BACK TO THE GULF COAST

2016 marks the tenth year of Paterson Habitat's building efforts on the Gulf Coast. The team is excited to be going back, with flights south this Wednesday.

     But first, it is FAT TUESDAY.

          Today ... Mardi Gras.

               Tomorrow ... New Orleans!

A great little place in Orange, NJ, the Hat City Kitchen had a celebration. Some of us from the team were there along with other of the Paterson Habitat regulars. It was: music, beads, masks, and Cajun food, getting in the mood for the Big Easy.

All the above from our Fat Tuesday evening. But, don't be mislead by the frivolity. We will be there in New Orleans to work. To give a "hand up" to a deserving family and help them into a safe new home. Our team is from Paterson Habitat and we like working on new construction. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Thanks!

Barbara said it best when she offered a toast at dinner. A thank you to the team for their time in Bay St. Louis, for their patience with sometimes tough work, for doing it all with good humor, and for the successful work of Paterson's Build. And from the team, big thanks to Barbara for being our consummate leader!

PUNCH LIST = COMPLETE!

FINAL GATHERING ... THE PATERSON TEAM

More onsite job work

Last day, Thursday: The team photographers found some of the volunteers doing exterior work as part of the rehab at 6194 Grenada St.

STEPS AT FRONT DOOR AND ALSO SIDE DOOR:

ANDY AND ED REPLACING TREDS ON THE FRONT STEPS

STEVE DOING THE SAME AT THE SIDE ENTRY

REHAB THE BACKYARD SHED WITH A NEW DOOR:

DENNIS INSTALLS A NEW HASP

A LEFTOVER PAINT WASHUP PIX!

BARBARA WITH THE WASH HOSE

And finally, Linda had worked in the attic of the second house we were assigned on Grenada St. It was a tough job and when finished, she went back to our rooms for a shower. That was OK, but then she couldn't find the return route to the job site. Exhausting efforts and many turns and with no result, she called for help. A car went to her location and she followed back. Yeah ... Here is Linda returned to the site.

LINDA, "THANKS FOR COMING TO MY RESCUE!"

More photos to be uploaded

Just now back in New Jersey after a very productive and satisfying time on the Gulf Coast. More photos by Billy and Nancy to be posted.

Check back later.

Did we say PAINT?

Thursday became a big rush with paint. Putting brushes to walls and more, we hastened to finish a few rooms. By quitting time we had:

Three bedrooms painted, ceilings, walls, trim, with one getting a coat of covering primer first.

Painted one bathroom, and two closets.

Sanded and painted railings on front steps.

Plus some additional paint surprises on clothing and skin. :-)

A FIVE GALLON PAIL OF PAINT KEEPS JAN MIXING

BARBARA DOESN'T WANT ANY PAINT IN HER HAIR. HA!

JIM WORKING BETWEEN TWO GREAT LOOKING WINDOWS

NANCY BRUSHING THE WALLS

DEBBIE AND KAREN, PAINT JAR IN HAND

Some of Billy's pix

From the last several days:

WHILE THE PLANE DELAYED NEW JERSEY FOLKS WERE
STILL IN NEWARK, DINNER WAS SERVED IN MISSISSIPPI.
L-R: STEVE, DENNIS, LINDA, ED, ANDY, JAN, AND BARBARA

MAKING THE HABITAT MARDI GRAS FLOAT

KAREN AND DEBBIE  AND BEADS

IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE JERSEY SHORE, SAYS NANCY.

Was looking for warm temps too wishful?

Definitely layering clothing. And, can we believe it? Overnight temps in the low to mid twentys! Yikes. Where are the down jackets?

A few more views from Bay St. Louis. At day's end on this Wednesday, we all gathered back at Lorraine's house. We have developed a special friendship with her and have empathy for her situation. A 15-year veteran of the New Orleans Police force as a mounted policewoman, she was unable to continue in the job following an accident related to her work. Now faced with health issues and house problems she applied to Habitat for one of the weatherization grants they offered and was accepted.

Our new, lovely friend, Lorraine is in the front row, fourth from left.

The above 6" plywood from the side of the house where the new range duct exited was saved by Billy. Inscribed "Lorraine, wishing you ... A whole lot of love from Paterson Habitat. Bless you. Bless you." It now sits on the mantlepiece of her fireplace and is treasured by Lorraine.

Grenada St.

After two days of the team working on Lorraine's house, we were split between two houses today. Three returned to finish up at Lorraine's and the remainder went to 6194 Grenada for rehab on a place that will be eventually rented out.

Essentially the building is strong on the outside, but not inside. For the interior work there was more than enough to do. Scraping floors, removing woodwork around doors, much needed scrubbing and cleanup in the kitchen and the beginning of painting bedrooms.

JIM SCRAPING OLD LINOLEUM RESIDUE.

ED JUST REMOVED DOOR FRAMING
AND WILL REPACE WITH NEW WOOD

AND BELOW, KAREN WITH THE KITCHEN TASK.

          ANDY WALKS THROUGH CENTER HALL.

All on Fat Tuesday

No Mardi Gras parades for us today. Ours was Monday in Bay St. Louis and on this last evening of Mardi Gras we celebrated at dinner.

PATERSON HABITAT AT DARWELL'S,
A FUNKY RESTAURANT WITH GREAT NEW ORLEANS STYLE FOOD

Earlier, late afternoon a few of the team gathered for a photo with homeowner of our now "weatherized house".

Left to right: NANCY, LINDA, HOMEOWNER LORRAINE,
BARBARA, DEBBIE AND JAN

HOMEOWNER HOUSE FOR WEATHERIZATION

It is cold in Mississippi

Habitat Builds are not always about new construction. That is true for the Paterson team this week in Bay St. Louis as they are layering up to stay comfortable in low 40 something temps this work week. 

We have been tasked with working on the weatherization program. Funded by gifts from a generous donor, local residents accepted for this program, receive grants for Habitat's help to improve conditions in their homes. Residents will benefit from work projects listed below and which will result in household efficencies plus expected reduction in heating and ulitility 

OUR WEATHERIZATION PROJECTS INCLUDE:

Insulating crawl space under house and In attic

Installing an insulating blanket cover on hot water heater

Adding foam insulation behind switch plates and outlet plates

Installing a range hood (mandatory) over stove

Installing (at later date) central air and heating to replace inefficient window units

Weatherizing entrance doors

HABITAT STAFFER, CHUCK, WITH DEBBIE AND NANCY
WEATHERSTRIPPING THE BACK DOOR.

Two fences

It is springtime on the Gulf Coast. Pictures tell it true with blooms along a white picket fence. Looks lovely and warm. Very inviting. Barbara's photo today.

It is wintertime today in New Jersey. Can't wait to head south.

Your flight has been cancelled!

Yes, can you believe? Again?

Last year on the departure day, some of the team got a similar message. Due to extreme weather conditions and they couldn't get rebooked for two days. They never made it to the Build.

This year, same message, and due to snow and winds gusting between 50 and 60 mph. But unlike 2014, the four of us traveling on this same flight were lucky enough to get rebooked on a plane Sunday night ... arriving in New Orleans by midnight. At 11:58 p.m.! I guess ithat qualifies as same day travel. :-)

Nancy is ready, with a team shirt of the New Orleans Saints. Hopefully no Giants fans nor Jets fans will deny boarding privileges.

A return to the Gulf Coast, 2015

Paterson Habitat's team of volunteers returns for the 8th year to work with local people in the Bay/Waveland Habitat affiliate. With February 15 the arrival day, next day, Monday, the 16th, will find the team on the job site.

Two of the Patersom team from 2014 will travel again for this year's 4-day Build with Bay/Waveland Habitat. Photo below shows Jim nailing flooring and Nancy operating the power saw. Both are pleased to return.

STAY UPDATED. Check in again on this blog for daily posts.

Four days on the job site

Bay/Waveland was glad to have us on the site for 4 days this year. Our work saved them many hours and certainly gave good progress to a house for a new homeowner.


PATERSON TEAM IN MISSISSIPPI,
JOINED BY A FEW OF THE BAY/WAVELAND REGULARS.



Back again in 2014

February arrived in the northeast this year with multiple blasts of snow, sleet and ice. Yuk!

We are glad to get out and return south to the Gulf Coast. Maybe slightly warmer? For this, the seventh time a team trip here has been sponsored by Paterson Habitat.

Most team members will be arriving in New Orleans on Sunday, February 16th and then will drive east for the one hour to our site in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Forecasts indicate that it will probably not be shirt sleeve weather for the workdays. So we plan for the layered look. Well-layered!

And goodbye to the snow for awhile.

The 2012 Mississippi team

Five days on the site. Assigned tasks completed on two houses.

• Was it hard work? YES.
• Rewarding? YES.
• Satisfying?  YES.

Twelve team members, eleven from New Jersey and one from California in front of House 2.

Front row: (l to r) Manny, Bob, Craig, Diana, Nancy

Top row: Stephen, Don, Dave, Clare, Barbara, Andy, Bob

Blessing the builders

FRAMED PHOTO TELLS IT RIGHT

Lead by the local staff, a ceremony was held at noon. Bay Waveland Habitat offers thanks to Paterson for their partnership. The framed photo says, "We'll have a hard time filling your shoes. Thanks for stepping in."

"In response to the overwhelming need in our community after Hurricane Katrina, Paterson Habitat for Humanity reached out to our community to restore hopes, lives and dreams to our families. Through generous financial gifts and numerous construction trips to the Gulf Coast, they have made a lasting impact in Hancock County., We give thanks for their compassion. They have modeled to us all....."

BARB ADDS A BLESSING TO THE INTERIOR FRAMING

A week quickly gone by

FRIDAY:
Five days on the job and much accomplished. Projects continued this morning.

TOOL TRAILER KEPT WELL ORGANIZED BY NJ TEAM

BOARD FOR COMPLETING THE CLOSET FOR
THE HOUSE'S HEATING/AC UNIT

NAILING THE BOARD IN PLACE.

REUNION....
LAST TOGETHER IN 2009 FOR THE CARTER BUILD IN THAILAND;
NANCY (NJ), MARK (MS), MANNY (CA) AND CRAIG (NJ)

Where's Bob?

LOST AND FOUND:

Mid afternoon, someone realized that Bob R. had not been seen for a while. Ooops. We do need to return home with him. We sent out the troops. Checked every nook and cranny on the site and no sign of him. A car from the team was dispatched to scour the nearby streets. Out for 45 minutes, he thankfully returned saying that he had been sent out on an errand. Hmmmm? An errand he says. Hmmmm.

The Habitat story is not just about the construction of houses, it is also about the families. This week we met two of these families.

Sherry and her daughter, Brittany, are working on their sweat equity. They have been assigned a house and are hoping to accumulate the needed 250 hours in the next couple months. Three of the mornings this week they and Brittany's friend, Ashley, were on site. If they keep this up, for sure they should be in their home by April. Also a 9-year old daughter's good grades in school will provide additional points toward the total.

Tara and Shevis will move into the house we labeled, House 1, and spent Thursday at the site. It was great to talk with them and share their excitement for their new Habitat home as we joined them on the front steps of this house for this shot (below). This house is the 199th house built at the BayWaveland Habitat affiliate.

Some of what we completed today...

1. Diana and Nancy: Railings on the side deck of House 2

2. Clare, Dave and Craig: Installed windows in House 1

3. Andy and Bob G.: installed both front and rear doors House 1

4. Steve and Don: sheathed roof on House 1 

5. Bob R.: working the power saw for all the precisely measured requests

6. Barbara and Manny: installed waterproofing sheathing House 1

7. All: posed with good humor for photos

HOORAY FOR THE NJ WOMEN