Third Annual Green Fair of The Chathams

The Chatham Borough Environmental Commission, the Chatham Township Environmental Commission and the Chatham Borough Green Initiatives Committee are hosting the 3rd Annual Green Fair of the Chathams on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The fair will be held, rain or shine, at Reasoner Park in the Borough ( at the gazebo) and will feature vendors offering green, sustainable products and services, as well as entertainment and activities for children.

In support of the Green Fair of the Chathams on Saturday, Sept 11, volunteer truck drivers from the ReStore of Morris Habitat for Humanity will be stationed at the Chatham Farmers Market at the Chatham train station from 8AM to 1PM to gratefully accept new or very-gently used home building materials, lighting fixtures, home furnishings, hardware items in the original packaging, furniture in excellent condition and home appliances that are clean and operational from residents of the area.

Morris Habitat will accept only those donations specified in its donation guidelines which can be found at its web site, www.morrisrestore.org. Donations to the ReStore are tax-deductible.

Located on Iron Mountain Road in Mine Hill Township, the ReStore is staffed mostly by volunteers. The ReStore's inventory is 100 percent donated by businesses and individuals. Items donated to the ReStore are sold to the general public at a fraction of their retail prices. The ReStore's sales proceeds are used to build affordable housing in Morris County and surrounding areas.

Habitat for Humanity held earlier collections this summer at the Madison Family YMCA. The most recent pickup on August 28 yielded two full truckloads of donated merchandise, thanks to the generosity of area residents.

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Morris Habitat for Humanity has built or rehabilitated 98 local and 103 international safe, decent and affordable homes in partnership with communities and families in need since 1985. Habitat houses are affordable because no profit is included in the sale price nor is interest charged on the mortgage. Habitat reinvests the monthly mortgage payments into a revolving fund, which is used to build more houses.

In addition to monthly mortgage payments, each homeowner family invests hundreds of hours of its own labor, called "sweat equity", into the building of the family's own house and other Habitat houses. Since Morris Habitat's inception in 1985, there have been no foreclosures.