PINTS & PINOTS RAISES FUNDS FOR ROTARY-HABITAT BUILD PROJECT

A partnership between Habitat for Humanity of Craven County, the Rotary Club of New Bern, and the Rotary Club of New Bern Breakfast is helping to make the dream of home ownership come true.

Since January 2024, the two Rotary Clubs of New Bern have partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Craven County to build a home in the Pembroke community. More than 150 local Rotarians have committed to raising the funds and putting in hours of volunteer time necessary to complete construction of this home build partnership. In addition to hundreds of hours of volunteer labor from Rotarians and friends, a series of fundraising events hosted by both Rotary Clubs helped with the construction costs of the home build.

The Rotary Club of New Bern Breakfast kicked off “Pints & Pinots for Rotary’s Habitat Build” in mid-January. Three local businesses in New Bern committed to donating a percentage of their beer and wine sales on one day each month through June to support this Rotary service project in our community. On the third Friday of each month, for the past six months, these businesses — Brewery 99, Captain Ratty’s, and Persimmons — stepped up and participated in the Breakfast Club’s “Pints and Pinots” to offer 10% of their beer and wine sales between 6:00 and 8:00 pm. A total of $725 was raised as part of the Breakfast’s Club total financial commitment to support the Rotary-Habitat home build project. Last month, several Habitat Staff and Rotarians joined owner Pete Frey at Brewery 99 for the presentation of a check in the amount of $400.

“The New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club was excited to partner with Pete and Brewery 99 on our Pints and Pinots for Rotary's Habitat Build, " said Dave Super, the coordinator for the fundraising event. “From the first time we approached him until the last monthly event, Pete was enthusiastic about the opportunity to be a part of our project to build a new home for a family in New Bern. We look forward to other opportunities where we can partner with Craven County Habitat for Humanity and Brewery 99 on projects that benefit our community.” Frey said he took part in the “Pints & Pinots” fundraiser because he believes housing is “Craven County’s number one problem.”

“We just don’t have very good housing for everyone,” said Frey. “I think Habitat is the best thing for this neighborhood that I live in. I run my business out of this neighborhood, and I really appreciate all the good people at Rotary and Habitat that are making the biggest impact on the biggest problem in our community. “For over 35 years, Habitat for Humanity of Craven County has advocated the belief that everyone deserves a decent place to live. Affordable housing options in Craven County have not kept up with demand, and as a result, many families must live in substandard housing conditions that are often too expensive, overcrowded, and unsafe. Working with eligible families who invest sweat equity to build their own home and assume an affordable mortgage, Habitat for Humanity allows the dream of homeownership to become reality.”