Habitat for Humanity Task Force

The primary goal of the Habitat Task Force is to support Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County and its effort to provide more decent, affordable housing for local residents. The task force also seeks to back objectives of other organizations to improve the housing situation in Monroe County for those in need. Task force members volunteer to build Habitat houses, raise funds to donate to Habitat for Humanity for a variety of needs, including construction and equipment costs and other specific needs. We also seek to improve awareness in the congregation and community about the need for affordable housing and steps people can take to improve the housing situation. 

The Habitat Task Force made a significant financial and volunteer contribution to Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County during FY 2024-25. 

Our total task force donations amounted to $10,351.86. That amount included a $10,000 donation in October 2024, to partially sponsor Habitat’s first fully-handicapped accessible home; $239 to Women+ Build 2024 team members in Aug. 2024; and $112.86 in-kind donation for builders’ snacks in April 2025.

Special revenue given to Habitat from UU’s 25% Sunday Plate collected from UUers totaled $7,887. The grand total given to Habitat in FY2024-25 was $18,238.86.

During the FY 2024-25, the Habitat Task Force met in July, August, September, October and November in 2024, and January, February, March, April, May, July and August in 2025. Active members include task force chairperson Barb Berggoetz, Kathleen Chmelewski, Richard Stumpner, Licia Weber, Brian and Pearl Springfield, Christine Banister, Jenny Vessels, Kathy Sideli, Mary Blizzard, Jackie Hall, Michael Darnell, and Jenny Deaton.

We welcome new members to attend meetings, help with making plans, organize and decide on activities, and determine how to spend funds. We also welcome those who want to participate in builds, help volunteer and supply food for our fundraisers, provide specific skills, and help the task force in any way, no matter the time involved.   

Sunday Plate Collection – Congregation approved Habitat as 2024-25 recipient in June 2024; congregation contributed $7,887 through June 2025 to fund installation of house solar panels, and mandatory radon testing equipment for Habitat homes. 

Habitat Women+ Build – UU & Friends 35-member team raised $20,000 as individuals with the help from UU members’ contributions, for the Sept. 4, 2024 build day. The 2025 Women+ Build team will paint a paired home on Sept. 17. The team has raised $14,900, as of Aug. 1.  

Bake sale at UU – Proceeds went to help Women+ Build team members meet their financial commitment to build – Aug. 2024. 

Donated $10,000 -- In Oct. 2024, task force gave those funds to help sponsor a Habitat home, the first fully-handicapped accessible home built by Habitat in Monroe County and supplied volunteers to help build that home for Samantha Walker in May 2025. 

IU football parking – Three members worked a November 2024 game and will help with parking at the UU lot for a game in Sept. 2025. 

UU Holiday Bazaar table – Task force members sold handmade gifts and crafts, gift baskets and specialty food and other items in Dec. 2024 and will do so in Dec. 2025.

Chili & soup take-home sale – Task force members and other supporters made and sold chili and soup in February 2025. We have tentative plans to do so in February 2026.

Habitat builds – UU groups of 8-12 people volunteered on Nov. 9 and June 29, 2024, and May 31 and for the CommUNITY Build on July 18, 2025. 

Habitat for Humanity’s More Than Houses fundraiser dinner – Eight UUers attended on March 11, 2025, and we plan to send group in March 2026. Habitat gave Barb Berggoetz and Pearl Springfield annual awards for significant contributions to Habitat.   

Snack-packing activity after May 4, 2025 services – We donated snacks for volunteer builders.

Habitat Women+ Build Brunch – We sponsored a fundraiser brunch to raise money for UU & Friends team members on May 18, 2025.  Nine members each received $100 each for volunteering and/or providing food.

IU football parking -- $1,780

UU Holiday Bazaar table (Dec. 2025) -- $1,551

Chili/soup fundraiser (Feb. 2025) -- $1,325.62

Habitat Women Build Brunch fundraiser (May 2025) -- $2,090 (inc. additional baked goods sale) 

UU social justice funds donation (2024) -- $300 

Bake sale for Women Build (Aug. 2024) -- $239 

Handmade bench sales (summer 2024) -- $734.24 

Holiday Bazaar booth fee (Dec. 2024) -- $50

Supplies (chili/soup containers) -- $62.54

Donation to Habitat for sponsoring construction of one home (Oct. 2024) -- $10,000

Cost of snacks for Habitat builders -- $112.86 

Bench construction supplies -- $461.91