Habitat Hands Build More than Just Houses:
Organization to Launch New Volunteer Recruitment Campaign
by Scott A. Sumner
Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay is looking for more hands as they embark on their 22nd home build. Visit Habitat for Humanity volunteers on site at the most recent Habitat home build, to help the organization launch a new recruitment campaign.
Whether it is to stay active after retirement, complete high school volunteer hours, provide unique networking opportunities for their employees while giving back, or to make life-long friends; Habitat volunteers are all very proud to be a part of the Habitat for Humanity team.
Habitat volunteers are currently working five days a week, building a single-family dwelling home located at 36 Johnson Avenue. This is the future home for the Williams family.
W David Baxter is the CEO of Thunder Bay Insurance which is 32 years old as a company in Thunder Bay and has a staff of 40 people.
“ We got involved in Habitat because we have always been involved in different parts of the community. We were looking at opportunities where the staff could be involved not only in fundraising but with personal time and they chose Habitat. We have already raised the money
and bought a lot on Hoddar Ave and are now at 80% of our goal of building a house within the next 1 1/2 years, probably in 2013. We have been on two sites already gaining experience and hope to be on this build site in October.”
“ The money was raised with a social event, a dinner and dance and fundraisers in house with the staff. For example if you are late for a meeting we have fines that go to Habitat. The owners of Thunder Bay Insurance also kick in to the fund. Part of our philosophy is giving back to our community of Thunder Bay and this is one of the projects we have on the go.”
Diane Mitchell of Habitat for Humanity.
“ It is a great project, our 22 nd house build, and we look forward to doing a lot more. Our first house was in 1994. We want to get it up to 5 per year if we can. The house costs us $75,000 which includes the land, the materials that we need and there is a whole other portion
where people donate things for free like drywall, insulation, shingles, wood, etc. which helps to keep the cost down for us. The only reason we can build the house at this cost is because of our volunteers. It is almost exclusively built by volunteers with only a few trades that come
in to help. Many of those trades volunteer or give discounts as well.”
“ The house was started August 6th and we will have the family in by Christmas. The Restore is where we earn most of our money and it pays for the entire administrative expenses so when people donate money 100% of that money can go to our build. It is crucial to have volunteers in
our Re Store where they are mandated to be 90% of our staff. We do have a build coordinator who helps with the build.”
Robert Wainwright, Habitat Volunteer who has lived in Thunder Bay since 1962 and previously worked with Abitibi Bowater in his career.
“ The first thing you do is come in and get your tools out. Today was to finish off the floor joists and get the plywood up there.You use the air gun in this job. It is very creative work and at the end o f the day you see something done. It is rewarding to look back at the work. I was lying on my back looking at BNN on TV trying to make money and now I just check in to see how the futures are and come out and work here. It is doing something positive.”
If you would like to volunteer at Habitat give them a call.
