VALDOSTA —
The Third Annual Habitat for Humanity Freedom Build is going strong, with about 40 percent of the house built by volunteers during the weekend. Plumbing and electrical professionals will work to bring the building up to code during the week in preparation for the next round of volunteers this Friday and Saturday.
About 120 volunteers, mostly military and emergency professionals, lent a hand during the sunny-weather weekend. The progress is impressive, said area Habitat Executive Director Stuart Mullis.
“We’re building a little bit faster than usual,” Mullis said. “This is our salute to the military and first responders, so we have a lot of big, brawny guys come out who can get the work done.”
In addition to plumbing and electrical work, Habitat is pursuing a tradition of hiring sheet-rock professionals for the installation of walls. Sheet rock is especially difficult to work with, Mullis said.
Volunteer Coordinator Molly Roan is excited about the progress. The frame of the house and the doors and windows are almost completely installed.
“We’re about where we want to be,” Roan said. “We’re going a bit faster because we did have so many volunteers, which is not a bad thing.”
The effort saw more volunteers on Saturday, Roan said. There’s no way to be sure who will return to the site next weekend, but she assumes those who came out Friday and Saturday will return.
The homeowners are responsible for becoming a Habitat Partner, earning their house in part with the donation of 350 to 500 hours of “sweat equity” labor on their home, another Habitat project or in the Habitat ReStore.
“The homeowners have really been working hard to get their hours in,” Roan said. “Every time they have a chance, they’re out there (at the construction site).”
When there’s not much on-site work to be done, the three adult members of the four-member family spend time at the ReStore, but while the volunteers are at work, they’re right alongside them.
“All three of them are usually together when they come out,” Roan said. “They work really hard to find things to do. Not all homeowners do that.”
The volunteer group was diverse, Roan said, comprising both those new to building and those with construction experience, which helped move the project along. Those with little experience were paired with the experienced.
Once the plumbing and wiring are installed, volunteers will install roofing, siding, interior and exterior paint and landscaping, Mullis said. Habitat will bring in new sod once the house is complete.
“This house is going to change somebody’s life,” Mullis said.
Volunteers can call Roan at (229) 245-1330; or email her at volunteerhabitat@bellsouth.net.
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