Rene and I had been thinking about volunteering with Habitat for Humanity through the RV Care-A-Vanners group for quite some time, so after deciding on our Winter destination we finally signed up for our very first build in Dade City, Florida. The affiliate that we were volunteering with was Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County.
We arrived on Sunday afternoon, January 5, 2014, at the camping area owned and operated by the affiliate. It was located in a Habitat residential community on a large grass area with full hook-ups for about a dozen RV's. Next to the RV sites was a small house with a large covered patio. Inside the house was a large kitchen, laundry area, two rest rooms with showers and a bedroom for the caretaker. The land on the other side of the house was being developed for an additional six full hook-up RV sites. This campground area was located on one side of a dead end street and a block long. They were very nice accommodations for our first volunteer experience. We picked out a vacant site and proceeded to set up the RV for our two week stay. We mingled a bit with some of the other volunteers and met our team leaders.
The next morning we had to shape up at 8 am with the other volunteers under the covered patio. We were introduced to the construction staff of the affiliate and were assigned to various work sites for the day. We were not building any new homes on this build, but were completing some projects on homes that were nearly ready to be dedicated to their new owners. I was assigned to work with a long time volunteer, Bob Hammer, and with another first time volunteer, Steve Ferriole. Our job was to complete the railing on a wheelchair ramp for a home right across the street from the camping area that was being modified to accommodate the new owner that was wheelchair bound. Rene was assigned to a painting crew and went with two other women to a town nearby to finish some painting on two homes near completion. The work day ended at 3 pm and everyone returned to the campground.
On Monday evening all of the volunteers were invited to attend a wine & cheese gathering at the Habitat ReStore, where the affiliate offices are located. We were introduced to the office staff and ReStore staff by the President/CEO, John Harper, who we had met at the morning shape up. We got to hear about all the great things the affiliate was doing to provide affordable housing to residents of East & Central Pasco County, and about how the ReStore operates and contributes to the success of the affiliate. We also chatted a bit with other volunteers, who we discovered were from all parts of the USA and Canada. One women drove from the Seattle Washington area and has done so numerous times to volunteer with this affiliate.
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On Thursday night, under the covered patio, there was a "Pot Luck" dinner. Everyone brought a side dish, but one couple treated us to a main course of Fried Chicken and Cooked Ham. The following Thursday we were treated to a nice BBQ by the affiliate. Everyone brought a side dish again, but this time the affiliate treated us to chicken and filet mignon cooked to order. They also provided all the beverages! Needless to say, they want their RV Care-A-Vanners to come back and volunteer again. They took real good care of us. Also, on the Saturday between our two week stay we were invited to attend a wedding of two of the volunteers, Bob Hammer (who I was working with) and his girlfriend Sharon Upton. It was a wonderful experience to see these two get married "on a build" and to celebrate with them on their special day.
Over the course of our two week stay, I continued to do some work on the house being adapted for wheelchair use and I also helped with the construction of a storage shed to be used in the campground area. We got to know some real nice people over the course of this two week period, some of which we are still in contact with. Rene continued with some painting, floor tiling and volunteering in the ReStore, where she uncovered an assortment of Habitat T-shirts. Someone in the group suggested that they make a T-shirt quilt, but the only one that sewed much was Rene. Anyway, we got help from two of the women, Marie & Annette, with cutting out the squares, (I even did some), and Rene sewed together all 72 squares for this large two sided quilt. The girls helped her finish it at the ReStore using the conference room table to sew the two sides together and put the finishing touches on it. The beautiful quilt was presented to the affiliate staff at the BBQ.
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience of our first build. The Florida weather in early January, although cold at times, was still a whole lot warmer then where we had come from. The warm affiliate staff offered us the opportunity to volunteer along side them with the task of helping to put worthy families into safe, secure and affordable homes that they will be the proud owners of upon completion. We also enjoyed working and socializing with all of the other great volunteers that gave of their time and talents and came together for this important cause.
Habitat is not a hand out... it is a hand up!
Regards,
Frank & Rene
PS: If you would like to see all of our road trip photo albums please click on the link below.
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