It doesn’t work if we don’t help
Submitted by jcht2010 on
By Chris Lundstrom
Editor/Publisher
Jackson County and Edna were given a wonderful opportunity. Land was donated so Habitat for Humanity could partner with a family and help them build their own house.
That sounds great, doesn’t it? Somebody is going to help you build a house! Well, as Paul Harvey would say, here is the rest of the story.
The house isn’t free to anyone. The new owner has to put in a lot of sweat equity before they are handed the keys to their new home. They also are given papers to sign for their new mortgage. You see, nothing is free.
But here is the catch. The reason Habitat for Humanity is able to do what they do is because they count on volunteers from the community to help build the house. Yep, volunteers. And for the build in Edna, they are in short supply.
I spoke to one of the build volunteers, Jeri Browning after church on Sunday. She and her husband, Robert, have been involved in the build since Day 1. The volunteers meet every Saturday morning at 7:45 and work until about noon. Jeri said this past Saturday, in addition to the homeowners and house leaders only one volunteer showed up. She said at this rate, the house will take a year to build. She was – and is – frustrated.
I get it. We are all busy with our lives. We work all week long and have a long list of chores for the weekend. We can’t even get our own household duties done, who has time for anything else? Besides that, most of us don’t have any skills needed to build a house. So we figure we’ll let someone else do it. Well, guess what. No one else is doing it.
So here’s my challenge. I know there are a number of businesses in Edna that have employees who are handy. And here’s the cool thing. Jeri can – and will – train onsite any skills needed to help. Can we please step up and show this family there is a community of generous and caring people out there?
Remember the old “barn building” days when farmers from the area would show up on a Saturday and by the end of the day a barn had been built? Ok, maybe they didn’t do that here, but back in Pennsylvania that’s what happened. I’m sure there was some similar show of help that was given here.
I’m the first to say I don’t have time, don’t have skills, etc. I will also be the first to say I will volunteer. I can hammer a nail and carry stuff. And as an old girl with a touchy back, I am willing to do what needs to be done.
Are you with me? Can I count on you to help?
Jeri said individuals and groups are welcome to help. An individual just needs to show up at the build located at 313 Moody in Edna with any tools they may have, otherwise there are tools onsite. A group should register through the Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity website at www.goldencrescenthabitat.org or call 361-573-2511 so they can coordinate the work that will be done that day.
Remember, volunteering pays off in so many ways. Besides helping the recipient, it builds friendships, community spirit, and give you a pretty good sense of well-being. Plus you will get free training you can use on your own house. How’s that for payback?
I am counting on this community to step up and help with this. I know y’all are out there. Do the right thing and help build this family a home.
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