Get Involved!!!
Volunteer Individually
Click here for an individual volunteer form.

 To volunteer with Habitat For Humanity, contact your local Habitat for Humanity affiliate at email.
   1. Work in the office after school (we work with your schedule).
   2. Work at the build site on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
   3. Organize fundraising, socials, and educational activities.

Group Volunteers
Click here for a group leader volunteer form.
 
Start a Habitat Club at your School
Habitat Clubs are student-run, student-led organizations with a faculty advisor at your high school, mid school or university.  School clubs perform five main functions:
  1. Build houses in partnership with Albuquerque Habitat and homeowners.
  2. Fund raising for the work of Youth United Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity.
  3. Educating the school and community about Habitat.
  4. Advocating to raise awareness about the poverty housing crisis.
  5. Reflect the diversity of the community.

Youth Groups and Churches
Youth Groups and Church Groups work with Youth United by:
  1. Build houses in partnership with HFH affiliates and homeowners.
  2. Fund raising for the work of Youth United Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity.
  3. Educating the community about Habitat.
  4. Advocating to raise awareness about the poverty housing crisis.

Sponsor a House
Sponsor a Habitat for Humanity house or portions of a house. Contct YUGA now!

Visit the Global Village & Discovery Center
Bring learning to life with a field trip to Habitat for Humanity's Global Village & Discovery Center.

Students can explore Habitat's international work at this six acre village in Americus, GA. After a walk through an urban poverty neighborhood, students can imagine living in 15 Habitat homes from different countries around the world. Tours, activities, and crafts can be tailored to students' studies. For more information, go to the GV&DC web site at www.habitat.org/gvdc or schedule a visit with the group tour coordinator by calling 866-924-5823, x5815.

Current Events:

Garage Sale a Success
By William Allen

     After weeks of preparation, Youth United’s fourth garage sale was under way at the Silver warehouse on October 4th.  The warehouse doors opened at 8 am and people were still streaming in until after 2 pm.  The sale pulled in $1700, much more than the previous one in spring with $800 in profits.  The success of this sale resulted from clear organization of the warehouse, high-quality items, and advertising.
     Youth United volunteers consisted of:  Michael Corio, Kate Joiner, Sam Hufnagel, Miles Anderson, Tess Hogan, Janie Hogan, Ben Milady, William Allen, Jourdan Beaumont, John Wernley, and Ashley Feirro.  These participants did a great job running the sale, but many YUGA volunteers also helped set up the event.  Jeff Fenchel, Stephanie Vasquez, William Allen, Tess Hogan, Sam Hufnagel, Michael Riblett, Austin Miller and Hannah Tennent helped organize and sort through the countless items in the warehouse.
     Finally, Leslie Larson, Nancy Kirkwood and JoAnn Albrect must be acknowledged.  Each of the adult advisors spent days examining the sale items and  categorizing them.  The sale was ultimately successful because of their attention to detail.  Several customers commented on the professionalism and neatness of the YUGA sale.  
The next garage sale is projected for mid spring, and you can always take your donations to the Silver Warehouse or Habitat offices.    
  
Landscaping Project
By William Allen
Youth United brought in $5,000 recently, thanks to twenty volunteers in one of its most successful fundraisers to date. The project began when GAHH staff made an offer: If YUGA could assemble at least twenty volunteers to landscape a repossessed Habitat home, a reward of $5,000 would be given to the Youth United organization.
     The volunteers met at the house on 15th Street off of Mountain on August 30th, early in the morning. Before long, trash was removed, stones were lifted, and weeds were uprooted.
     Attendees included: Hannah Tennent, DonTennent, Nancy Kirkwood, Kate Joiner, Taylor Scanlon, Jenna Castillo, Micheal Riblett, Oliva Riblett, Laurn Riblett, Christy Riblett, Sam Pedrotty, Emily Mettler, John Wernley, Jeff Fenchel, Lisa Hogan, John Anderson, William Allen, Bree Rosenow, Dominic Garcia, Lauren Houarth, and Jourdan Beaumont.

Breakfast Boost Success
     On July 9th, six YUGA volunteers met at IHOP for Youth United's first Breakfast Boost. Michael Ribblet, Tess Hogan, Greg Fenchel, Jeff Fenchel, Hannah Tennent and William Allen met at the IHP at Montgomery and I-25 to eat loads of pancakes, French toast and hash browns to prepare for the build. This meal allowed the participants to carpool to the Don Pedro Padilla build site.
The Volunteers were able to take on a sheetrock project and complete a bedroom in the Habitat house.
This build on July 9th was one of the most successful builds, so another breakfast boost will occur soon. All are welcome to participate in these local builds and newcomers are encouraged to participate!

Project Postage 2008
By William Allen
     With Isotopes concessions out of the picture for the summer, the biggest Youth United fundraiser of the 2008 year falls on the Letter Writing Campaign. This annual mailing, named Project Postage, has brought in between $9,000 and $10,000 each year and has proven to be a valuable source of funds.
     Like all fundraisers, its success depends upon the volunteers' willingness to participate. In past years, 200-300 letters were sent out, but this number has the potential to double or triple if everyone sends 30 or more letters to family members, friends, business acquaintances, church members, and other contacts.

Club Rust 2008 Trip
by Tess Hogan & William Allen
     In July 2008, ten members from Youth United of Greater Albuquerque (YUGA) will travel to Tecate, Mexico to participate in building a house for a deserving family in three days through a program called Club Rust. Last year, in July 2007, YUGA participated in the program for a second year. The group consisted of 22 youth and two advisers. After flying into San Diego the group explored the city and the following day crossed the border into Mexico.

     Youth United of Greater Albuquerque was one of five organizations that traveled to Mexico from different corners of the US. Each morning for three days volunteers would wake early and take a bus ride to the build site. YUGA, along with another family, built a house from framework to roofing with a primarily-youth crew. Despite the time limit the house was completed and, on the third day, the volunteers held a dedication ceremony. Overall, volunteers built six houses over three days. The trip was an extremely positive experience and YUGA is already preparing ideas for next summer's trip.

     The Family was made up of Irma Galvan and her spouse Francisco Delgado with their three children Noeyacel (age 10), Angel(age 8) and Josue(age  1).

YUGA Awarded State Farm Grant
     At the end of June, Shantee Conliffe of Habitat for Humanity International came to Albuquerque to work with our Youth United group during Phase III of the State Farm Grant. After completing the remaining steps of the application, Albuquerque's YUGA group was awarded a $5,000 grant.

Walls Raised on YUGA's Second House
By Tess Hogan
     After many months of fundraising, Youth United has raised the walls of its second house! The last two weeks of June found Yuth United members framing, roofing, and sheet-rocking alongside a group from Maryland known as the Dream-builders.

     Participants including Greg and Jeff Fenchel, William Allen, Tess Hogan, Jonathan Chien, and Hannah Tennent worked many hours to insure the house was well underway by July. As the house draws close to completion, Youth United looks forward to a dedication, in addition to the weekly build dates held every Saturday from 8am-2pm at the Don Pedro Padilla site.