My experience with Durham Habitat helped to build the foundation for what was a rapidly-growing fondness for the Habitat for Humanity organization as a whole.
Durham was where I learned the nature of the inclusiveness of the organization, met many new friends from all walks of life in the community that I found myself in, and gained skills that I have since used to assist in my own everyday life and with my current pursuit of higher education.
Before signing up to assist with several builds in Durham, I didn’t know any more about the organization than what I had seen in commercials on Home and Garden Television, or from listening to celebrity home builders talk about how they used their extra time and money to aid the organization. I understood that volunteers helped to build homes for those who needed them, at a reduced cost to the eventual home owner, but beyond that, I didn’t grasp an understanding of how home owners were chosen, what the details were, what was required, and how the process worked.
Prior to my arrival in North Carolina for what would be a two-month stay, I signed up to volunteer three mornings a week for the month of February, the Habitat schedule allowing me to continue my regular work, and giving me a chance to participate on multiple sites and meet an array of people and work with different volunteers, site supervisors, and skilled workers.
Very quickly into that month, I realized that Habitat was something I truly enjoyed, and appreciated most for its inclusiveness. Everyone was involved and had a role, no matter what their background. Working as a woman in the man’s world that is the sports industry, this feeling I got from Habitat was something I cherished.
From joining future home owners getting their sweat equity hours in, to young men completing community service, to members of the United States Army giving back to their local neighbourhood, to skilled workers assisting multiple builds, to those who donated time and money to the cause, to many others from various walks of life, the environment was open, welcoming, positive and amazing.
During that first month, I added on whatever days and shifts I could, to help with builds and to learn from the knowledgable site supervisors and skilled workers. They allowed me an opportunity to build my skills, using an array of equipment and completing a number of tasks involving a variety of tools. When that first month was finished, I signed up for my second month of stay, outside of my trip to Orlando, where I also joined Habitat for Humanity and assisted in a neighbourhood there.
There wasn’t a day that went by during my time with Durham Habitat when I did not either meet someone new, learn a new skill, share a story, make a new friend, or feel like I accomplished something and contributed to the new home of a worthy recipient. I felt welcomed, embraced, and included, and truly believe that all others I met shared in those feelings. It was a fantastic environment to be in, work in, and just to be able to experience for any amount of time.
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