Blog Post #4: Watauga County Habitat for Humanity Newsletter

Works Cited

Caito, Tony. Watauga County Habitat for Humanity Newsletter (2010). Print.

Summary

When I lived in Boone, NC I did some work on a class project with the Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. We worked on some of their media, including their website, newsletters, etc. It is for this reason that I know they have a newsletter, and since they're a nonprofit entity, I thought their newsletter would be perfect to study this week. 

The purpose of this newsletter is to inform the community of Boone, NC and surrounding areas about what Habitat is doing. There is an article about the 18th Annual Taste of the High Country, and info about which companies in the area are sponsoring it. The proceeds from this event benefit Habitat, and the sponsors of the event get free advertising. There is also information about the new community of homes in the works, and info about the neighborhood, school demographics, and house plans. These facts are great for investors and donors to know so that they know their money is being put to good use. 


To make the newsletter a little more personal, there is a letter from the director, Tony Caito, as well as a section in which a new member of the Habitat team is profiled. I feel that putting a face and a name with an organization is always a good idea, and helps members of the community feel more comfortable reaching out, working for, or donating to this organization. 


Keeping with this theme, the newsletter rounds out with a list of more sponsors, and a blank volunteer form. I feel that this is a great idea, because a lot of people would love to help out a good cause like this, but don't really know where to begin. Having a blank volunteer form makes it easy for those interested to fill out the form, and send it in. Then, they are contacted by a member of the Habitat team, and can begin helping out this great cause. 


The article is written by Tony Caito, and his purpose is to get the word out about Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. This is an organization that literally could not run without volunteer labor, and donations from those in the community. Watauga county has the second highest living costs of any county in North Carolina, and it is for this reason that building homes there are expensive-- they need support. Mr. Caito does a great job of getting this info out to the public with this newsletter. It is distributed by mail, available online, and left in many local businesses for patrons to take. 

The visuals in the newsletter are minimal, but are pretty effective. In the section about Watauga Co. Habitat corporate sponsors, large colorful logos are used so that the advertising is effective. Also, there is a picture of Mr. Caito, and pictures of the new members of the team. Otherwise, the newsletter is well-laid out, there is good use of white space, and the Habitat for Humanity logo is prominent, showing well-known affiliation with a trusted and established organization. 

The Watauga County Habitat for Humanity values community above all else. This is an organization that builds houses for those who cannot afford them within the community, and they do this solely with the help of others in the community. Therefore, the newsletter conveys the importance of volunteer and donor support. They present themselves as an organization that is trying to do good for people, and simply ask that others do what they can to help. 



You can check out the Watauga County Habitat for Humanity newsletter here.