Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit organization that I have volunteered at two times. The facility that I have reported to is the Habitat Restore located on W. Chestnut Exp., Springfield, MO. The restore has been open since 1999 and is open to the general public. The restore sells donated new and used building materials at discount prices with the proceeds staying within our local community. The proceeds fund additional Habitat for Humanity homes in our area.
Habitat for Humanity is Christian based housing ministry organization that works around the world to help eliminate poverty housing. The organization started in the United States in 1976, but today there are over 2,300 affiliates in all 50 states and around the world. They strive to bring the need for adequate housing to light. People of any faith or no faith are encouraged to help join them in their efforts. All individuals or groups need is the ability to pick up a hammer to aid those families that are in need of shelter.
Habitat for Humanity teams up with people in need to renovate homes and then sell the homes to the homeowner partners. The criteria to be a family chosen for the Habitat for Humanity to partner with is based on, ability to repay a no-profit mortgage, need for housing, and willingness to partner with the organization. The mortgage payments made provide funding for more houses to be built. The homes are built primarily by volunteers which helps the cost remains low and therefore is affordable for the low-income families that the organization partners with.
I volunteered two times at the restore for four hours at a time. When arriving at the location, I first provided the necessary documentation to drive one of their vehicles and picked up directions for the task ahead of me.
This organization brings together people of different social and financial classes, genders, races, and religions. Although Habitat for Humanity is a Christian based organization, they do not discriminate against other religions or any denomination, men and women work side by side with common goals between them, and social status boundaries are broken resulting in a better understanding for people to have of one another in different situations.
The organization also obtains proceeds through many gracious donations for individuals and businesses in the form of money and building materials. The restore stocks the following items.
Appliances Doors Light fixtures Shelving
Bath tubs Drywall Lumber & trim Sinks
Cabinets Electrical fixtures Paint Windows
Carpet Flooring Plumbing fixtures Roofing
Ceiling fans Hardware Other miscellaneous building materials
Volunteers are always needed to help on the building sites and to help with the general operations within the Restore.
Volunteering with this organization did increase the appreciation that I have for my own home and the resources that I have access to. There were many other volunteers at the facility for a variety of reasons. Some people have to put in sweat equity in the form of hours served in the organization that go toward the home that their family will live in, other people were there without the purpose of fulfilling any outside commitment and were just generously donating their time and effort.
The Habitat for Humanity has purchased several acres of land at half price where they plan to develop 56 new housing opportunities. These opportunities will be funded through donations, charity events and volunteers. I do encourage others to give back to their community by volunteering their time to not-for-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.
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