The power of love

[db44]

That's what drives us at Habitat for Humanity. Just wanted to show you what a bunch of inexperienced volunteers can do in a couple of days when their hearts are in it.

We are this week putting up two houses in five days. Both are side-by-side, but this is the house I worked on. We are going from (as you'll see) a slab of concrete to at least getting the interior walls up. The pictures you'll see in this post are from one day of work, pre-work, lunchtime and two from the end of the day. Tomorrow I hope to show what we can do in two days.

For those of you have thought about joining Habitat, remember we did this with probably 30 volunteers, most of whom had no construction experience. In other words, get your butts out there! (cough Claire cough :p)

[profoundfool]

That's really neat! Who are the houses for? I haven't heard about Habitat before.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Are you building in Arizona, Dave?

[db44]

Yep DES.

Habitat for Humanity is a volunteer organization that builds houses for the needy. Usually, we work on Saturdays, with smaller crews of retirees or sometimes college groups that come out occasionally during the week. In some cases, like this one, we build houses in a week. We call it a blitz build. We worked yesterday from 7:30 to 4:00... 90 minutes less than we were scheduled.

Our local affiliate has something like 44 staff members that include office staff and people who run the two retail stores (people and contractors donate building supplies, like when they have extra from the builds) and the construction staff. The rest of the work is all volunteer labor. I'm a Team Leader here because I've demonstrated my dedication (I'm out pretty much every Saturday) and because I seem to know what I'm doing. I'm still learning a bunch of stuff on how to build a house, but because of my HfH experience, I know more than the other volunteers.

As one of our slogans go, "it's a hand up, not a hand out." That' part of the reason I love HfH. We aren't building houses for anyone, but for people who are trying to help themselves. To qualify for a house, you have to be within the 30-60% average local income level, have a contunous steady jobs (or jobs) and good credit. We aren't building for people just for the sake of it. We are building for people who need help and are worthy of it because they are trying their best to better their lives. Owners have to put in 400 hours working on theirs and other Habitat houses before they can take ownership and when they get the house, they still have to pay a mortgage, but it is a zero-percent mortgage.

[profoundfool]

It sounds like a worthy cause. I've decided to do some volunteering myself, I'm actually about to be interviewed for a volunteering position later this week. I'm excited!

[db44]

Volunteering is awesome.

I'll post pictures from lunch and end-of-day from yesterday later. Hopefully I can get to the dedication on Friday... Mind you, we aren't taking this house from beginning to end. Just to the point where it can be painted. Still, not bad for one week.

[db44]

Here are day two pictures: 2-1 lunchtime, 2-2 after cleanup. This is as far as I worked, but I'll try to get a picture this weekend of where we left the house... We weren't planning to finish mind you, just get it ready for taping and painting.

[profoundfool]

I've been accepted now, so I am going to go off on training next weekend! I won't be building any houses though, I'm volunteering within first aid.

[db44]

Cool. Most volunteer efforts are worthy, except perhaps campaigning for the Republicans here.

Many European countries don't have HfH the way the rest of the world does. As Europe actually takes care of its citizens, there aren't as many people living in subpar conditions as in the rest of the world (take heed, said Republicans: Taxes good to an extent). Instead European Habitat partners just raise money and send interested building volunteers to other parts of the world with the Global Village program.

[profoundfool]

I think I've heard of the Global Village program, now that you mention it.

Although volunteering tends to cost a ****load of money if we want to go abroad. I remember looking into some programs a few years ago and you had to pay like $2500 in random fees. So I never did it.

[aguilera_lover]

I have a few friends who just spent a week in Florida building some houses for Habitat. They loved it. I'm afraid any house that I help build would not be liveable by anyone, so I stear clear.

[db44]

Believe me, your help would be welcome. If you don't feel comfortable hammering or with tools, there's still plenty to do on a Habitat worksite. From helping to carry stuff to signing people in to keeping the site clean (and therefore safe), there's a ton of non-construction stuff to be done.

For the record, my hammering skills have become better since starting with Habitat, and at the same time there are still things I have trouble with, but others around me can do better than I.

[profoundfool]

I am really stoked about volunteering now. I completed the first steps in First Aid training now, but I have so much work to do! I have realized that I need to practice, practice, practice so that when the time comes I'll know what to do.

[db44]

Cool. Yeah, it's a fringe benefit, the stuff you learn. I kinda now wanna build my own house eventually!

My other big cause is March of Dimes. Since high school I've done "WalkAmerica," now called "March for Babies" (or as we jokingly call it in the office now, March on Babies :blueeek: ). Back in the old days it was an 18 mile/30 kilometer walk. Now it's only five miles, but still a fun time.

Anyone wanna sponsor me? Just PM me for details. ;)

[Miss_Sunshine]

I thought this was going to be a post about Bichons.

[db44]

Hey, if they had a March for Bichons, I'd be all in.

That's a different sid of the power.