Over the past several weeks we were given a unique opportunity to contribute to our community in a fun and exciting way. We were asked to help construct a Free Little Art Gallery. The Free Little Art Gallery is for small artworks instead of books, similar to the Free Little Libraries that people are familiar with. If you see something in the gallery you like, take it home. Or create something you want to share and leave it for someone else to take away and love. Free Little Art Galleries are all about encouraging people to create art and share it with the community.
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This was a fun project to create, and we hope people find a little inspiration in the art displayed. So why is art important? We have been creating it much longer than recorded history, as much as 40,000 years ago. Art serves as a reflection of our emotions, the world around us, and is a way to communicate across language and culture. It can be used for entertainment or for self-reflection. It can also bring us together in a unique way that carries a message and meaning.

Next time your out and about and have a little free time, go down Sammons Street in Cheboygan and take a look at the Free Little Art Gallery.
  
Below is the link to the art gallery for Cheboygan, MI.
https://www.instagram.com/nolafreelittleartgallery

​By Nick Mersch, Site Supervisor

You can find more information like showtimes and ticket prices in the link below. We hope to see you there! If you can’t make it and would like to make a donation instead you can find the link below as well!

​Showtimes & Ticket Link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36618/production/1193522
Donation Link: https://www.habitatcheboygan.org/donate.html

Our organization relies on the support of our generous donors who contribute both financially and through material donations. For instance, the average Habitat home in the U.S., which is a 1,200-square-foot house with three bedrooms, requires approximately 150 pounds of nails and 400 two-by-fours/sixes. We receive many of these materials through gifts and in-kind donations from our vendors. We value contributions of all sizes as they make a significant difference to us. We believe that everyone can give something, no matter how big or small.​

We would like to invite you to join our Square Foot Club if you are deeply interested in affordable housing and the Habitat mission and have a strong desire to help families in need of housing within Cheboygan County. By funding a square foot of our project or donating the cost of project materials, you will demonstrate your commitment to providing safe, simple, and affordable housing in our local neighborhoods.

If 100 people donate $8 we could cover the cost of painting an entire Habitat house.

If 50 people donated $20 we could cover the cost of ceiling fans in a Habitat house.

If 12 people donated $50 each, that would cover the cost of counter tops for a Habitat house.

​If 5 people donated $1,000  each we could cover the cost of windows for a Habitat house.

If 1 person donated a parcel of land, we have a starting point for a future home.

On April 1st a new fundraising campaign was launched called the 2024 Power of Home Michigan Campaign. This campaign is an opportunity to raise funds STATEWIDE to better help local Habitats, like us, to build more homes in their communities. Consumers Energy is partnering with Habitat for Humanity to match funds! They are offering $100,000 in match funds to affiliates which means that for every $2 raised in the campaign, it receives $1 in match funds.
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This campaign gives us a great opportunity to build our home-building funds as the cost of building a home has gone up exponentially in the last few years. Every dollar raised helps us continue our mission of making safe, affordable housing for low-income families. And we’re already halfway to our initial goal of $10,000! To boost our fundraising and hopefully earn more funds, we decided to change our goal to $30,000.

Every dollar counts for the construction of our new homes, and we need your help. Click the link below and it will take you to our fundraising page!
 https://www.classy.org/team/569108

- Hailey Jeter, Program Services Coordinator