Athens Area Habitat for Humanity wishes you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Think you know all about Thanksgiving? Check out some fun facts, find out how football became a part of thanksgiving, and learn more about the first Thanksgiving courtesy of the History Channel.

ReStore Hot Item of the Week:

Christmas is coming soon! Don't forget about the ReStore when you are shopping for Christmas decor. We have Christmas tress, stockings, lights, garland, and more! Mention this posting and receive 10% off your purchase.

The ReStore is located at 532 Barber Street in Athens.

A View From The Builder: Tom's Blog

The past few weeks have been filled with progress on multiple projects. Beau is nearing completion on the new house for the Rahming family and I've been trying to knock out some of the Brush with Kindness jobs that have stacked up like a cord of wood in my office. We had a fantastic group of UGA students on Saturday to help re-roof a house for a needy family while others built a new front porch. Like Marlon Perkins and Jim Fowler of the Wild Kingdom show, uber-volunteer David lead the roof crew while I watched from the safety of the front yard.

Later in the week, I was joined by my always faithful intern, Katie who has been transforming the Habitat Homecoming float into a Christmas float along with Tom, Jessica and Adam. I appreciate all of your efforts tremendously (since painting is my least favorite activity after roofing).

Volunteers rock!

--Tom

ReStore Hot Item of the Week:

This great dresser is in excellent condition and selling for only $175. Hurry in today! Mention this posting and receive 10% off.

*Item must be purchased in person at the ReStore

We are located at...

Athens Habitat ReStore
532 Barber St (across the tracks)
Athens, GA 30603

1st Annual Commercial Contest: Deadline extended to Monday, November 16th @ 5:00pm.

It's not too late! Use this weekend to create a commercial for the ReStore. The winning commercial will air on tv!

The rules: No longer than 29.5 seconds for TV purposes. Humor usually receives the most attention, but is not a necessity. Please keep content clean. DVD's are preferred. Drop off videos at the Habitat for Humanity office located at 532 Barber St. Athens, GA. 30606. Along with video, please provide both an e-mail address and phone number. The contest is open to anyone!

1st Place - $60 Cash Card. Plus, commercial will be aired on local Athens, Ga. TV.

2nd Place - $40 Cash Card

3rd Place - $20 Cash Card

Have questions? E-mail wgwalker16(at)gmail.com.

This contest is put on by students in Leadership MGMT 5980. Management Majors of the Terry College of Business. University of Georgia.

It's Friday the Thirteenth!

Check out this informative article from the Red & Black for a little history behind the superstition!

The general consensus is... Bunco Night was tons of fun!

We had lots of beginners mixed with seasoned pros which made for a lively bunch of ladies! Thank you to everyone who came out and made this event such a success. Due to popular demand, be on the lookout for another Bunco Night presented by Women Build.

I had the pleasure of "having" to play to even out a table and I had an absolute blast. It was my first time playing and now I am hooked! I wanted to personally thank everyone for making the event so much fun. It was truly a pleasure meeting each and every one of you. And thank you to my partners who helped me work my way up the ladder from that last table!

- Laura Dempsey

Thank you to our food sponsors:

Marti's at Midday, Hilltop Grille, Ike & Jane, Dondero's Kitchen, Mama's Boy, Shiraz.

Thank you to our prize sponsors:

Arbor Salon & Spa, Ashford Manor Bed & Breakfast, Athens YMCA, Five & Ten, UGA Alumni Association, Phickles

We were Spotted! Check out more photos courtesy of the Athens Banner Herald.

Bunco Night was presented by Women Build. Click here to find out more about the Women Build program!

Bunco Night is here! and its not too late to sign up...

Registration is $25 per person and includes wine, food, and a chance to win some fantastic prizes! Register as a table of four and receive a discount.

Call 706-208-1001, visit www.AthensHabitat.com/WomenBuild or just show up tonight to register!

In addition to bunco prizes, we will be raffling some great items. Raffle tickets are only $10 a piece (or 3 for $25). Check out these terrific prizes!

Free night stay at Hotel Indigo
$50 gift certificate to Arbor Salon & Spa
Free facial by Mickey Wisenbaker at Arbor Salon & Spa
Free night stay at Ashford Manor Bed & Breakfast
3 month membership to Athens YMCA
$50 gift certificate Five & Ten
UGA Holiday serving platter courtesy of UGA Alumni Association
"Bark Like you Mean It" t-shirts courtesy of UGA Alumni Association
UGA rolling cooler
Beauty basket from Heery's Too

Bunco is a breeze to learn, so whether this is your first time playing or a regular event with friends, join us tonight for a fun evening at the Taylor Grady House (634 Prince Ave) at 6:00pm .

It's Veterans Day!

A little history:

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars."

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

(via the United States Department of Veteran Affairs)

Homecoming Parade:

(photo via the Red & Black)

(Photo via Athens Banner Herald)

The eagerly anticipated annual Homecoming parade is here! The parade kicks off at 6pm downtown Athens.

Watch for the Habitat for Humanity float and give us a big cheer! We'll be tossing candy, t-shirts, and other goodies!

ReStore Hot Item of the Week:

This decorative bedroom set is in awesome condition and in need of a nice home! Selling for only $450 and it includes: matching dresser, cabinet, end table, headboard, bedrails, mattress and box spring. Mention this posting and receive 10% off. Visit the ReStore to check availability of this item.

A View From The Builder: Tom's Blog

I guess it was only fitting that on Halloween, it would be Ms. Moon that brought out a group of the finest students from Clarke Central to paint a Habitat house. As most can attest, painting (especially priming) is about as much fun as a trip to the dentist but these students attacked their task with youthful energy and positive attitudes. Singing echoed throughout the house which made those working on carpentry projects outside in the pouring rain want to keep going. If anyone doubts the character of high school aged kids these days, you need to be around a group like this one. The last thing heard while packing up was "Ms. Moon, may we do this again?" And with that, volunteering just became a part of their lives forever. Get hooked and come build with Habitat!

--Tom