All December long in a countdown to Christmas, we gave you all 25 Reasons to Give to Habitat this Holiday Season on Facebook and Twitter. Here is a recap:

25.You can give to Habitat in more ways that one. Volunteering your time or providing a meal are great ways to be involved with Habitat.
24. You can make space in your garage and donate those tools you know you’ll never use again.
23. Donations are tax deductable.
22. We build local. Since 1995 a total of 46 Habitat homes have been built in North St. Louis County in Aurora, Babbitt, Biwabik, Buhl, Chisholm, Cook, Embarrass, Ely, Eveleth, Hibbing, Mt. Iron, Soudan, Tower and Virginia.
21. You can save yourself a stamp and donate online today.
20. Volunteer and you can get a really cool T-Shirt.
19. Studies show that giving can make you feel good about yourself. And who doesn’t want that?
18. It was found that 84 % of partner families felt safer at their new Habitat home in a recent pilot study Habitat Minnesota conducted.
17. You can be a part of a worldwide mission. Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
16. Each partner family invests over 300 hours of “sweat equity” in building their home.
15. North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity is in the top 25 tithers for medium sized affiliates in the US.
14. You’ll be giving a HAND UP not a hand out to families looking to own their own home.
13. 69% of homeowners said they spend more time with their family in the pilot study from Habitat Minnesota.
12. You can help support sustainable green building. All NSLCHFH homes in 2011 were built according to Minnesota Green Communities Guidelines.
11. You can make a donation in memory or in honor of a loved one.
10. 93 cents of every dollar raised goes towards building homes.
9. 73% of homeowners said they feel more connected to their community (from the Habitat Minnesota pilot study).
8. It is a simple act that shows your love for your community
7. 88% of respondents from the Habitat Minnesota study said they felt better about their children’s future since getting a Habitat home.
6. 75% of respondents from the study have said that someone in the family has started, completed or plans to attend higher education.
5. You can meet a lot of nice people on a build site.
4. Christmas time is about giving. Take a minute and give the Gift of Shelter.
3. Habitat moves families out of substandard housing into simple, decent, affordable homes making home ownership a reality that would otherwise be unattainable.
2. 93 children in North St. Louis County are in safe and affordable homes this Christmas thanks to donor and volunteer support.
1. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity selected as HUD grant recipient

North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity has been selected by Habitat for Humanity International to receive a portion of a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Habitat for Humanity International is distributing the grant nationwide to 30 affiliates to support affordable housing and community development. The funding will be awarded under HUD’s Section 4 Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Program.“It is a great privilege to be one of the 30 recipients of this nationwide capacity building effort,” said Nathan Thompson, North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director. “We will be strengthening our infrastructure to better serve families in need of affordable homes at our current rate of five homes per year over the next two years before growing to serve six families by 2013.”Habitat affiliates selected to receive a portion of the grant will help rebuild and revitalize neighborhoods and improve the lives of residents by creating affordable housing opportunities through community development. Each affiliate is expected to increase their house production by at least 15 percent over three years and to match their grant funds by a ratio of 4:1. The selected affiliates will also have access to continuing education to enhance their technical and administrative capabilities.“We are grateful to HUD for supporting our efforts in local communities,” said Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International. “Funding from this grant will leverage private funds to help Habitat affiliates revitalize communities and provide opportunities for families to live in healthy, safe and affordable homes.”Habitat for Humanity International began receiving HUD grants in 1998. Habitat affiliates have received $58 million in Section 4 HUD funding since 2003. Nearly 380 affiliates nationwide have benefited from the grants.The grant provides funding for North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity to hire a high impact staff person to increase its capacity over the next three years. Tom Long joined the local Habitat staff as the organization’s first Resource Development Manager on October 10th. Tom has a broad background in administration of non-for-Profit and for-profit organizations; he has a B.S. in Christian Ministries Administration from Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN and a Business Administration degree from Walsh University in N. Canton, Ohio. Tom’s responsibilities will include community relations, developing partnerships with area businesses, churches and non-profit organizations as well as volunteer recruitment and coordination. Tom and his wife Lois (Tamminen) enjoy their lake home on Long Lake just south of Eveleth. Photo: Tom Long (left) Nathan Thompson (right)