Pioneer Valley Habitat For Humanity – 2025 Gingerbread Build – build at home!

Welcome to the 13th annual Gingerbread Build, a week-long build-at-home event with a public award ceremony! By building small (gingerbread) homes from the comfort of YOUR home, you’re supporting the construction of real homes with low income families in Hampshire & Franklin counties.

There are also two fundraising awards for the team that raises the most money and the team with the greatest number of donors. Generous donors will match all team fundraising dollars 1:1 up to $6,000. Last year, teams and matching dollars totaled over $10,000; you and your team can help grow that number this year!

Other important event details:

– For a donation of $100, register your team by Thursday December 4th.
– Gingerbread kits will be available on distribution day, Saturday December 6th. We will supply the six gingerbread house walls and roof pieces and a bag of frosting mortar, you add any other building materials you wish.
– You must use all six pieces of gingerbread we supply to be entered in the contest. Your team’s collective imagination is the only limit when it comes to decorating your masterpiece.
– Submit 3 photos to gingerbread@pvhabitat.org by midnight Thursday December 11th. Include your team name in the submission photos but no personal information (photos will be posted on Facebook).
– There will be a public zoom award ceremony on Saturday December 13th – RSVP today! Esteemed celebrity judges will host and award prizes in each of the categories listed above

HSF Signature Breakfast: Legislative Panel

Join HSF for one of our Signature Breakfasts. Which means important conversations and networking over comforting breakfast foods and coffee.

This is your chance to talk to the legislatures representing Western Massachusetts IN PERSON. Join us for a panel of State Senators and Representatives over coffee and breakfast. A short Q&A session to take place after panel remarks.

Summit View Banquet and Meeting House, Holyoke MA

$50

Confirmed Legislative Panelists (to date):

Senator Joanne Comerford

Senator John Velis Senior Staff

Representative Natalie Blais

Representative Carlos Gonzalez

Cheryl Spinks, District Legislative Aide from the office of Representative Angelo Puppolo

Representative Lindsay Sabadosa

 

 

HSF Breakfast Sponsors:

HSF Annual Sponsors:

 

 

 

November Lunch & Learn 2025: Introducing Mentor Circles!

Lunch & Learn Sessions meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 12-1pm. This is a time for folks to tune in while eating lunch. Join us to learn more about best practices, stay connected, and keep up with recent research, happenings, and tools. We welcome you as often as you can join us!

November 2025

Join us to discuss and give your input on a new series of workshops from Mass Mentoring Partnership. Mentor Circles will run every third Thursday evening of most months (dates will be adjusted if holidays interfere.) Mentor Circles are virtual, off-hours opportunities for YOUR PROGRAMS’ MENTORS to connect with other mentors, build knowledge, and practice skills related to being the best mentor you can be. Topics will vary. You are encouraged to share the Mentor Circles registration links with your mentors. Come to this Lunch and Learn to give some feedback and find out more!

Building Resilience from Within

October 22nd through November 26th
(10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19 & 11/26)
Wednesdays 11-11:45 on Zoom
Our popular six-week virtual self-care series for caregivers and anyone experiencing heightened stress in their lives. Reina Goldberg teaches simple techniques to build core resilience and balance the nervous system.
The free program takes place on Zoom, is open to all, and no experience is required. All exercises can be done seated or standing and every session is recorded so participants can watch or rewatch at their convenience. Registration is required.

Cyber Security- Supervisory Skills Certificate Series: Fall 2025- Choose Your Training

Single sessions of HSF’s Supervisory Skills Series are now available for registration.

Give new supervisors the skills they need to succeed.  If you are planning on promoting, or have just promoted someone to a supervisory position help them hit the ground running with this 8 week course.  With HSF’s strong team of seasoned presenters covering a wide range of knowledge from different points of view, we cover theory, soft skills, and hard facts.  Conversation topics range from harassment law and insurance liability to finding common purpose in a team and how to show faith in those who work for you, and much much more.

Cyber Security Wed November 5th 2025

With the threat of cyber attacks continuing to rise, with an increased focus on social engineering, no one can afford to hide their heads in the sand and pretend that everything is ok.  With a focus on practical, simple, daily steps that one can take, this session seeks to minimize risk to you, your organization, and your clients.

Presented by Chris Wisneski; Whittlesey

This series is presented over Zoom. 9am-12:30pm all session. Each Session  is $150 for members, $250 for nonmembers.

Other Series Dates and Topics:

Lead with Influence- Wed November 12th 2025

Whether they mean to or not, each person exerts influence over others.  With this session learn 10 steps a person could take to add intentionality to that and influence people like a leader. Create a sphere of impact that leaves a lasting positing impression on those you work closely with, leading to them influencing others positively as well.

Presented by Will Weche; Willful Change LLC

Leadership Communication Wed November 19th 2025

This session looks at the building blocks of communicating clear messages to others.  In a core aspect of leadership that is often taken for granted, those who excel at communicating often excel in supervision.  Learn to avoid noise and interference, and how to properly process feedback to fine tune your messages for clearer understanding.

Presented by Jeff Tingley; Human Service Forum

Supervisory Skills Series Sponsor:

HSF Annual Sponsors:

Arbor Associates     
The Beveridge Family Foundation     
BHN
Guidewire     
Hub International New England
Wayfinders    
Whittlesey