Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity has started a new group designed for people who can help build houses on a regular basis.
The need for people who can volunteer on a regular schedule, versus just pitching in every now and then, is important, Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity officials said.
Currently, the group is working on four homes — three are new homes and one is a rehab, according to Christopher Schindler, executive coordinator of Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity.
Schnilder said the group has only one skilled construction employee on staff.
“That’s simply not enough to build multiple houses while, at times simultaneously, leading the many, many volunteers we consistently have out to work with us,” Schindler said.
For more than 20 years, Walters Woods volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity Roanoke Valley in Virginia. He was a member of the Builders Club there, which met twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays to help build homes for those in need.
“During that time, I saw the benefit of a dedicated group of skilled individuals doing the necessary things to build a home,” he said. “The idea behind the Builders Club is to help people develop those skills as well as apply them.”
When Woods relocated to the Aurora area to be closer to his daughter, he brought along with him the idea for the club.
For the last several months, Woods has been volunteering at the Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, which recently formed its own Builders Club.
“We are looking for people with any type of construction skills,” Schindler said.
But also he said, the group is open to those who may not have the skills or experience in construction but “are willing to learn.”
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“The Builders Club offers the opportunity to not only assist in the construction of our homes and help guide and educate volunteers who come out, but it also affords you the opportunity to play a huge role in building affordable homes for our extremely deserving families. This makes a very positive impact on the Fox Valley community,” he added.
Already about five to seven regular members meet twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, Woods said. The group has installed cabinets, prepped a floor for hardwood, painted and put up drywall.
Most of the current members are retired, but not all, Woods said.
“None of them were tradespeople. They come from other walks of life,” he added.
But they are the type of individuals who would tackle home projects themselves like painting and hanging wallpaper, Woods said.
They also had an interest in helping others, Woods said.
“Most people want to help others and there is no greater satisfaction that using your time and skills to help someone else benefit,” he said.
Since the early 1990s, Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity has been building houses in southern Kane County. Families who qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home are working families that do not have the income level or savings for a down payment to purchase a home on their own, group officials said.
Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity acts as the mortgage company and doesn’t charge any interest to the homeowner.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Schindler at Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity at 630-206-5032 or email [email protected].
Cathy Janek is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.