Habitat needs volunteers
Published 12:02 am Saturday, August 1, 2015
Habitat for Humanity is looking for a few good volunteers to help build its sixth house.
HFH publicity chairman Kylan Lewis said the next build starts in a month, and is set for two consecutive Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 4 and 5, and Sept. 11 and 12.
The build site is at 209 Opp Ave. in Andalusia. The Habitat family who’ll live there has not yet been publicly announced.
“We’re looking for any breathing body who wishes to come out and help us,” Lewis said. “The ones I enjoy working with have no background or experience. They show up not knowing which end of a hammer to hold, and they walk away knowing how to do siding.”
Lewis recalled a woman who volunteered who was asked to pick up trash on the build site.
“She told me, ‘I didn’t come here to pick up trash. I want to put roofing on.’ She did it.”
Work will begin at 7 a.m. on each build day, Lewis said. Volunteers may call Lewis in advance at 334.343.2299 to schedule work, or they can show up at the build and get an assignment.
Meals for volunteers will be provided by David’s Catfish, Church’s Chicken, Billy Joe Stallworth, and White and McClung.
Lewis said there is a misperception about Habitat.
“These houses are not given away,” he said. “These are quality houses built for deserving people. But they pay for them. We hold a mortgage, and they only pay principal.”
Habitat families also are required to put “sweat equity” into other builds before helping build their own homes.