The August 7 workday will be rescheduled for August 14.

T.G.I. Friday’s http://www.tgifridays.com/home/welcome.aspx has agreed to provide lunch for the volunteers on the rescheduled date of August 14, 2010.

PLEASE contact Barb at smitheieio@gmail.com or 757-408-6130 as soon as possible if you plan to volunteer on August 14, 2010, so we can make arrangements to have enough food for everyone. Last minute volunteers are appreciated too! Experienced or not, we could use your help somewhere!
If you or your church group, etc. would like to help out with feeding lunch to volunteers, please contact Barb at smitheieio@gmail.com or 757-408-6130 to coordinate.

For information on the toxic mold contaminated house that made our children sick and the rebuild effort, please check out our family website:
smitheieio.com

The address is 1929 Hungarian Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322.   Directions are: Go south on Centerville Turnpike to Indian Creek Road (just past the underpass under the Chesapeake Expressway).  Turn left and go to Sanderson Road (the next left after Cedarville Road). Turn left on Sanderson Rd.  The next right is Hungarian Rd.  If you go into Va. Beach you have gone too far.

God Bless,

Greg & Barb Smith
email  smitheieio@gmail.com
website  smitheieio.com
cell  757-408-6130

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” ~ 1John 3:18, NLT

Faith Works volunteers,

We are looking for volunteers this Friday 7/16  and Saturday 7/17 from  9AM-3PM for final repairs needed before subs come in to continue this project.  Lunches will be provided along with water.   Please call or e-mail Rick Galliford if you can help. Cell 576-3633; email foed@cox.net.

Project: The Transition  Home
Address: 1467 Old Virginia Beach Road

Background: The  Transition Home is an old house acquired from the
city and will be rebuilt as a  half-way house for women transitioning
from incarceration into a productive  life. It is a large project and
will hopefully be completed in a few  months.

Scope of  work: The house has had  serious termite damage and needs
reframing in several areas. The interior has  been gutted and will
be rebuilt. In the next two weeks we hope to complete the  framing
and framing repairs.

Tools  needed: Bring your framing tools and general hand  tools.
The Project Manager will provide compressor and nail gun.

Project  Manager: Rick Galliford is PM for this worthwhile  project.

Directions– take 264 E to First Colonial Rd and go South. Turn left at
light at Va beach Blvd. Go to next stop light which is Oceana Blvd and
turn left. Go to end of road and turn right at stop sign. 5th house on
the right. Look for a dirt lane and drive down the lane to the house.

Calling all volunteers!!!! Next workday for framing is scheduled for July 10, 2010!!!

Thank you to Ronnie Lehman, Faith Works Coalition, USS Mahan Sailors, Masons, & everyone else who showed up and worked hard in the heat on Saturday! Thank you to New Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church Ladies for donating and serving lunch to the volunteers!

The rafters and dormers are up and it is starting to really look like a house! Please have a Safe and Happy 4th of July! Our next workday will be July 10, 2010.
PLEASE contact Barb at smitheieio@gmail.com or 757-408-6130 if you plan to volunteer, so we can make arrangements to have enough food for everyone. Last minute volunteers are appreciated too! Experienced or not, we could use your help somewhere!

If you or your church group, etc. would like to help out with feeding lunch to volunteers, please contact Barb at smitheieio@gmail.com or 757-408-6130 to coordinate.

We are working on getting the website updated with a few more pictures: smitheieio.com

Thank you & God Bless,

Greg & Barb Smith

50. Elderwood Ct., January 17, 2010. Low income homeowner had a leaky dormer.  A roofing contractor was hired to fix the problem at a cost of $800.  The homeowner donated a like amount to FWC.

51.  Del Mar Dr., Dec -  Jan 2010. This family is mostly disabled and has difficulty with routine household chores. The November Nor’easter brought some damage to their very modest home. FWC volunteers repaired the roof leak, replaced a section of LR ceiling that had collapsed; repaired the washing machine; and, replaced the water heater. They also devoted two days removing accumulated trash and old furniture. Costs to FWC were approximately $900.00

52.  Mason St., January 23, 2010. The homeowner had water damage in the bathroom hallway, and a leak in the roof.  Several Construction Committee members repaired the water damage at a cost of less than $30.  Roof repairs were contracted out at a cost of $xxx.

53.   Spartin Dr., February 5, 2010. This mobile home was in need of a roof repair.  The home owner was able to conduct the repairs but not able to buy the materials.  Two FWC volunteers surveyed the roof to determine what materials were needed.  The volunteers procured the roofing materials and delivered them to the homeowner.  The cost was less than $215, $25 of which was donated to FWC by the homeowner.

54.  Keener Lane, February 8 – 17, 2010. The homeowner suffers with an advancing case of Parkinson’s disease and his wife is his sole care-giver. The configuration of the only bathroom in the home was such that it was unsafe for use. FWC volunteers gutted the bathroom and adjacent linen closet, and rebuilt the former to include a new shower, handicapped commode, vanity, and shelving alcove.  A handrail the length of the room was in stalled making the bath handicapped accessible. The cost of this project was $1,750.00.

55.  Magnolia St., March 11, 2010. Low income homeowner had a leaky roof.  A roofing contractor was hired to fix the problem at a cost of $400.  FWC volunteers repaired both bathroom floors, the kitchen floor and bedroom floor.  The cost of the project was $524.88.

56.  404 West Lane, March 2010. At the request of the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (JCOC), FWC renovated this duplex, restoring it to habitability.  Old kitchen cabinettes and sink were replaced; the bathrooms were updated and repaired; all floors were re-carpeted or received new linoleum; and, all walls were painted.  Unserviceable appliances were removed and replaced.  JCOC agreed to pay for all building materials and appliances; FWC provided all labor and expertise.

57.  Geranium Cres., April 28, 2010. Volunteers completed several “honey do” projects at no cost to FWC.

58.  Cloverleaf Apartments, S. Military Hwy, May 22. An FWC volunteer helped build a garden loggia at Cloverleaf Apartments which provides apartments for homeless single people.  , had its grand opening Thursday. The 60-unit complex is regional project sponsored by Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Portsmouth.

59.   Bill Shepherd Project, Suffolk, June 2-4. Volunteers were at the home of FWC’s  late friend and fellow traveler, Bill Shepherd. They cleaned out three basement rooms;  painted the walls and floors; and, hauled trash to the city dump.  They also installed a ceiling in a basement office; built window frames around three windows; painted the carport wall; and, power-washed the deck.  The intent of this board approved project was to assist Bill’s wife in bringing the home up to a “show-able” condition for sale. Cost of the project was less than $250.

60.  Sykes Avenue, May 12, 2010. An elderly widow with very limited income had a roof leak and was told by two roofing companies that she needed a new roof at a cost of several thousand dollars.  Two volunteers from FWC inspected the roof and determined that it could be repaired instead of replaced.  FWC engaged a professional roofer to make the needed repairs at a cost of $200.00.

It is with the donations from people like you that we are able to make a difference in the lives of so many people. If you would like to make a donation you can do so by sending your check to

Or if you prefer you can also donate by check or major credit card using the PayPal Donate button below.

OBJECTIVES

* Improve housing for low income, working families and the elderly
* Improve quality of life in low income neighborhoods
* Build community spirit in Virginia Beach through collaboration with other community organizations
* Enhance the joy of fellowship inherent in faith based volunteer organizations
* Provide emergency relief through repair and reconstruction of homes in communities affected by natural disasters
* Collaborate with City of Virginia Beach Departments and other community organizations that share Faith Works Coalition goals and objectives.

In 1984, a group of Virginia Beach Churches and Synagogues came together for the purpose of becoming a building partner with South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity (SHRHFH), identifying itself as the Covenant of Virginia Beach.  Unlike many building partners that came together for a single Habitat build, the Covenant was intended to be a permanent organization working with Habitat to provide affordable homes for deserving families within the City of Virginia Beach as part of each member church outreach ministry.

In late 2007, SHRHFH informed the Covenant of Virginia Beach that they no longer desired to work through the Covenant as a building partner for homes in Virginia Beach, but rather wanted to work directly with community churches and solicit funds for use throughout the entire South Hampton Roads region.  In response to this development, the Covenant decided to remain together to continue the charitable relationship that had grown into an effective, efficient construction oriented organization bound together in solid Judeo-Christian traditions and fellowship.  As they surveyed and considered community needs, the Covenant became well aware of a critical need for a variety of housing repair and renovation activities in Virginia Beach focused on assisting low income, senior citizens, disabled individuals, veterans and working families to repair and renovate their aging homes.

In January of 2008, the Covenant members made a commitment to one another to form a new not-for-profit organization that could focus exclusively on repairing existing homes of those in need primarily in Virginia Beach.  The name chosen for the new organization was Faith Works Coalition, Inc. (FWC), which formally established as its mission:

• Improve housing for low income elderly and working families;
• Improve quality of life in low income neighborhoods;
• Build community spirit in Virginia Beach, and enhance the joy of fellowship inherent in faith based, volunteer community projects; and,
• Provide emergency relief through repair and reconstruction of homes in communities suffering from natural disasters.

MILESTONES

The FWC Board of Directors was established with representatives from 15 original Covenant of Virginia Beach Churches.  The following is a list of milestones achieved by the Board to date:

• January 2008 – FWC Mission Statement is drafted and approved.
• January 15, 2008 – Articles of Incorporation are submitted to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• January 22, 2008 – FWC checking account is established at Bank of America.
• January 28, 2008 – Employer Identification Number is assigned by the IRS.
• January 28, 2008 – Certificate of Incorporation is issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• February 8, 2008 – An introductory letter is sent to our pastors announcing the formal foundation of FWC and enlisting their support.
• February 14, 2008 – The Board of Directors approves the Mission Statement, Organization Structure, Bylaws and Conflict of Interest Policy.
• July 31, 2008 – IRS transmits our determination letter approving FWC as a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt, Non-profit organization.
• October 6, 2008 – Commonwealth of Virginia approves and issues state sales tax exemption.
• March 18, 2009 – Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue approves FWC as exempt from business license taxation.
• August 13, 2009 – Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue approves FWC’s application to be exempt from City Personal Property Tax.

FWC completed its first project on May 17, 2008, and by the middle of 2009, a total of 36 projects were completed.  For a listing of all completed projects consult the FWC Projects Summary.

Thank you for visiting the website for Faith Works Coalition, Inc.  Faith Works Coalition was founded in 2008 to eliminate substandard living conditions in our community by repairing homes for elderly, disabled and disadvantaged low income and working families.  We have no paid employees and are composed of an alliance of local volunteers, faith-based organizations, military personnel and individual citizens.

Our volunteers are the backbone of our organization and have engaged in helping over 50 families in Virginia Beach and many others throughout Hampton Roads and Katrina Relief projects.  If you have come to this site to sign up as a volunteer; donate to support our projects; or, refer a family in need for assistance, we are grateful for your interest.  Our monthly Board meetings are open to the public and please join us at any time.  The schedule for 2010 is posted on this site.

Please take some time and browse this website and if you should need any additional information, please contact us.  We would also appreciate any suggestions you have for improving the site.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, volunteers and families, thank you for your interest in Faith Works Coalition.

With cordial thanks,

Matthew Weinstein, President
Faith Works Coalition – Working Together To Eliminate Substandard Housing
905 Horseshoe Court
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Faith Works Coalition, Inc. – 2010 Meeting Schedule ( All Meetings Begin Promptly At 5:30 )