Publish Date: 07/22/2010
Berthoud Habitat dedicates third home
Thank You to all the builders and volunteers
Berthoud Recorder.... click here to read entire article

Publish Date: 07/20/2010
Berthoud Habitat dedicates third home
Recipients: Angie Purdy and her two children
Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer.... click here to read entire article

Publish Date: 05/14/2010
Valspar Paint & Coatings donates paint
Berthoud Surveyor
Anne Reichenberg

Publish Date: 03/06/2010
Habitat Restore will be moving
sometime mid-year
Thank you to all the builders
Anne Reichenberg

Our Habitat Restore will be moving midyear 2010.                 
The new Restore is under construction on the SE corner of 2nd St. and Mountain Ave. The land was purchased and we acquired a construction loan to cover the building cost. After the move to the new store we expect to save approximately $600 a month in operating costs. The main floor building is 6,000sqft. The second story of 4800sqft for storage will be accessible by stairs and a conveyer belt will make the storage process easy.  This brick finish is in the theme of downtown Berthoud.

Publish Date: 03/06/2010
Currently constructing a home at 1712 4th street
Thank you to all the participants
Anne Reichenberg

Berthoud Habitat for Humanity is currently constructing a home at 1712 4th street.
Our partnering family is a single mother of two children. Angie Purdy along with her son Noah and daughter Heidi have given Berthoud Habitat a challenge in constructing a handicapped accessible home. Mike and Marilyn Cook, our construction managers, hope to have the family moved into the home before   June 30, so they may take advantage of the first time home owner’s incentive.

The Family selection committee is looking for our next family. Please attend our orientation on March 25 at 7:30 at Guaranty Bank in Berthoud. Contact Karen 970-663-7320 for more information.
Example of Berthoud Family Qualification:  4 person family will qualify with an income of between 22,537.20 and 33,805.80 and meet the other guidelines involved.

Publish Date: 11/01/2009
Berthoud Habitat Truck gets new Look
www.hardysphoto.com
Tim Hardy

The Berthoud Habitat Truck was recently rebranded for the Thrift store to reflect their new logo for RESTORE. The graphics were done locally in Berthoud by Tim Hardy of www.hardysphoto.com. The truck was donated by the Re/Max office team of realtors at RE/Max Town and Country Real Estate.

Publish Date: 0/0/0000
Berthoud Habitat Hoedown
Thank you to all the participants
Anne Reichenberg

Berthoud Habitat for Humanity would like thank all the participants who attended the Habitat Hoedown. It was an unbelievable good time and we rose over $12,000. I hope you enjoyed yourselves. God Bless you for your generosity. I would like to apologize for a few mishaps and I will use those as a learning process.

I would like to thank are Table Sponsors: Berthoud Area Chamber, Berthoud Weekly Surveyor, Data Network Group, E&M Fish Farm/Madifine Mercantile, HomeState Bank, Mueller & Associates CPA, Oleo Acres Farrier Supply, Ross & Linda Armour, and Spiral Up LLC. Their generosity help fund the event.

I would also like to thank our wonderful sponsors who donated those fabulous auction items.

Adams Bank, Berthoud Custom Framing, Berthoud Vision, Berthoud Habitat Thrift Store, Bill Markham, Boulders Dinner Theatre, Brookside Events Center, Candlewood Suits, CO Eagles, CO Rapids, CO Rose Cake Co., Nina Cox, Debbie Davis, Destination West, Denver Aquarium, Durango Silverton, Egg & I, Eldora Mountain Resort, Elite Island Cruise, Embassy Suites, Gilpin Casino, Happy Tails/Sun Pony Ranch, Henry’s Pub, Jesters Playhouse, Karen Parks, Kellie Manely, Limo Express, Longmont Dairy, Longmont Theatre, Lodge Casino, McGuckins, Mike Cook, Outback Steak House, Paul Mueller, Picture This Custom Framing, Sally Nibblink, Schmitz Bakery, Swanson House, The Group Inc., Tom Boy Tools, Wal-Mart Distribution Center, Wal-Mart Longmont/Loveland, and YMCA of the Rockies.

I have a special thank you to Carolyn/Dan Kube, the Tinney Brothers, and Karen Parks for setting up. Christy Michel, Michele Groat, & Mike Cook for the door entry. Clarissa Norris, Suzanne Doles, for making sure things ran smoothly. Sharon Gingerich for the beautiful table decorations. Ric Haskins, Sharon Gingerich, Scott Banzhaf, for the checkout process. Ferran Stroh our Auctioneer, Mike our bar tender, Log Cabin Liquor, Subway, The Rib House, Tom Patterson/ Bob Michel are host speakers and anyone I may have forgot. Thank you one and all.

God Bless
Anne Reichenberg
Berthoud Habitat for Humanity, Executive Consultant.

Publish Date: 08/27/2009
Onward and Upward! Berthoud Habitat Receives Grant
The Berthoud Recorder
Jamie Folsom

Publish Date: 01/22/2009
Berthoud Habitat for Humanity Fundraisers HUGE success!
The Berthoud Recorder
Sandy Barnes

By Sandy Barnes Berthoud Recorder A new building for the Berthoud Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store is among this year’s plans for the organization, said President Rick Haskins. A while ago, Berthoud Habitat directors decided the present thrift store building on Massachusetts Avenue wasn’t large enough, and bought property on Second Street to construct a more spacious ... Full Story

Publish Date: 0/0/0000
Berthoud Habitat for Humanity Fundraisers HUGE success!
Thank you to all our sponsors!
Anne Reichenberg

The annual 5K run was one of the largest runs ever. We had 268 runners for the 5K and 58 runners for the 1K. The weather was fabulous, the course was smooth, the music was enjoyed by all and our MC’s (Mayor, Tom Patterson & Senator Kevin Lundburg) who did a remarkable job.  In the park for Berthoud day, Culvers Ice Cream custard donated $1.00 to Berthoud Habitat for every sale they made; Collins Cashway Lumber, Rick Taylor and Michael Cook, with the Help Build the Next Berthoud Habitat Home “Stick by Stick” event, where people purchase and decorate studs for the next home build, with the proceeds going to Berthoud Habitat; and Daryl Watson and his fabulous barbeque booth donated all sale proceeds to Berthoud Habitat. We believe these fundraisers, combined, raised close to $8,000.
.... click here to read entire article

Publish Date: 0/0/0000
Berthoud Habitat Home #3
Berthoud Habitat Board
Anne Reichenberg

Berthoud Habitat house number three is under way at 1712 4th street.
On June 3rd, the excavation equipment (donated by Gopher excavation, Rex Suits) moved the dirt to start the basement of our third home. On June 5th the concrete foundation was poored. Coldwell Bankers of Longmont financed the foundation with a $15,000 donation on April 25 at our ground breaking ceremony. On May 28th, Berthoud Habitat received another substancial grant of $11,826 from Softwood Lumber, a grant made possible by Habitat International.

Publish Date: 0/0/0000
Berthoud Habitat Home #2 COMPLETE!
Berthoud Habitat Board
Anne Reichenberg

The 2nd Habitat Home is now complete and is now the home of the Smith Family.

Publish Date: 01/27/2009
Bridgman: Mission accomplished
The Surveryor
Rick Padden

Peter Bridgman, a founding member and driving force behind Berthoud’s Habitat for Humanity, is stepping away from his leadership role — content that the organization is stable, thriving and ready to carry on in his absence.“We’ve got all the pieces in place now,” Bridgman said Tuesday. “We have the land to build houses on, the money and the volunteers to get them built. I don’t think Berthoud Habitat really needs me any longer, and now comes an opportunity for someone else to get as big a bang out of it as I have.” Bridgman may no longer be needed, but he’ll no doubt be missed. In his 12 years as organizer and spokesman for the organization, he has helped accomplish just about every goal that was set. Two homes have been built on the seven-acre site owned by Habitat on North Fourth Street, and there are enough lots remaining to last another eight years; a prosperous and financially viable thrift store in Berthoud supplies funding to continue building houses and has generated enough of a surplus to allow for the construction of a new building; Habitat’s annual 5k run has become a signature event and has earned a solid place on Berthoud’s calendar; a fundraising breakfast has been established as another source of revenue ($20,000 just last Saturday); and relationships have been nurtured with area churches, newspapers, town officials and the Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce.“This is the perfect time to retire and go out on the crest of the wave,” Bridgman said. “The community has rallied around us to such a huge extent, making Habitat successful. It’s reached a stage where we’ve implemented just about all of the ideas we’ve dreamed of. I have to give a huge thank you to the community for the opportunity of being involved with it all.” He’s not going anywhere — he just won’t be on the front lines organizing anymore, he said. “Habitat will always have a very special place in my heart.” Bridgman started the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity after watching a good friend achieve success with the Loveland chapter 15 years ago. “I was sitting in a Sunday school class in the Methodist church,” he said,” thinking here we sit every week, saying all these good things. I thought it was time we put our faith to the test.” An organizing meeting drew 50 people, and Bridgman knew then that he would plow ahead. What was then Berthoud National Bank donated a house, but said it would have to be moved, and Doc Fickel donated land behind the Berthoud Bed and Breakfast to put it on. But the house was larger than most Habitat homes, Bridgman said, so it was moved, reconstructed and sold to raise money. That would be the beginning for an organization that has become one of Berthoud’s most successful and supported

Publish Date: 01/27/2009
Bridgman named Citizen of the Year
The Surveryor
Rudy Hemman

The Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual installation dinner on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 24 at the L & M Garden Center located at 735 East Highway 56. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the prestigious Berthoud Citizen of the Year Award. This year the award was bestowed upon Peter Bridgman, one of the founding members and a driving force behind the local Habitat for Humanity organization. Another of the founding members of Habitat, Mayor Tom Patterson, gave the presentation address for the award. In his remarks Patterson stated, “A number of people see Berthoud through Peter Bridgman because he was the contact (for Habitat) in so many different arenas for a number of years. The 5K race every year at Berthoud Day, that’s Peter. Helping families into homes and giving them a new way of life, that’s Peter. These were his ideas.”“Patterson went on to point out that Bridgman “has the type of mind that can take adversity and change it to our advantage … Peter has been the embodiment of good Christian ethics in Berthoud through the eyes of everybody connected with Habitat for Humanity for a number of years and, we are inordinately grateful.” Of Bridgman, who has stepped
away from his leadership role with Habitat, Patterson said simply, “We are really going to miss him.” Patterson finished his remarks by stating, “Serendipitously, I want you to join me tonight, because by accident, today is Peter’s Birthday.” He then led the gathering in a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday” for Bridgman. Bridgman began his acceptance speech by stating to Patterson “My turn.” He went on to say, “After being suitably embarrassed by all of you I am extremely proud to accept this award … Amazingly enough, 12 years ago we had this idea of starting a Berthoud Habitat. It amazes me — we were talking at the table and somebody said, ‘Does it amaze you that we even got this going?’ I had to admit that I had written some words to myself … about five years ago, saying that Berthoud Habitat was going to fail and that it should be wrapped up in about a year; it was not sustainable. And here we are today. We’re building houses, we’re giving families a second chance at life, we have a thrift store that’s one of the vibrant businesses in downtown Berthoud. We’re marching forward. And the reason is quite simple. The reason is all of you; you have supported Habitat in many ways. You have supported it with your time, with your talent and with your treasures. You deserve the success that Berthoud Habitat is achieving.” Bridgman ended by stating that he and his wife, Barbara, were working on their “bucket list” of things that they want to accomplish in life. He assured the audience that they would be the first to hear of his next “wild and crazy idea.” Others who were nominated for the award were Berthoud High School music instructor, Paula Latchaw, the leader of the Bridge Between Show Choir, Mark French, president of the Berthoud Historical Society, and Melissa O’Leary, a community leader active in the recent Christmas in Berthoud campaign. Two other awards of note were presented during the evening. A Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented for the first time and is to be known as the“Doc” Fickel Award, was given to R. B. “Doc” Fickel for his years of community service and philanthropy in Berthoud. During a brief acceptance speech Fickel remarked that he probably holds the current record for number of years as a chamber member. He stated that one of the first things that he did upon moving to Berthoud was join the Chamber of Commerce. Another tradition was begun with the presentation of an Ambassador of the Year award which was given to Kim Bernhardt, owner of the Quick Print Shop. One more item of “official” business
was conducted during the evening with the passing of the gavel from outgoing 2008 Chamber President, Agi Donahue, to the incoming 2009 President, Stephanie Hartsel. The 2009 elected board of directors for the Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce are as follows:
Stephanie Hartsel, president, Debbie Davis, vice-president, Verna Covey, secretary, Kitty Peterson, treasurer, Brad Pickert, Ginger Fedak, Bill Markham, Barb Mitteis, Dr. Jeff Bruno and Kathy Knapp.

Publish Date: 0/0/0000
Home Sweet Home #2
The Surveryor
Bob McDonnell

Shawn and Becki Smith Habitat home is the second official Habitat home in town, according to Berthoud Habitat construction manager and long-time supporter, Tom Patterson had high praise for the local family, consisting of Shawn and Becki and their children Gabe and Katrina. The way the young couple speaks to each other with respect, and their parenting skills, were what impressed Patterson the most. He summed up his assessment of the Smiths as being a good family. Patterson has known the couple for many years. He said he taught Shawn in the eighth grade at Bill Reed School in Loveland. Becki father (Morris Churchill) was the minister at the Presbyterian Church they all attend. The Smiths have had some challenges in finding suitable housing in the past. They rented in both Berthoud and Loveland and had a mobile home at one point. Shawn knew he wanted to make his permanent home in Berthoud after serving in the Navy. Becki, a Berthoud High graduate, agreed. Shawn said this is where he wants to retire some day. The cozy, almost 1,200 square foot house is just what the family needed. Shawn looked out the front door and remarked on the beautiful view of the mountains. The family, including their dog Maggie, is settling in, and the house is becoming a home. One of the ways each family member is making the place theirs is through the use of color. Shawn jokingly called their new residence the house of many colors. The sun-lit kitchen is a cheery orange, and the two kids were able to personalize their rooms with paint too. Gabe picked red and blue from his favorite movie character,“Lightning McQueen.” Younger sister Katrina opted for a shade of purple, and mom and dad picked yellow for the master bedroom. Habitat homes are awarded based on need and the ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest loan. After a family is qualified, they must also do what is called, “sweat equity,” which means helping to build the home. The Smiths logged 500 hours on their home, and they recruited some extended family to help.Even Gabe and Katrina helped by sweeping and cleaning as the project progressed. The Smiths will close on the house on Fourth Street in April, and there will be a dedication ceremony too. For now, they are getting on with their lives. Shawn is a production worker at a manufacturing company and Becki works at a local nursing home. Tom Patterson and Berthoud Habitat will continue to work with the Smiths. The nurturing committee will keep in contact with them and offer counseling on topics such as finance and budgeting. Berthoud Habitat for Humanity is part of Habitat for Humanity International, which is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization. The organization brings together people with resources and people in need, to build decent, affordable houses. Millard Fuller founded the organization in 1976. Fuller passed away at age 76 on Feb. 3 of this year. Habitat for Humanity has built and sold more than 125,000 houses that have provided shelter for more than 625,000 people worldwide. To learn more about the local Habitat for Humanity or to find out about volunteer opportunities, call 532-2870 or go to www.berthoudhabitat.org

Publish Date: 0/0/0000
Habitat Continues to Help in Berthoud
The Surveryor
Bob McDonnell

On April 25, the Habitat for Humanity home dedication and groundbreaking ceremonies occurred despite
cold temperatures and a hint of moisture in the air. Approximately 30 people braved the elements to witness the event. Rick Haskins, president of the local Habitat board, and Tom Patterson, town mayor and one of the founders of the local Habitat organization, welcomed the group. Richard Kackstaetter and Rod Burgess of the L.D.S. church led an opening prayer and the house dedication. Tom Patterson said the event was “not about the house, but about people.” Shawn Smith and his family own the home. The local Habitat board was recognized as the second Habitat home in Berthoud was dedicated and ground was broken for a third home on Fourth Street. Representatives from Coldwell Banker Real Estate presented a check for $15,000, much of which they raised through a 300-mile bike ride.

Publish Date: 0/0/0000
Banking on Habitat
The Berthoud Recorder
Gary Wamsley

Kimberly Buxbaum, Berthoud branch manager for Bank of the West hands a check for $1,000 to Ric Haskins, president of the Berthoud Habitat for Humanity. According to Buxbaum, “Bank of the West is a strong supporter of non profit organizations within their communities with an emphasis on organizations that are geared towards low to moderate income housing projects and building in their communities.”

Haskins thanked Buxbaum for the bank’s generosity and said, “This money, like all donated money, will go toward construction of a house.”

Publish Date: 03/17/2007
Maggi Town and Country donates Truck
Habitat Board
Sharon Gingerich

Berthoud, March 17, 2007 - In an act of charitable good will, Gary Maggi of Maggi Town & Country Real Estate, Inc. - handed the title and keys to their 1996 Isuzu NPR Cargo Van to Sharon Gingerich, manager of the Berthoud Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store.

"We are extremely thankful for this generous donation and very excited to have our own truck." said Sharon , "Now, all we have to do is find ourselves a driver!"  Indeed, the store is continually seeking all types of volunteers, including people to sort through donations; design displays, and of course, drive the new truck.

If you are looking for fun way to give back to your community, pop in and talk to Sharon Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm ,  call  or submit an online application on our Volunteer Information Page, or call the Thrift Store at 970-532-2870.

The Thrift Store was opened May, 2005 as a way to generate funding for housing materials and has been very successful thanks to the tireless efforts of manager Sharon Gingerich and her staff.  For more information about the Thrift Store, check out the Berthoud Habitat For Humanity Thrift Store page.

Publish Date: 0/0/0000
Construction on Home #2!
Habitat for Humanity
Unknown

We plan to start digging the foundation on House #2 any time now. Then the construction moves into full swing. We plan to take the show on the road, but how can we do that? Well we plan to bring a bunch of 2 x 4 studs to your church and invite you to take one home and paint it, sign it or even put your favorite scripture on it. When done then return it to the job site on 4^th Street and Water Ave. We will then incorporate your specially prepared stud right into the house. So a part of your spirit will protect our partnering family.

Publish Date: 0/0/0000
Opportunities for YOU!
Habitat for Humanity
Peter Bridgman

If you own an excavator or a loader we need you to help us dig the foundation.
If you can use a phone and or e-mail…
You could help us inform our volunteers of upcoming work on house #2.
If you have a valid drivers license… You could pick up donated items in our van recently donated by Maggi Town and Country Real Estate.If you can swing a hammer… Check our web page for upcoming work on the house at www.berthoudhabitat.orgIf you have a surplus of stuff in your house… Donate it to the Thrift Store.
To respond to any of these opportunities contact Sharon at the Thrift Store at 532-2870 and she will direct you to the correct person. Or go to our web page at www.berthoudhabitat.org  See you soon.