Here's somthing

This is from last year, but it's the kind of thing I've been asked to put up here..


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Hey all: here’s a write up of my first day working on a Habitat site. (Just in case you’re afraid of the unknown, here’s what it was like, and maybe you can come next week… or maybe you were there, and were wondering where I was all day.)

I showed up at about five to nine and spent the first half hour trying to figure out what to do. We were tasked with drywalling, but Allen Press had so many people there that we were getting in each other’s way. Once I figured out that we had enough drywallers, I ventured next door and started working with some other volunteers from Trinity Episcopal Church. We were doing ‘miscellaneous’ finishing touches and random things that didn’t really have a category. Keith Yehle and I put siding on the underneath of a bay window, and then did the front porch support post (both of which involved a lot of detail carpentry that neither of us were any good at; but we managed eventually).

That kept us busy until lunch, which was very nice, and was thankfully heavy on the water and fruits. (If you come next week, make sure you bring water and sunscreen). During lunch, I met a man named Kareem, who is putting in volunteer hours preparatory to applying for a Habitat home of his own. (Apparently you have to volunteer for 50 hours before you can file an application) This was Kareem’s first day too. While we were eating, I found out that Kareem moved to Lawrence in the early 90’s from Darfur to study mathematics at KU, and he’s been here ever since. In the past seventeen years, he’s gotten his MS in Math and grown a family of six, putting down substantial roots. For the past five years he’s been working third shift at K-mart distribution, and living/working at a CLO home (and he’s learning computer programming in his spare time!). He’s hoping that getting a Habitat home will allow him to develop a more normal work schedule and spend more time with his children (aged 7 to 17).

After lunch, Kareem and I volunteered to take over roofing duties for some of the folks who had spent the whole morning in the direct sun (they looked pretty weary and not at all like they should also spend the afternoon roofing). Roofing was interesting to do, and satisfying in a methodical way (like knitting). You really can’t drink enough water in this situation – it really involves putting in six tiles then drinking a bottle of water over and over. – It’s also a bit challenging because of the density of volunteers; you really have to pay attention to avoid stepping on each other.

I was assigned to work in a line with Jen and Jo. As it turns out, this house belongs to Jen; and Jo was the family partner (which is apparently a liaison type position between Habitat and the homeowner). Jen made a point of telling us to just throw the wrapping and the scraps overboard because she needed to put in volunteer hours on Sunday, so she would be cleaning everything. Jen works as an instructor at Pinnacle Career Institute teaching medical office administration (which is what my sister does, so we had something to talk about) and she knew the punch line to my favorite joke: “What’s the difference between god and a doctor?”…

Roofing made the time fly, and by the time we finished, everyone else was already cleaning up, so I didn’t have to do too much of that (it’s surprising how little mess we made, all things considered).

Here’s the things I learned on my first day:

1. Even though they say they have tools, you should bring your own gloves, sunscreen, eye protection, and a utility knife (and aspirin!).
2. It’s really not that much work for a day. I suspect they plan it this way to keep from burning out the volunteers, and I guess they know what they’re doing. The schedule was long enough to get some sun and get something done, but not so long that I dread going back next week.
3. They can pretty much always use volunteers on Saturday, and I think they’d be happy to have able-bodied souls show up even if they don’t come in a big group. So, even though AP committed for these two weekends, if you couldn’t make it, go some other weekend.
4. It seems like someone is always walking around taking pictures. –I asked Jen about this and she said that it was usually either the newspaper, or, there is a lady at Habitat that makes a scrapbook of each build to present to the homeowner when they move in.
5. Trust me, you really can’t drink enough water.
6. There are about half a dozen ‘regulars’ or supervisors – I don’t know what they’re really called, but they are very patient and helpful and fun. They keep things going in the right direction on-site without being stern or strict.
7. Put your name tag on your hat, otherwise it’s likely to sweat off.
8. I don’t know if this applies to volunteers, but they also work Tuesdays and Thursdays.