So, as we stated before, Project.3, BigWhiteHouse is ready to go down on July 12 for our rescheduled date. Please be sure to hit up the registration page and be a part of this event. Plenty of work to go around, as well as delicious grillin’ and community buildin’.

Hope to see you July 12 for either the morning or afternoon crew.

As for this weekend, here’s the new very loose and impromptu plan:

WHEN & WHERE: Saturday, June 14, 8.30 a.m….meet at Stan & Melanie Laverman’s house (24 Highland Drive, Iowa City)
WHAT: Indulge in pastries and coffee
THEN WHAT?!: Carpool and head out to help sandbag/whatever work is necessary. We’ll work until noon (or later if you choose!). Childcare will be provided at the Laverman house until noon.
GOAL: We’ll still come together for the cause of others, and have a good time doing it!
TOOLS: Gloves, shovels, waterproof boots?
SIGN UP: If you want fresh-roasted coffee and freshly baked pastries, we need to know you’re coming, so please sign up by clicking here. (If you have already signed up, we will plan on you–so please let us know if you can’t make it.)

If you decide to go pitch in someplace by yourself, that’s great! If you want to work with your {roots} friends, then c’mon over. We also know that many of you have been sandbagging all week and may need this day to be with your family…that’s great, too. Regardless, thank you for helping your neighbors…this week, and as the flooding continues.

Stay tuned to this site for any future changes – we’ll post anything else by Friday evening.

Cafe Del Sol Roasting
Infinity Skin Care & Spa
Genesis Church
Hy-Vee

So feel free to give them a visit if anything to say thanks. Their support is vital to the {reclaiming roots} projects.

Maybe it’s here to stay?! Regardless, it’s time to start planning for some community events – and hopefully summer will give us warmer weather to work in! So, we hope you can join {reclaiming roots} in reclaiming areas of our community again this summer.

Revisit the Vision

If you helped us last summer, or if this is your first time to receive an email like this – we want to revisit our vision. We believe that our entire community wins when people come together for the good of others. As areas of our community need rebuilt and reclaimed, we have the opportunity to form relationships within the community as we live the mindset of helping our neighbors. And in that, community happens and communities thrive!

June 14, 2008: Project.3 BigWhiteHouse

The first project of the summer is in Coralville! There is a turn-of-the-century home that sits on several acres of land, immediately north of the interstate as 12^th Avenue crosses over. This house has been family owned for decades, and has sat empty for over 30 years … kept up by a caretaker. The owner passed away four years ago and the daughters wished that this land, and their childhood home, could be re-integrated into the community. Last year, a local church bought the property. The vision for this beautiful old home was to restore it to use. Use for the church and just as intentionally – use for the community as a Community Center…. a donations-only tea house and coffee bar with wireless internet. A place where anybody can come to play their guitar… or come to work in a meeting room…. or come to study in the library, or to talk, or to receive counseling. A place where everyone is welcome.

{reclaiming roots} is helping bring the community together, for the benefit of this neighborhood. This house will offer common grounds for the community – but it needs reclaimed! And so the first project evolves….

Date: June 14, 2008

Location: 1246 12th Avenue, Coralville [click for Google Map]

Times: 9am-12pm (need 30 volunteers)

1pm-4pm (need 30 volunteers)

Project: scraping paint

yard work

tree work

piling brush

mulching trees/gardens

Tools needed:

bring gloves!

paint scrapers

ladders

chainsaws

tarps

shovels

rakes

wheelbarrows

Provided for volunteers:

a.m. crew….. Café del Sol coffee/pastries/snacks

both crews… lunch

p.m. crew…. drinks/snacks

Vision: This house will be on its way to being re-integrated into this community, and you’ll meet new neighbors and form new friendships! Whether you’re from Coralville or elsewhere in the greater Iowa City area – let’s help this neighborhood reclaim a beautiful landmark.

Sponsors: If you have a desire to help support this cause financially, or in-kind with materials, please email luke@reclaimingroots.org. Thank you!

SIGN UP! If you want to volunteer, click here to register.. If you have any trouble, please email chris@reclaimingroots.org

Questions? Email stan@reclaimingroots.org about the project, signing up, or any further details. Visit the website www.reclaimingroots.org for ongoing updates.

Future Projects: Summer/Fall 2008

We’re working on the details of two future projects in both west side Iowa City, and south side Iowa City – later this summer and fall. We’ll keep you posted! Thank you for your support in your community