NEWSLETTER
Oregon
Our Oregon Communities:Albany: Clover Ridge Station, Cartwell, Edgewater
Bend: Cascade View, Boyd Acres, Badger Crossing
Boardman: Juniper Ridge
Cottage Grove: Riverwalk
Eugene: Shadow Glen
Redmond: Obsidian, Hayden Ranch, Parkway Village, Vista Dorado
Roseburg: Rivercrest
Sisters: Village at Cold Springs
Springfield: Jasper Meadows, Westwinds
Umatilla: Riverview Bluffs
Veneta: Perkins County, Applegate Landing
Our Families:
2011
Gonzales-Zapien Family April and Alvaro and their two children moved into their new home in Redmond, Oregon in March. This home was built in partnership with Heart of Oregon's YouthBuild program. April is a former resident of Grandma's House, a faith based home located in Central Oregon that provides safe shelter to homeless and/or abused pregnant, parenting and adopting girls between the ages of 12 and 19. "We have overcome a lot to provide a safe and loving environment for our kids. This is a very, very special day," April said at the home dedication.
Pelayo Family
Growing up in an abusive household, Dulce Pelayo tried to stay away as much as possible. At 16 she moved out. She was pregnant and chose to go to Grandma's House. As Dulce accepted the keys to her new home she also celebrated her seventh wedding anniversary with her childrens' father and her graduation from Central Oregon Community College. Her home was built in partnership with Bend Area Habitat for Humanity.
Hogan Family
Hillary and William Campbell and their large family of five moved into their new home in the community of Applegate Landing in Veneta. The couple has worked very hard and made many sacrafices to maintain a stable and healthy environment for their kids. But, student loan debt was keeping them from owning their own home. Hillary said at the home dedication, "it may be a cliche, but home is really where the heart is."
2010
Rupp Family
Cathi has been working hard towards homeownership for the past ten years, but needed "a bridge" to make it a reality. Cathi helped us celebrate our 30th home dedication when she and her two children, Kaleb and Ashley, moved in to their new home in Springfield October, 1st. Kaleb and Ashley already have big plans for their first home...."a basketball hoop in front of the garage, a shed for the gardening tools and lots of blue and green rooms".
Minkoff Family
Erin's family has a long history in Bend and with her new home from First Story her parent's, children and future grandchildren will grow and make memories together. Erin was so excited when she found out that she was going to be a home buyer, "I couldn't even say thank you coherently. This home is such an honor for me and for my sons". Erin's home in Boyd Acres was built in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
2009
White Family
Tamarra White is a single mother of 3 children and has worked through plenty of challenges throughout her life. She is a recent graduate of UofO and now an employee of the University. Her youngest Daughter Alexie and her share an interest in dance and besides the the birth of her 3 children her home from First Story is the most life changing event she has experienced.
Sanchez Family
The Sanchez family was our first family to move into a home in Sisters, Oregon. We are delighted to be a part of this charming and historic town and the community that is Village at Cold Springs .
2008
Young Family
Vivian Young received the gift of homeownership in December as she and her family moved into their new home in the community of River Crest in Roseburg. This neighborhood features panoramic views of the valley and is just minutes from the majestic Umqua River. The Norton Family also celebrated the holidays in their new home in the community of Applegate Landing located in the lush forests of Veneta.
Wallace Family
On September 19 we dedicated a home in the community of Vista Darado in Redmond to the Wallace Family. Jayne Wallace just wanted to give her boy a home. It seemed an impossible dream. She was buried under a pile of medical bills – a debt built after a series of tests to learn her only son had Autism. She worked. She took her boy to OHSU for evaluation. She enrolled him in Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, social skills groups, and then she joined parent support groups. She also worked to pay off her medical bills. She attended classes at Neighborhood Impact to better her credit score and she applied to Hayden Giving Fund in an effort to obtain what most single-income, single moms can not – a home of her own. She, like other single moms in Central Oregon, has had only one hope that drives her ambition: to build a better future for her child. It is because of her dedication, her unyielding strength, that she was granted a new home.
2007
Binnings Family
The Binnings family received their home in Springfield in the spring of 2007. Diane and her family enjoy the great outdoors that the Jasper Meadows community offers. Murdock Family
On Monday, July 16th we dedicated our 15th home in the community of Chartwell Station. Sharon Murdock and her two children are the happy recipients of the 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home. Back in 1998, Sharon Murdock never could have dreamed that First Story would come into her life. After falling on hard times, Sharon moved her and her children to Albany, Oregon where she had family living. Since moving to Albany, Sharon has been working tirelessly to support her family and better their lives. Sharon went back to school full time while juggling the full time job of a single Mom. In December 2006, Sharon graduated and secured full-time employment. Sharon admits that homeownership would have been impossible for her without getting her education but in the interim, the cost of her education placed her farther away from owning a home.
Sharon has always considered homeownership as an investment in the future and a commitment to her community. During the dedication, Sharon and her children were delighted to meet the many hard working, good people who had donated their time, labor and materials to make their dreams come true.
Davis Family
"Hello, I am Angie Davis, a 31 year old single mother of two very busy, very active, very loveable boys. My family has roots in Boardman back to 1913 and except for about 4 years of my life, I have resided in Boardman. I work full time at Morrow Cold Storage and am of course, a full time mom. When I am not running my kids and half of the town’s children around town, I am volunteering in the community. I do like to read an occasional book, walk, or ride ATV’s in the thing they call “spare time”. I am far from famous, but in a small town you can come close. You would not be able to walk in the Chamber, City Hall, Post Office, Grocery Store, and most of the other establishments, that someone would not be able to tell you who I was.
Brodie is an 11 year old and will be a 6th grader at Windy River this year. He maintains good grades and he is active in sports, football, baseball, and basketball. He is in his second year of 4-H and shows market hogs. He loves to ride ATV’s, farm, and swim. Blake is my 5 year old and he just graduated from preschool. He will be a kindergartener at Sam Boardman Elementary (I was the first kindergarten class in that school years ago). He plays soccer and baseball. He also rides ATV’s, loves his animals, and his grandpa." - Angie Davis
Gardner Family
Shauna Gardner and her family received their home in the community of Obsidian in Redmond.2006
The following families joined our First Story family in 2006:
Hitt Family, Veneta - Evens Family, Bend - Mayer Family, Albany - Roberge Family, Roseburg - Gonzales Family, Eugene
2005
Jensen Family
Ulalani Jensen and her family received their home in Sunset Crossing in Redmond in the summer of 2005.
2004
Espain Family
Jose Espain and his family received their home in Riverview Bluffs; a community perched above the great Columbia River in Umatilla.
2002
Saldana Family
The Saldana family was the recipient of our very FIRST grant home. The home was dedicated in the community of Badger Crossing located in Bend, Oregon.
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