Today, Mayor Roughton and the women of Lowe’s papered and lathed the Dominguez family’s new home in Jurupa Valley. Lowe’s is also donating a $5,000 Lowe’s store gift card to put towards the Dominguez’s home in support of the National Women Build Week.

Margaret Scott from the LDS church wrote, “Jurupa Valley saw some real change due to the efforts of more than 300 volunteers Saturday.  It is incredible what can be accomplished with planning and determination on all sides… I do not speak for myself alone when I say  we all left with a warm feeling in our hearts.  The warm feeling that only comes from being of service to our fellow man.”

Horseshoe Lake Park Clean Up263 Volunteers!

This project took tremendous participation and preparation. John Todd from the Jurupa Rotary and the LDS church organized church group participation and Brad Hancock Jurupa Rotary and the LDS church prepared the area and provided superior construction and generated support on Saturday. As a result, volunteers from the local LDS churches, Jurupa Valley City Council, Jurupa Rotary, Union Bank, Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District, Girl Scout Troop #32 gathered early in the morning. Often equipped with their own tools, volunteers started a process that will change what used to be a dumping ground into a park.

Over 50 tires were removed from the western basin. of rocks, weeds, junk, paper, and other types of trash was removed. Rust was removed from the corral, given a coat of primer and was painted silver. The southern parking lot was leveled and marked off using cement parking stops. A new shelter off Lakewood Drive was placed on the property. Dead trees and old stumps were cut up with chain saws and removed and about of bender board was installed along the new walking path. To top it off, 2 cement monument signs have been purchased for JARPD to install.

Mike Frederick and his ETI-6 folks set up camp, barbequed and fed Horseshoe Lake Park volunteers.  As the participation grew in the day, neighbors took interest, signed up and went to work. Habitat project manager Scott Andrews noted, “It was a great team effort. We have pictures of small children trying to pick up rocks as big as they are, and of the older generation doing whatever they could to help their fellow man. It was an inspiration to see all these families working together for a common goal. As I said that day, because the park is so huge, yet we had 200 volunteers, it looked like an army of ants roaming the site, lifting more than you could imagine. I tip my hat to one and all.”

Veterans Memorial Park51 Volunteers!

Supervisor Tavaglione’s office also provided a volunteer force for Veterans Memorial Park. Led by Intern Tiffany Estevez, 17 volunteers from Supervisor Tavaglione’s 2nd District Youth Advisory Council matched up with Habitat families, Union Bank and Jurupa Valley City Council Member Mike Goodland.

Volunteers finished the entire project.  With of paint, they restored newly rebuilt benches, ballfields, the snackbar, announcer booths, grandstands, picnic tables, and the playground. Veterans Memorial Park sparkles with new color.

Bravo Estates Mobile Home Rehabilitation140 Volunteers

Completely fueled by volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, Bravo Estates Mobile Home Park witnessed a transformation. Habitat project manager Kathy Michalak noted, “I have to tell you that from my side, it was an amazing day… as we were cleaning up at each [mobile] home, several of the homeowners approached us and hugged us. They were so thrilled. I know that some of your [LDS] team members got hugs before they left as well.

“One elderly man especially comes to mind, the owner in #81. He searched me down about half way through the project because he was concerned that there weren’t enough people to finish his house. I told him we were on it and we would get it done. At the end of the day, when we were wrapping up, he came up to me and gave me a bear hug. He told me that this was the best thing that ever happened to him in his life. He and his wife just kept walking around the house marveling at the work your team [LDS church] did. That’s what it’s all about. Making a difference for people…”

A Habitat home wall raising is always a group effort.  The City of Jurupa Valley’s Mayor Laura Roughton and City Council Members Frank Johnston and Michael Goodland reserved their Saturday morning to spend some time working for the community.  Partner Laura Lopez with TORO showed up in a force with nine volunteers and the girls of the Habitat Dominguez family definitely put in the “Sweat” of Sweat Equity for the day. Even though it was blazing hot, everyone got a ton of work done and had a wonderful time. Not only was the Mayor, City Council and Toro there, But Keith Newel (our Energy Star inspector and his wife) were swinging hammers.

As these days tend to be a family affair, the Inland Empire Framing crew had the usual suspects of 5 volunteers and Brad brought his wife Theresa as always. Linda Pepenella (project manager Steve Pep’s wife) made sure everyone was hydrated by stuffing her tool belt full of water and distributing to volunteers the moment they paused to wipe a brow.  And of course the day went much smoother thanks to the donated fuel; the volunteer day started off with Starbucks and finished with burritos from Rubio’s.

Thanks to volunteer photographer John Gerson and Habitat staffer Kristii MacEwen for taking a gazillion photos to show the involvement, the hard work and the victories.

Debi Bagley, who was unable to attend the banquet, has been a volunteer with Habitat Riverside since 2004. She is also very involved with Riverside’s Rape Crisis Center. She serves on Habitat Riverside’s Board of Directors as Secretary and on the Fundraising Committee. Debi is one of our most devoted volunteers. Her support comes in many different forms. She attends special events and is often at the forefront of our fundraisers. We rely heavily on her expertise and opinion with home ownership/escrow related issues.

Therese Vetrino, who was able to attend and is pictured below, has volunteered on Habitat Riverside’s Family Selection Committee for many years.  After hours and on weekends, Therese has been a committed Family Selection Committee member. She attends late night committee meetings, conducts after work and on weekend home visits, and cheers on new Habitat families at their home dedication ceremonies. Therese provides our committee with specific knowledge in low income housing issues and facilitates discussions at Family Selection meetings to bring the committee to an accurate decision.

With a delicious dinner, entertainment, and speakers from the community, the banquet was a wonderful way to recognize the hard work Debi and Therese put in for Habitat Riverside.   Thanks to Community Connect for providing this free volunteer recognition for Riverside’s nonprofit community!

Habitat for Humanity Riverside staff, and Habitat homeowners want to thank all our donors, partners, sponsors, and supporters because without your help families like the Martinez would not be able to purchase an affordable home.