Sunday, August 28, 2011

Women Builders Blogging!

Hey there,

Just a little update on the house. I volunteered for the build on Saturday and had a blast again as usual! I hadn't been on site in a while and the house looked amazing! It's really starting to feel like home and it's nice when you can see that all the odd jobs you're doing are really making an impact.

It's amazing how much goes into a building a house and working on the build for a day really makes you understand where the expression "blood, sweat and tears" comes from, however all the build volunteers are amazing and we usually know a lot about each other at the end of the day.

When I began the build, I was really nervous because I'm not handy at all. I'm quite the whirlwind of activity and my attempts at home improvement consist of hanging pictures by eyeball! When I told my friends and family I was going to volunteer this year, they were very surprised and many were worried for my safety, however I am living proof that anyone can join the build and have a blast! My first day on the build I was using a sledgehammer and a table saw and having a blast. In fact, I liked the table saw so much I did all the cuts all day! The nice thing about Habitat is that there is a mix of experience and a lot of patience. You learn some awesome (and handy) skills while volunteering. So, if you're a klutz like me, don't be afraid to come out and do some good for someone else.

Speaking of which, I had the chance to speak to the homeowner on Saturday and she told me her girls were so excited to have their own rooms. That was the only thanks I needed!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

2011 My Neighbour's Home - A Whirlpool Canada Production

Well Guelph, it's that time again for Habitat for Humanity Wellington County. We are asking all our volunteers to dust off their steel toe boats and shine up their hammers because another build is right around the corner. That corner being at Elizabeth St. and Huron St.

The 2011 My Neighbour's Home project will be at 28 Huron St. This will be a semi-detached home build that will be starting in the next couple weeks (as of August 15th). By the end of the year, we'll hand over keys to TWO families in the hope of a brighter future.


With that said, this home build would not be possible without the generous donation of Whirlpool CanadaWhirlpool donates an energy efficient refrigerator and range stove to every Habitat home build throughout North America in combination to the Habitat for Humanity home they sponsor in Canada every year. In fact, Guelph is not an unfamiliar community to Whirlpool Canada as this will be their 3rd, yes THIRD Habitat sponsored home built in Guelph. Their first project in Guelph on Morris St. was in 2007 with the second being two years later on Johnston St. in 2009. The appliance manufacturing juggernaut doesn't stop their involvement at the cutting of a cheque, similar to their previous home sponsoring endeavours, Whirlpool Canada will be contributing a volunteer army to the build site. In fact, because Whirlpool Canada is celebrating their 100th Anniversary, their committed to compiling their largest volunteer task force to date; 200 Whirlpool Canada employees will be volunteering for this home project.


Another significant sponsor of this semi-detached home is the Kortright Presbyterian Church. Their significant contribution also makes this home build a reality rather than a pipedream. The Kortright Presbyterian Church led by Senior Minister Alex MacLeod. Irene Light is the Chair of this Faith Build Committee. Check out our Volunteer Hub on volunteer shifts that are available or how your congregation can get involved.

General volunteer shifts will be open to the public at the end of September (after the Whirlpool Canada volunteer army is done kicking butt!), with the exception of some weekends through September that are open. Check out all the available shifts and register (if you're not a registered volunteer yet) right here! It's promising to be an interesting project with several organizations throughout the community extremely interested in getting out of the office and getting into framing, roofing and drywalling. Our Adopt-A-Week/Day programs allows you to do just that! If you are considering a team building exercise for your staff, fellow colleagues or clients, this experience will knock your socks off! It's also a great idea for birthday parties and celebrations!

Fundraising the amounts of the Adopt-A-Week/Day are easy! Utilize our online fundraising software and use Facebook to your advantage. Or, you could run a 3rd party fundraiser at your factory/office/home. Weeks and Days are being filled up as this is typed but you still have time to get your squad in for a week or day. One simple email and we'll get you booked! Here are some teams ready to kick some butt on site:



You can be part of the 2011 My Neighbour's Home, it's something you don't want to miss!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Words from Women Builders

A couple of months ago I reluctantly joined Habitat for Humanity Women Build. I say reluctantly, as the most hammering I ever did before this was putting a nail in the wall to hang a picture, and usually the nail came out & the picture fell. 

I soon realized I was not alone as many of the Habitat volunteers are unskilled. Skill building workshops were soon up and running.  Last night Rona Building Centre opened their doors to us, and Stewart  Carter (Construction) gave up his evening  to give us hands on experience on how to drywall.  He was informative, witty, and a great teacher. The staff at Rona were there to help with any materials we needed, and we all left with a pink rose. On the work site, lunches are provided by various restaurants as well as some very generous people and the site supervisor is one of the most patient people I know. I want to say “Kudos” to everyone involved in this fantastic venture.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. If you want to expand your horizons, work together for a great cause and meet some fabulous people, you should give a “Habitat Build” a try!
Marlene MacNevin                                                                                                                                                                      


marlene macnevin
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.  ~Franklin D. Roosevelt


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The house that women built

I have spent vacations doing biggish jobs around my house, and I’ve spent vacations actually vacationing. This year I booked off eight Wednesdays in June and July and spent them at 439 York Rd. building a home through Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build.
I completed my last day last Wednesday. Sniff.
It’s always sad to see the end of a holiday, and while I can’t say building a house is the same as floating on a lake, it’s been rejuvenating nonetheless.

A project like this has a lot of appeal for me. As a homeowner, it helps to know how to do minor repairs, and through building this home I’ve had plenty of practice with hammers and nails ... and nail removers. I also better understand the concepts of level, square and plumb and how to achieve them.
I’ve had my share of being told I can’t and I don’t know how. So it’s nice to be able to say yes I can, and I do know how.

As well, I know I’ve been blessed with some lucky breaks in my life, and it is time to deposit some goodwill in the karma bank again. A family will get a home and an affordable mortgage through this project. I’m delighted to be able to help.

My first shift was the second day of the build and we started in the basement installing ledger boards around the top edge of the basement walls. In subsequent weeks we installed the joists and subfloor for the first floor, then the walls, and then repeated the process on the second floor.
How thrilling it was to put up the walls, especially on the second floor on the windiest of days. “Does this house make me look fat?” I asked as we poked our heads through the front window.
I was there for some of the roof work, too. I’m not so keen on heights and steered clear of the really high work that required wearing safety harnesses. I’ll never forget Ashley and Ingrid though, as they danced across the highest beam, nailing the trusses into place. Like tightrope artists, it was beautiful to see. And a little queasy-making too, even from my perch on the relative security of scaffolding.
Oh, and I’ve learned how to put up scaffolding. And take it down. And move it. And put it back up again.
There’s a lot of repetition with building a house.
There’s also been some weather — one cold day, where volunteer builders were looking for tea and coffee at break time — and the rest of them hot. Some very hot, some very humid, and one record-breaking hot and humid day.

My last day fell during Bring a Friend week so I brought one of my daughters and we worked together siding the back of the house. It was a great mother-daughter day and a fine way to wrap up my summer vacation.
I salute project manager Sharon Lewis, who is guiding the volunteer builders through each and every job. Every day a new set of women comes on site eager to get to work. Sharon is a master at harnessing their energy and honing new skills in her workers. She’s been patient, thorough, encouraging and good-humoured through it all.

The Women Build project is a little different from other Habitat for Humanity builds. Lunches are donated by local restaurants and grocery stores and they have been delicious and most welcome. Some days there are armchair massages, mini yoga or Pilates sessions to soothe our sore muscles.
Participants can also take the free skills building workshops that are offered. The last one was on drywalling: hanging, taping and filling. More of them will be organized as the work in the house becomes more specialized. No skills are required however, and the workshops are not mandatory.

Women Builders are being asked to do some fundraising since not all materials are donated. Raise $150 minimum and get three days on the site; commit to eight days of building for a $25 donation; or just sign on for fundraising if building is not in the cards for you. Every two weeks there will be a draw for incentive prizes for volunteers who raise more than the minimum.
Building takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays and we’re hoping to complete the project and hand over the keys in October.

More information is available at http://www.guelphwomenbuild.ca/ or http://www.habitatwellington.on.ca/
I’ll probably go back. I want to learn how to install kitchen cupboards, and since I’ve taken the drywall workshop, it would be nice to practise what I’ve learned.
I’m still hoping for some R&R, and floating on a lake still sounds refreshing. But I’ve never had a vacation that’s been as fulfilling.