Habitat for Humanity

A friend of mine did something like it for a church.

He enjoyed it, but he really didn't care for the silent backlash he received. He worked construction so he wound up teaching people how to do things. He had plans that night, and it was shift work. Something happened and he missed the ride back to the church. His dad came and picked him up. They were trying to make him feel guilty for leaving, even though he had been there for a 6+ hours or so. Let alone that he volunteered to help out period.

It sort of discouraged him from doing it again.

 

My father's company has a national sponsorship with Habitat, and he managed it locally when he retired. I worked on several of the houses during the weekends. You can call the local Habitat office and work direct I would think or go through another organization. Typically, the work is done two days a week with volunteers and are full time staff that some what manage the projects. It feels good to give back, but when you drive by the house two years later and see it trashed, is kinda makes you upset and lose the desire to do it again.

 

Very funny that you brought this subject up. My friend mentioned it a few months ago, and it's been on my mind ever since. I'm now considering going to another country, and doing it for like 1 or 2 months in the spring or summer. Another friend of mine says will do it too. I'm guessing we should atleast do it locally one day and see how it is.

 

That sucks.

Check around your area, there has to be an organization or church that does things like HFH. They're always looking for volunteers.

 

Even though this article is 3 years old I recently saw an ad on TV with Harry Connick Jr. requesting support for Katrina's aftermath.

"Musicians’ support will help communities rise, like a Phoenix, from devastation"

http://www.habitat.org/newsroom/2005archive/insitedoc010607.aspx

I also heard, recently, on a radio talk show that quite a few churches and organizations are still building houses and cleaning up in the affected areas of Mississippi and Louisiana.

 

Here's a couple of links to some great efforts;

http://www.makeitrightnola.org/

http://www.globalgreen.org/neworleans/

 

Will do.

Let me just say though, I drove to California right after I graduated with my best friend. It was the best trip I have ever experienced, and the highlight was the Grand Canyon. You don't realize how large/massive it is, and just how insignificant you are; until you are standing at the edge. I took a few hundred pictures.

I would recommend driving across the country to anyone that has the time. It's not as expensive as you think and I did it in a civic, comfort was never a problem.

 

Suggest that anyone who is interested in getting involved with Habitat do some research on them first. Specifically around the firing of former CEO/founder, the 4X increase in CEO salary following Fuller's ousting, and the charging of fees to chapters and interest to new home owners to support new salary structure for the board and the relocation. Habitat is not what they used to be - as a result of these changes, several former Habitat chapters have cut ties with the parent organization.

 

Hard to say the cause in that case. Fuller was terminated in early 2005.

 

This would be a cool thing to do but I have no friends that would be interested in it. If you end up doing the road trip and are passing through western PA, let me know.