Recently I was given the opportunity to help build a house in Wayland, MA with the Habitat for Humanity club at Bentley. Habitat is a global non-profit organization that has been building affordable houses for low-income families since 1976. Lots of the supplies used are donated from local businesses and volunteers from all over come to help build.
Our work day started at 8am when we arrived at the build site. We were joined by the Habitat group from Harvard University for the day, and shortly after we arrived our site supervisor gave us the rundown on how the day was going to go. Our groups were to work on two duplexes that were being built and that were in different stages of completion. One had the foundation laid down and the outer walls up. The other was nearly done and only needed a few finishing touches before its Key Ceremony in a few weeks.
Trying to get out of the bitter November cold, I opted to help out inside the furnished duplex. A majority of the morning was spent cleaning up sawdust and washing windows. After a quick coffee break where we were able to talk with kids from Harvard, we went back to work. Because most of the actual construction was completed, we were left with less strenuous activities like peeling off tape, building a shelving, installing lights in the basement and moving wood and other objects so concrete could be placed in the second duplex.
After a much needed lunch break to warm up our frozen bodies, a couple of girls and I spent the rest of the afternoon with the dreaded task of trying to install doorknobs on every door in the duplex. I never realized how complicated they could be until 4 of us were trying to figure out how to install one. Despite a few mishaps and accidentally putting a doorknob on backwards, all of the doorknobs were successfully put in.
In spite of the biting cold, I found the build fun and rewarding. I was able to meet a variety of people who, if not given this opportunity, I might not have met. As a member of a Habitat family, it was nice to give back and be a part of another family’s work towards creating a better future.
Habitat for Humanity is a great organization that helps people all over the world. Every build connects communities and helps to eliminate the affordable housing crisis. If you would like to donate or look for a build near you check out their website at http://www.habitat.org/