HELP DURING THE TORNADO OF 1958 AND A HUGE FIRE THAT DISPLACED MANY IN WORCESTER MA...WE ARE OFFERING OUR ASSISTANCE AS WE HAVE SO OFTEN IN THE PAST TO HELP WITH PEOPLE WHO GET DISPLACED WITH DONATED FURNTIURE, COLLECTIONS ETC..LIKE THE NODINE HILL FIRE, OR THE NEW ROCHELLE FOUNTAINPLACE FIRE, WHERE MANY MANY HUNDREDS WERE DISPLACED IN BOTH, DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR FIRES INCREASE AS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCUR..CHECK YOUR WIRING, CHECK YOUR ELECTRICAL, DONT OVRESUE HEATERS, DONT OPEN YOUR OVEN AS A WAY FOR HEAT.SO MANY HAVE CHALLENGES DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR...
THE PADILLA BEGIN TO MOVE IN THEIR NEW ROCHELLE HOMES, A GREAT BLESSING, THEY ARE SO HAPPY, THEY HAVE A SAFE HABITAT HOME, GREAT ELECTRICAL, GREAT THINGS HAPPENING FOR THEIR FAMILY....
Friday, December 12, 2008
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hope you are doing great today folks, we need to pray for sure.. no questoin.. our world is nteresting..the car bailout is off the table as of last nite, the other bailout is on possibly..but what about all of us ..how do we stay the course...we stay the course daily, we move ahead, we pray, did i say we PRAY, always habitats success is its ministry, is its work is its movement ahead to be able to look at what we can do, where we can go, how do we make it all work...in good or bad times...during Katrina, the Tsumami, during tough economies and good economies..its all about making it work for the future.. with that in mind we ask you to pray for our Homeowners, for our workers for our success...for the Padilla family who successfully closed on their homes yesterday..who successfully moved ahead on making their lives change forever with their beautiful home...who helped in a great way for future leaders to be made in their family...the mom and dad were smiling from ear to ear..they cant believe it...I PRAYED AND PRAYED FOR A HOME...the dad said..he worked, he is so happy...SO CONGRADS TO THE PADILLA, VICTORIES ARE HAPPENING EVEN THOUGH THE ECONOMY MAY SEEM TRIALED TO SAY THE LEAST AND POLITICIANS FALL BY THENUMBERS, WE ARE STILL HEAR WITH GODS HELP AND YOURS!!!!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
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Holiday time, Christmast time..CLOSING TIME! Yesterday i walked through with teh Padilla faily on Lincon Avneue in New Rochelle.. we closed on another house..thank God..we had finished the homes in August, but financing, agencies taking time and other things slowed up them moving in..but today atthe Closing there is no better feeling..Yesterday the whole family came thru.. a little 3 year old nephew was running around like he was in a playgroud... the daughter one of three was ecstatic and her eyes shown with gratefulness. a bright student who will go to Fordham Schol next year...the other student. from Trinity a daughter, was jumpiong and chasing and happy..how do i do this, how do i do that, how do i make sure Con Ed doesnt go high...look athe carpet...many questions, many exciting thoughts..no better.. so congrads to the Padilla family today, you deserve and to all of you who, who took what was blighted properties, we rehabbed them and now we moved them into a great new home..
Along with that yesterday i was able to be with a number of housing people..commissioners of planning and more from across the county, people who wanted to see great activity, see what was going on...in housing development...i asked one question.. how many BANKS ARE HERE TODAY.. banks usually are the lenders who go there for the sake of showing they loan..there was not one Bank there, the director of NYSAH was shocked,not a good sign he said....
however with your help..your dollar or ten or more..we will be able to move ahead and make it work, move ahead and see what we can do, move ahead and see that there is hope for the future with Habitat and your help..just like the Padillas....
we have many projects being offered to us from developers and more....this time we will take the lead...rather than wait and see...as it is OUR TIME, HABITAT TIME ..for affordable homes to be built in the county..
God bless, jjk
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
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today a housing conference at x20..the not for profits pay, the goverment doesnt..how come i ask..
another story..and why held at such a fancy restaurant..i like it bur during these times..
thursday the closing happens at lincoln avneue..
a grat thing. I speak to the Padilla family, so happy.. we wil have our high schoo kids assit them moving in..for sure..we would be glad to..with New Rochelle High School..people like Eastchester High along with New Rochelle High, Citibank volunteers...and many others need thanks...people like Steve Falvey on our local committe here as well..they all helped to allow another family to move in...thank yoiu so much!!!!! we appreciate it with great gratitude...
God bless, jjk
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
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daily one can t make up things about our work no qeustion...peopel come across our pathm aman in a shelter looking for work, a person whiose famil lived in the community for over 120 yeras...another person who says they are back on the family waiting list.. YOu cant make this stuff up....what do we do, can you help me...can you get me a home..
what about this and the economy, dont htink about it.just work...pray for him if you can..
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WHAT A GREAT DAY, EVERY DAY IS A GREAT DAY..
LAST NITE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BLESSED TO MEET SOME PEOPLE WHO CAME INTO OUR NEW RESTORE...AT 591 MAIN STREET. PEOPLE ARE LOVING IT FOR SURE.. THEY ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES AND LOOKFORWARD TO OUR 2009 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS WE ARE WORKING ON. SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR WORK AND OUR GOALS OF MAKING A NEW URBAN COMMUNTIY, HELPING WITH A VARIETY OF AREAS IN THE DOWNTOWN AS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, WITH GREEN RECYCLING BUSINESSES, THE RESTORES, WHICH HELP THE COMMUNTIY, IN GREAT PRICES AND ALSO IN GREAT DONATIONS, WHICH HELP THE CITY, IN RAISING SALES TAX, INSTEAD OF TICKETS..AND HELP US GET CLOSER TO BUYING A CONDO BUIDLING TO REHAB FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING..COMBINED WITH A PUSH FOR GREEN TRANSPORTATION AND GREEN INTIATIVES, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT CHANGING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR WORKFORCE IN TERMS OF HOUSING AND BUILDING REAL COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME..
ALONG WITH THAT, IN THE NEWSPAPER TODAY..SOON A THING OF THE PAST..SADLY TO SAY IN SOME WAYS..WE WILL SEE...THE COST OF HOUISNG HAS RISEN BEYOND INCOMES AND BEYOND ALL OTHER COSTS..THE REAL ESTATE COMMUNTIY HAS BEEN GREEDY OVERALL IN THIS COUNTY, NO QUESTION, THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGING HIGHER RENTS VERSUS REALITY OF WHAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD..AND IWTH PROPERTY TAXES CONTIUING THE BURDEN ON HOMEOWNERS HAS BEEN ALARMING, TO A FAULT. WE HAVE DISABLED OURSELVES IWTH DEPENDENCE UPON GOVERNMENT SERVICES, AND A COUNTY THAT IS HIGHEST TAXED IN THE COUNTRY.. BUT THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET GREENER, TO VOLUNTEER MORE, TO CHANGE THE FACEOF REAL ESTATE, AND TO HELP WITH THE FUTURE OF THE FACE OF THIS COUNTY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, HOP ON BOARD THE HABITAT TROLLEY, ITS GETTING EXCITING AROUND HERE.. GOD BLESS, JJK
PLLEASE MAKE ADONATION TODAY, MOST APPRECIATED..J
Monday, December 08, 2008
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Hi hope all is well.
Blessings to all of you, a great holiday season no question with people moving around shopping...helping laughing...even in spite of this economy..we are blessed to move in a family on Lincoln Avneue this weekend..
also a shout out to Bronxville and Iona College, both who worked on the sites this weekend..along with Horace Greeley...all great future leaders, all doing community service in their world..all helping us...a great help both Sat and Sundays...no question.......
even in the cold weather...no faith weathered friends here. also thanks to Jim Di Buono and Nials Delaney for helping us sell two by fours...for our flooded home in Mamoroneck....so the Habitat elves were busy for sure this weekend...they were helping all over the county for habitat, as well as Mary and Tom and Ce Ce in the restores..
This weekend we have our New Rochelle family moving in...the Padilla in one of the Lincoln Avenue Homes we finished...we have had these homes finished since August and we are glad that they are finally moving in...another agency was in charge of the finding the families and financing..that is a lenghthier story..
We hope that we can move ahead for the future with great work with great support with great help during this Holiday season..we are already preparing for our Martin Luther King buildathon..sign up early, we have sign ups going on already...Your dollar donation, or any amount most needed as move ahead wtih strength during these intersting times.. God bless, JJK
Sunday, December 07, 2008
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God bless you all today..and HO HO HO..its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas the song goes…people walking, buying shopping, laughing..all ready to see a holiday filled with spirit, and God knows we need it..
Today we try at our headquarters and in mamoroneck and on the sites more importantly to have the Christmas Spirit, the Hanunkkah Spirit, the Kwanza Spirit of giving, working and helping…
At our headquarters.. Iona singers, come and join us with carols..on Main street . For the town.
We also have Santa all at noon,
Along with that we are selling 2 x4s at the A and P in Mamoroneck selling them so people can sign them and they go into the house we re rebuilding the flood home…so here we go, we are looking at interesting times for sure..but by a 2 x 4 and help someone have a home today or tomorrow..
With all that in Mind the Spirit of Christmas is Giving..God bless you all!!!!
Ps, stay focused, be hopeful and helpful and remember Habitat for Humanity of Westchester in your prayers and support.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
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HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS, TONITE IN FRONT OF THE NEW ROCHELLE NEW RESTORE..GET FURNITURE ROCKWELL PRINTS AND MORE…
WE NEED THEM ..NO QUESTION….IT IS A GREAT THING FOR EVERYONE FOR SURE…NO QUESTION…
SANTA IS IN TOWN.. HE WANTS EVERYONE TO HAVE A HOME, OF COURSE HE DOES, TO START FROM A GOOD LOCATION, HE WANTS EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME OTHERS, AND TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY…SO HERES TO SANTA AND OUR NEW RESTORE AT 591 MAIN STREET NEW ROCHELLE…God Bless, jjk
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
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The Daz family arrives.. comes by to be with us, the help us out by beng there in their presence...we appreciate them so much and all our families.. knowing they are blessed with a great home, having a great life with joy, they are doing great in big ways...so many of our families realize having a habitat home over their head is a blessing..last nite i spoke with a great couple who worked hard for thirty years and successfully have done a great job with getting people involved with a great way...they talk about getting involved with their country of origin, of which we have been at so much
Now it is time for us to move ahead...to help more families and to get more involved..during this our 20th aniversary we re so blessed to get so much done, to get so many innovlved..in a great way...
Thank you..NOW IT IS TIME TO GET BUSY, REALLY BUSY...TO KICK IT INTO A HIGHER GEAR, BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU! thank you..JJK
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
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Anthony needs your prayers for hope..he is still depressed, not gettng out of the hospital yet..
frm his gunshot wound..he needs to be able to get his life back on track, wants to be home, a natural life..how many teens have been shot who lost hope..the good thing. Anthony will move into his home with help..and with joy...and a safe neighborhood if all goes well on Martin Luther King weekend.. we are finishing his home...so a prayer for he and his family..
I also send my condolensces to the Police Commissioner of Yonkers whose mom passed...a prayer for her today ...
tonite we are blessed to have our event at the Sheraton, Starwood Hotels is sponsoring the event..we have more than 250 people signed up in an economy that looks like no one should attend.. but God is in charge.. and we are so grateful for all their great support , for sue hererra, for hope and homes, and for all of you...
see you tonite..thank you Kathy Conits, for all the hard work, Amy and for all my team, jjk
Sunday, November 30, 2008
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Each of the days we move ahead, like today we find great hope and success in our work..from helping to create a new restore to seeing a family hold a birthday party for their mom, ona worksite, to knowing Iona Prep teens volunteered on our sites..all of this is amazing for sure.. its Sunday morning, and doug fleming headmaster calls, asking for a little advice and wishes me Happy Holidays. He is amazing, and supports our restore and sends volunteers to help..he is touring a group from Japan today and also from Russia later in the week, as he is an international traveler and reknown for his wisdom and humor and his leadership at a unique school..he is happy our new Restore is running, thanks doug so much, and for your ongoing commitment.
This morning people wake up in cold weather, no heat perhaps no food, here in America and throughout the world..they need our support and prayers…for us it makes us work harder…in the newspaper it talks today about our 20th anniversary..our success. Our event this Tuesday celebrating our work..it is actually a beginning a new beginning for our next step of creating enmases simple decent homes thorughhout the county, God bless, jjk
Saturday, November 29, 2008
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Every minute is gift for sure.. and God tnasnfuses our life daily with good things..and people…putting them in our path..like you the reader.
Often we have tough times, but God continually renews our strength like a fresh morning…helping with people coming together over breakfast, seeing the light of day, a prayer, a community gathers to work and another day on the way…and who will pass us, call us..like Stavros from Polytechnic U. I am on the site now, Jim…I got here early from Long Island …amazing..first there, with longest to travel…
Like Anthony moving in a hospital bed, with noises and nurses breakfast and bedpans, rolling around getting the days work done for those hoping to be healed quickly with a quick exit out…and like you the reader, may the people who pass you always be blessed ones and you a blessing for them…
Hats off to all our volunteers, all our community workers, police firefighters…service people who take each day and make it a safe one for us, and thru the nite. God bless, jjk
Friday, November 28, 2008
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Santa claus is coming to town, in the form of a home..bringing toys to new habitat homeowners…some people lost their home though in Katrina and two of the families called me yesterday…Rodney and also Devante..they are waiting to get back in their home…they landed here with their families in hotels, displaced like refugees…and have been waiting to get some permanent homes for Christmas..this Mardi Gras season we will raise money for Devante, a six year old and his mom…sharon to get back to their home in Gentile and will go to rehab it in the near future…in feb and march…
Having seen the house, in December I will work with a plumber to start the plumbing and set up an electrician thanks to Habitat for Humanity of Westchester raising support in our events for nola….and thank to our partnership with Jim Pate of Habittat New Orleans guiding us to good contractors….i give the city of white plains and yonkers credit for housing these displaced families many of them…and know that there is a Santa Rodney and Devante for your families and we will help you get settled..
So whether you have a little or a lot this Christmas for gifts..know that having a simple decent home is gift enough for some, many who still don't have one, not only because of Katrina but because of the lack of creation of affordable homes here too in Westchester..this is the year it all changes.. God blessyou, help us with the solution , make a donation now and pray about our work and then help us…
jjk
Thursday, November 27, 2008
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THANKSGIVNG DAY.. A BLOG CAN BE AMAZING I GUESS, I HOPE THIS ONE CAUSES YOU TO BE A LITTLE MORE GRATEFUL..KNOWI AM FOR EACH ONE OF YOU WHO READS THIS…SOMEONE CALLED ME THE OTHER DAY, EVEN, A REPORTER WHO WISHED ME THANKSGIVING..EVEN THOUGH HE KILLED ME PUBLICLY ONCE IN AN ARTICLE…WE STOOD STRONG, AND WE WON THE BATTLE , AND FOR HIM I SAY A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING…
OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE BEEN SHOUTED AT, SHOT AT..SHAGRINED AND SHUN ASIDE FOR TALKING ABOUT GETTING AFFORDABLE HOMES SIMPLE DECENT FOR FAMILIES EVEN THOUGH THE COUNTY DESPERATELY NEEDS IT.. A NEIGHBOR IN BEDFORD WROTE, I CAN SEE YOUR HOUSE..PUT UP TREES..THANKS TO YOU, MY FRIEND I PRAY FOR YOU TODAY EVEN THOUGH YOU CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN, YOU HAVE MADE ME TOUGHER…OR TO THE PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT BELIEVE WE REALLY CHARGED NO INTEREST ON OUR MORTGAGES..SONJA AND HER KIDS HAVE A HOME TODAY, EVEN THOUGH.., YOU TRIED TO STOP ME..THANKS TO YOU I AM TOUGHER..
I DEDICATE THIS TO ANTHONY AGAIN…WHO WAS SHOT, HIS NAME IS CHANGED IN THE HOSPITAL. AND SPENT THANKSGIVING MORNING WITH HIM, SOUP, HOT, AN APPLE PIE, A SMILE, A PRAYER. SOME TIME WITH HIM, HE IS IN THE HOSPITAL THIS THANKSGIVING DAY, IF ALL GOES WELL WE WILL MOVE HIM INTO HIS HOME ON MARTIN LUTHER KING WEEKEND OUT OF HARMS WAY…WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME HE ASKS..WHAT ANSWER DO I GIVE…GOD KNOWS WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN.. HE STILL HAS SOME AIR POCKETS BETWEEN HIS BACK AND LUNG AND NEEDS THE RESPIRATOR….I WANT TO GO HOME..WHY ME…I SAID YOU WILL BE A GREAT LEADER, YOU WILL DO AMAZING THINGS…THE NURSES AIDE ASKS.. YOU WORK FOR HABITAT, I WANT TO HELP…ANTHONY YOU ARE PROBABLEY GOOD IN MATH…NO I LIKE ENGLISH, I WANT TO WRITE…SO I WRITE FO RHIM TODAY..HE HAS NO COMPUTER OR LABTOP..MAYBE SOMEONE WHO READS THIS WILL DONATE THE COST OR A REAL LABTOP,..CALL ME AT 403 4821. SO HE CAN WRITE WHILE IS AT THE HOSPITAL OR RETURNS HOME TO HIS NEW REHABBED HOME..
WE HAVE MICE WHERE WE LIVE NOW.. NEED TO GET OUT…HANG TOUGH ANTHONY WE WILL FINISH THE HOME…FOR MLK DAY…
NOW FOR YOU READERS WE NEED MONEY TO DO T HIS.. IN YONKERS, BUT I KNOW YOU WILL RESPOND…WE NEED MONEY FOR OUR WORK…BUT LIKE THE FOUNDER MILLARD FULLER WHO CALLED ME FROM EL SALVADOR LAST WEEK, JIM WISH YOU WERE HERE….
AND I AM THANKFUL FOR MILLARD AND HIS WIFE AND FAMILY AND HIS LIFE…FOR INSPIRIING SO MANY…GOD HAS BLESSED US ALL, AND MILLARD WOULD SAY, GOD GAVE US ALL WE NEED..
IN GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF YOU, MAY YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED THIS THANKSGIVING….JOIN US TOMORROW FOR OUR OPENING AT OUR NEW LOCATION 591 MAIN STREET. AND PRAY FOR OUR SUCCESS AND DONATE IF YOU CAN FOR A LABTOP FOR FINISHING THE HOME, FOR OUR WORK…
GOD BLESS, THANK YOU TOO TO MY KIDS..WHO ARE MY HEROES DAN AND JOE WHO SACRIFICED A FATHER FOR OTHERS..JJK
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
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Long day long nite.. an email here, discussion with Kathy over the great Starwood event.. a prayer for our family members. an email from the Governors office...and hopes for a great tomorrow..
fortunate today to have also spent time with a military UN rep from Spain..asking what about Habitat, how does it work...what are the needs...so much to learn from each other in the world..so much to expand our horizons with in learning from each other.......so much to be thankful for!!!!!! God bless, jjk
Monday, November 24, 2008
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THRIFT ANTIQUES, SECOND HAND, RECYCLING, RECLAIMING, GREEN, ALL RELATE TO OUR RESTORES IN NEW ROCHELLE, IN THE BRONX, IN YONKERS..THIS VITALLY IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTALLY SAVING STORES ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR SUCCESS IN SO MANY WAYS, NO QUESTION..WITHOUT THEM, WE ARE NOT MOVING AHEAD, IN THIS LOSS OF WALL STREET, WITH THEM, WE ARE TOGETHER..
A COMMENT ABOUT WALL STREET..WE HAVE MANY GREAT COMPANIES HELPING US, BUT SO MANY ALSO SEEM TO HAVE SOLD OUT AMERICA...WE HAVE GOTTEN RID OF MANUFACTURING , STOPPED TEACHING BUILDING, GOT RID OF MAIN STREET AS A VALUE, AND NOW LOOK...SOLD OURSELVES OUT..
BUT THERE IS HOPE IN MAIN STREETS..THE NEW URBANISM PROMOTES THIS SO MUCH, THE NEW URBANISM, WILL CALL A SENSE OF PRIDE IN COMMUNITY AND IN THE LITTLE THINGS AGAIN..
THANKS TOTHE NEW ROCHELLE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL TODAY BY THE WAY AS WELL AS THE SOLOMON SCHECTER SCHOOL, HELPING IN PORACH STREET THANK YOU!!!!! WE LOVE YOU GUYS.. I CHALLENGE THEM, WE MAKE THEM WORK HARD, WE HAVE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN THEM, AND IN YOU. .GOD BLESS, JJK
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easy like sunday morning, in a way easy in a way busy..friday nite we give a shout ouit again to sandra and todd and luxury london for their support to us, helping to donate to us, thank you..
great fun people...sat morning finds us opening our new restore at 591 main street, nice furniture and great Norman Rockwell prints...for the holidays redo your home with furnishings and decor that would make every American proud, a taste of americana...
also a shout out to the many volunteers who worked in the cold yesterday and today..so many out there, working in mamoroneck, rye, yonkers, new rochelle, as well as greenburgh..today sunday they are workign too, no fair weathered friends in habitat, no way..all good people
then last nite thanks to paul and ann grant from Keller Williams and Burkes Restaurant, our first annual turkey bowl...yikes..bowling with a frozen turkey to win a trip to vegas. or to have a great basket..many bowled, like Rev. leroy who came from Trinity lutheran church in yonkers, thank you rev.. who helped us in a big way...and also bowled four strikes...we got to meet many and Brian the owner also wants to help us out..imagine if any group you touch did one event, fun for us, a three on three tournament, participated in our Martin L uther King buildathon or Superbowl buildathon, or helped us to get out and sign 2x 4s like they are in mamoroneck next week...it all adds up , it adds up to lives changed, communities changed, walls framed, homes heated, love shared communities made whole....so join us donate ..build. help us rehab or create anew..with so much gratitude..
also thanks to people like Kathy Conits who work so hard from Starwood Hotels for our dec2nd event...down to the wire, please get your ticket and or sponsorship in now for our 20th anniversary event in manhattan, starwood has their hotel there, but headquarters in westchester...cnb sue hererra..companies like starwood and centre partners, bregal and Goldman sachs, congregations like Broxnville Reformed church and more..
the EXCITEMENT IS STILL BUILDING...LAST PRAY FOR OUR WORK..pray for anthony in the hospital who got shot, pray for safety of all and rembmer MAIN STREET IS WHERE IT IS AT..REBUILDING COMMUNITY, REAL COMMUNITY AGAIN BASED ON LOVE AND NEIGHBOR NOT ON BMW AND THE ATLANTIS..GOD BLESS, YOU..JJK
Thursday, November 20, 2008
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A blessed day.. turn to God and love Him and He will bless you..a day we celebrate and decorate our headquarters for Christmas..its almost like Santa is around the corner…
Start each day with a prayer looking for Gods guidance..that is the key…During this economy we need too…but we know if we do the right thing, God is in charge and will guide us in all of our work.. no question…we need to be able to follow Him in all we do…no question..
So follow Him, look to Him, love Him, and this will be the best time of your Life…for us in Habitat for Humanity of Westchester we start our day that way, we ask you to pray for our work and for each other, for our family member who was shot and for others to have angels protect them from harm….with gratitude..j
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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a group of peole around a table.to discuss goals building support...our board members all w orking hard in their own communities, companies, etc to help..they get together, we start with a prayer and discuss..how do we get more land, how are the homes going..where are next sites...how are the families...and lots more needless to say..an important responsbility they all work hard to help us..i am so grateful. to all of them, from financial donations to their wisdom and expertise to their faith..it is a powerful group of people who work together and help me run habitat, thank you so much!
Monday, November 17, 2008
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Another great Sat. in the history of habitat of westchester..what profound things happen..
Lincoln High school at Yonkers restore, Horace Mann and Lincoln both interviewed by the NY Times on community service....then we get a call..one of your family applicants homeowners son, got shot last nite...
pray for him, just 17..great kid.. no one knows..we take so much for granted..i go up to Rye and see the regulars..Jay, Chucky F. the team with a veteran Doug Sesler from Bronxville Reformed Church and all the youth along with John Lapins, take nothing for granted kids..you dont know what kids like our familys son goes thru..we have one two three four worlds...safe worlds unsafe worlds..homes and no homes...veterans withno homes and veterans coming back...yes veterans were served lunch today by some of us inthe middle of a typical habitat days journey..where do you live..do you have a home...remember the GI bill, we have to fight for more veterans ownership housing....then a radio announcer calls me, Jim i know you were on the right track now....then Alex an Argentinian American whose daughhter is building in Argentina now responds to my call, Jim I will have the cabinets for you shortly, with his lilted accented voice.. a great family, we commit together over the years to send money to build homes in Argentina...and have tithed there, and sent support there...a world to change....
what a whirlwind of life we live in.. be grateful to God for your home your life, your community, your ability to walk...join us...we need your help and prayers now..WALK WITH US TOMORROW!!!! WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW...I NEED TO GET THE SONS OUT OF HARMS WAY IN BAD NEIGHBORHOODS SO THEY WONT GET SHOT..WE NEED TO GET VETERANS HOMES ..WE NEED TO SACRIFICE AND CELEBRATE LIFE AND BUILD IT TOGETHER..GOD BLESS, JJK
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Off to our walkathon...the newsline on ch 12 says, teenager shot. no name, in a shooting in yonkers..almost perfunctorily...antyime any bullet goes off it should be a cry of outrage against violence.!!!! people like Jim Bostic and the city of yonkers have been combatting this..pray for safety of neighborhoods..
a partner comes into place wtih me.. this morning over coffee, i want to buy a warehouse as an investment..
join us i tell him, partner with us as a profit not for profit partner...this can be done..no question..
what can we do to capitalize in this market to make real affordable housing on mass...
stay tuned, then another friend calls, did you see T boone pickens on tv...going green we have too..i tell him we have tried to introduce wind in three cities so far...has to be done..going Green will be Green..
off to walk so many thoughts so many prayers so much to be grateful for!!!!!!!
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Yesterday as we a great success with our Walk for Homes Now! This important walk, is one which has been annual and St. Augustines and all the group has done a wonderful job in helping us to be able to get off the ground makng this an amazing feat for all of us...with our FEET.. more than 6000 was raised yesterday, vitally important to help us move ahead with our work in Mamoroneck..Excitingly Linda was there, the homewowner, who has survived so much, a flood, a home being ripped apart...as well as her mom being in the hospital yesterday, pray for their family and all our families...she was so happy..
with that in mind we had walkers from Iona Prep and St. Raymonds, St Augustines youth group and Lincoln High school, Scarsdale and Horace Greeley High School...all walking along with Mamoroneck High School, and many many more.. GREAT SHOUT OUT TO JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CENTRAL WESTCHESTER..walking on mass their kids, with their feet, wtih their dollars..all great for us as of this time...no question and thanks so much to Anne Avenius, to Susan to Msgr Reilly and to State Senator Suzy Oppeinheimer who helped us so much by coming. she didnt have too ..just elected, but she came and walked with us..thank you Suzy...
so thank you all, to all who came out in the cold who walked for homes during a tough time!!!! but during a great time!!! no question!
We pray for our family member, who is applying for a home..he was shot this past weekend..friday nite...and is in fair condition ..please pray for safety over our families. they are to move into a Habitat home..we have to get them into their new home SOON!!!! WE NEED TO STOP THE VIOLENCE AND THE GUNS AS WELL!!!!!!
pray over our youth, our neighborhoods, neighborhoods, that families want to move out of into our homes..all so important!!!!!!! the key to everything during these times....
and humbly throw my staff, all volunteers and myself in a prayer. you are in mine today. ]
God bless, jjk
Friday, November 14, 2008
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our walk for homes is this Sunday...the Junior league is out in full force..the walkers from my high school, the high schools, the parishioners, themotivated people to help us help Liz and Linda get back in their home..we need the help....
with that in mind, please join us...also the economy bouncing like a yo yo..every dollar every cent, every five ten or one hundred is so important..daily i think do i lay off, do i stop work,..its up to you to help us..
we will move ahead with your help.
God bless, jjk
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
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Today fox teen news comes out and covers a segment on us, we have so many great things going on, thank God.. we have teens working and on this Veterans Day we celebrate our Veterans no question…we put them in the highest limelight…my uncles who fought in the big War, my cousin who died in Vietnam ..the man who came into our restore and we gave him furniture…to start his apartment…we will announce a special commitment today for Veterans coming back for 50 per cent off of our furniture and clothing and if they have no money we will give it to them free, like we did to the veterans recently…God has blessed us with freedoms, with life, with goodness, with joy…so much we cant even imagine.. I got an email today from the founder of Habitat, what doyou want on your sign..Dios es bueno, todo el tiempo I tell them..
God is good all the time.. all the time God is good..
We have so much to be grateful for…with little we have much.
WE do need green vehicles..I just got done my conversation with my staff worker Drew from the Restores, where we are recycling, we are working hard, where we hope to have bio diesel vehicles or more…solar, or Zap vehicles..would you help donate to us.. we need it..
Also we have a hope to be able to change the face of the county in the way people thnk or commute..todays headline goes along with a couple of things..first, it talks about the legislative aide who abused his position, aka we need a COMMON SENSE party where local officials will donate their salary..
Next we see also the TAPPAN ZEE BRIDE WITH steel plates is still anightmare to cross over..no question…all of this matters so much because accountability and affordable home ownership for our workers..needs to happen now!!!! Stay tuned..
All I know is that my team the Habitat team is hard at work every day at 7am, trying to help this county and world a better place..wont you join us in this endeavor, wont you join us in helping to change the face of the future.. it can be done now and our world will be better off..Last a shout out to my sons Danny and Joey God bless you both I love you and am so proud of you, give your kids a hug today…or someone elses kid, HUGS MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND. JJK
Monday, November 10, 2008
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ANOTHER SATURDAY..THREE HOMES WORKED ON, THREE RESTORES, MANY TOUCH THE HABITAT MISSION IN WESTCHESTER..LIFE IS GOOD.
From Grenwich High school, to Horace Greeley to Polytechnic University to other individual volunteers, many are working with us to get it done..helping us to move to the next level..helping us, and others are sending their end of the year support..Our work is so vital..our mission so essential...one of our homeowners, Eileen and her four children will move into their new home before the end of Thanksgiving..no question..the closing happened yesterday, it was a blessing to be able to see how happy she was with her father there...
the lawyers are happy even and the title company..our work brings joy to all, when we celebrate another victorious family, blessed family, blessed work..the signing of the closing papers, i sign, represent all of you, your hours of sweat equity, your volunteerism, from Bedford Presbyterian to Rippowan school, to the Bedell Fund to St. Mathews, from Fox Lane High to Harvey High school..all so blesseds!!!!!! so the ink of a pen, represents the blood and sweat of so many, the culmination of the last nail in the home, the walking over the threshold..the dreamakers in children who now sleep in warm rooms, and the love and prayers of all ofyou who helped to make it so possible....in all we say and do let us give Thanks to the Lord, for all you have done~!!!!
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Gratitude infused outlook...thats what we need to have states Deborah Norville..for sure..we need to be able to have an attitude of gratitude..King David always stated that in his psalms..how much we take for granted...
an attitude of gratitude was in order for so much on Sat. and Sun whe i saw hundreds touch our homes...touch our Restores volunrteer from westchester to the S BRonx...
from NYC they came from NYU from Katonah to Yonkers...from Harvey, from Chappaqua and Horace Greeley to Mamoroneck, from Grenwich Ct. to Rye NY, three different areas, volunteers came to work our sites...that is an attitude of gratitude I have for what we have created with a dedicated team and lots of hard work, community organizing and sharing the word on what needs to be really done to fix our communities..then this morning Dave Litzky calls, after seeing me yesterday on his bike, lets get a high school club in Mt Vernon going...lets make it happen...he calls the principal and a meeting is set for the school..so an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE..last ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE TO RON PINELLA, FROM STRUCTURETONE, AND POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY..sending future construciton leaders onto our sites to get practical experience, like FX architects want to in a 100 plus firm..its all good, actually its all GREAT!
God bless, jjk
Friday, November 07, 2008
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A great day, a closing for a mom and her four kids today..no quesion, in Bedford, yes, a beautiful home there, built with love, by Chuck an d Wayne, and rich and steve and Juan, and Fox Lane and Bedford Presbyterian and Rippowam School and St. Mathews and the Bedell Fund and in partnership wth Blue mountain and the town..to give is to be blessed, is the belief and reality, and those who give..are blessed... a neighbor in Bedford stated, I am a good neighbor, make tall trees so i cant see the house..this person who said he went to church, has to look long and hard..if he thinks he will be blessed..after a heated discussion with him, i told him i would pray for him, that his faith was a joke if he believed that was being a good neighbor, and that a new day was coming....this is kind of whast we need to think about in westchester..i will help in nicaragua, i will help in yonkers, i will help and be a good Christian, jew Muslim in Mt Vernon or NYC, but wait..put the trees up and the fence and economic,ethnic and racial barrier in my town, on my plot line, in my school walls, in my street...in my pew....what do we think God will bless that???? so now in the time of CHANGE, WATCH...those who had much will have little those who gave much will have lots, those who embraced will survive, those who planted trees, will see them die...God bless you all, pray for that person, pray for Westchester, and real change, in your congregation, school, pew, town, home, and heart...jjk
Thursday, November 06, 2008
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In all we say and do let us give Thanks!!!! A new day, a new direction we all hope…let us see, plant a seed today of donation to help for the future.. like a farmer planting, plant a seed of donation for a better tomorrow.. 1 billion dollars was planted in the election, for a better tomorrow..what about now on the ground, common ground of community support and real community building with Habitat…I was blessed to speak to the founder of Habitat this week..like our President, he has inspired millions to believe that it is unacceptable that anyone goes to bed at nite in substandard housing..we too believe that here in Westchester …that in this great county NO ONE, NO ONE..from the cradle to our elderly , from the worker, to the health care nurse, should have substandard housing…now is the time for real change..not just one of political will, but of individual responsibility and volunteerism, or sacrificing or giving to others…no question…whether there is a new president, a new state senator, or council person, it is up to us on the streets where we work and live, the offices and factories we participate in, and the faith we all bring as one community to now get it right. God bless, jjk
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