Happy Wrapping!

On Saturday, July 15th Elmhurst College Habitat for Humanity Chapter participated on their first build day this year. We brought down three members of the chapter.We were anticipating more, but the three that made it had a fantastic experience. The build was held at Pioneer Prairie in West Chicago.

I have been a member with Habitat going on four years now and I always learn something new each build I participate in. This build I learned how to effectively use a circular saw and also how to put down boards that need holes for bolts. The learning experience was a smooth and enjoyable one.

The heat was overbearing at times but the experience and enjoyment was undeniable.

My most exciting moment had to be seeing one of the homeowners that I met at the ” Meet the Homeowners” event held at Elmhurst College. I know the amount of work they have to put in but working alongside future homeowners made the day that much more enjoyable.

Thanks for coming to build Elmhurst College! Do you have a Build Day coming up? Email youth@dupagehabitat.org to have your Build Day featured here!

            We arrived at the Pioneer Prairie building sites with a will to work, a desire to help others, a spirit that couldn’t be broken, and a bag of banana nut muffins. It was going to be a good day, we were sure of it. Maybe it was the muffins, or maybe the heat index of 103 degrees, but either way we had a good feeling.

            The rest of our crew arrived shortly, and soon we all had our tasks. Within twenty minutes it was as if we had been working with the experienced Habitat Crew our whole lives. The boys in their hard hats and tool belts fit right in with the older crew members up on scaffolds and ladders 10 feet above the ground. By the end of the day they were old pros at putting up siding and installing insulation.

            The girls, looking just as professional as the boys in our protective glasses and nail pouches with hammers hanging down, were sent to the house next door to build a wall. Yes, build a wall. Our initial shock and apprehension regarding this incredible task quickly passed when Howard started us off slowly by teaching us the basics of using a hammer and nails. Howard and Jack and all of the other crew members were so patient with us while we learned (slowly and steadily, I might add) how to use our tools. Before we knew it we had built and raised an entire wall!

            At yet another house, other Glenbard South Habitat members were put to work wall-building as well. They too, learned the important steps to measuring, cutting, and nailing the wood. They learned impressive terminology which they showed off to the rest of the crew during break. Soon yet another wall had gone up, and the frames of the houses were well on their way.

            After a long and back-breaking day, we left the Pioneer Prairie smiling just as widely as when we arrived. Sure, we were a little more tired, and a lot more sweaty, but our spirits were still high. All of the kind, caring, patient, and funny people at the site, all of our new knowledge about construction, as well as the knowledge that we helped give a family in need a “leg up”, made our day one that we are proud of, and certainly one we will remember.

Do you have a Build Day coming up? Email youth@dupagehabitat.org to have your Build Day featured here!

It was just a bunch of dirt with some stakes in the ground.  Then, it became more than just an idea.  A hole was dug and filled with gravel:

It doesn’t look like much, but it was important to get the slab on concrete poured.

Then, last week, the members of  Youth United went out to build and started to frame the front and back walls.

It helped the Saturday Crew to  raise three wall!!!

Now it’s starting to look like a house!