Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County virtual gala April 21

Habitat For Humanity is celebrating its "Greyheads" and other volunteers April 21 — and you're invited.

WESTWOOD, N.J.—Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County invites you to its Virtual Gala Celebrating Volunteering, honoring its Grayheads and ReStore volunteers, on April 21 from 7 to 8 p.m.

The livestream features a silent auction. You’ll be able to participate with your tablet or computer as well as your mobile phone via a mobile website or by texting.

Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to provide decent, affordable homes for hardworking Bergen County families. It joins in a common goal with other affiliates of this international organization to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth by working in partnership with people in need.

Using volunteer labor and donated funds and materials, Habitat builds or rehabilitates simple, decent, homes and sells them to low income families at cost but with no interest charged.

Habitat’s Grayheads are a group of retired men and women who have come together to help make other people’s dreams of home ownership a reality. They’ve been assisting Habitat Bergen for more than 25 years.

Habitat Bergen says, “On Wednesdays you’ll find them laughing and enjoying each other’s companionship on the job site.”

Bergen ReStore, at 121 Carver Ave., Westwood (entrance on Hooper Avenue) sells new and gently used donated furniture, household goods, and building materials to the public for a fraction of retail prices. All proceeds and donations support Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County in the building of affordable housing for local families.

Donations are welcome during store hours or you can contact them to arrange for a possible pick up of your gently used furniture.

Its Desks 4 Homes Project is having an important year: “Every day six to 10 people come into the Bergen Restore looking for used desks for their children who are learning remotely. The Bergen ReStore has developed a program to build and provide 20 desks per month to families in need in Bergen County,” ReStore says.

In 2019, on the occasion of the organization’s 25-year gala, Executive Director Maureen Cameron told Pascack Press, “During two and a half decades of building in Bergen County, Bergen Habitat has relied on the generosity of individual and corporate donors to fund the building or rehabilitation of more than 100 homes in 14 towns across the County.”

She said, “It is through the commitment to service demonstrated by our individual and team volunteers, and the sweat equity of our families, that we help our ow income neighbors achieve the dream of home ownership.”

The organization’s current build, at 95 Sand Road, is to be dedicated in memory of Diane Ward, a longtime volunteer.

For more information, and to register for the gala, donate to the auction, or to bid on items, visit habitatbergen.org.