With spring on the horizon, Habitat SKKC is nearly finished with our annual Winter Warriors season. The Winter Warriors are a group of over 400 people, and many of them are Habitat SKKC’s more seasoned volunteers. They range from retirees to applicants to apprenticeship programs in need of volunteer hours to new homeowners looking to pick up some DIY tips. In addition to working on construction sites, Winter Warriors volunteer their time to repair projects and at our four retail locations.
During this year’s season, which runs from December to March, over 50 new volunteers joined the program. Habitat SKKC caught up with two of them at the Yarrow Cottages site.
One of the newest volunteers to join the Winters Warrior, Conor B., is actually a returning volunteer. He first learned about Habitat for Humanity in high school and volunteered until he left for college. Once he found himself at a point in life where he was established in his career and had more free time, he wanted to find a way to give back. He rejoined as a volunteer this past December. Conor loves the variety of work and the friendly and knowledgeable Habitat and Americorps staff he has met.
Conor’s favorite part of volunteering for Habitat SKKC is that “no matter how inexperienced you are, there is someone here to cheer you on and show you how to do it.”
Staying motivated to work outside can be tough on chilly winter days, but he looks forward to seeing the other volunteers and staff. Bonding with them in a setting that’s very different from his professional life motivates him to put on the layers and head outside. “You get to learn how someone’s day is going as you’re building a wall. Plus, you feel like if you don’t show up, you let those people down,” he adds.
An avid cyclist and outdoorsman, Conor has also contributed his volunteer time to the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, where he worked on trail maintenance and efforts to keep parks and public lands open and available to all. This desire to be outside comes in handy on days he spends at the construction site. In the few months he has been here, he has had the opportunity to learn how to do everything from framing a wall to painting trim and fine detail work—and learning how to use tools and problem solve along the way.
Conor recommends that interested volunteers who may be intimidated by construction work, “Jump in with both feet! The number of smiles you are going to see when you show up will make you feel welcome.”
Tracy C., a freelance writer and editor, has volunteered with Habitat SKKC for a year. Her volunteer work on construction sites balances out her time spent editing books and raising her daughter. While she had known about Habitat for Humanity for as long as she can remember, she was inspired to give her time after her friend received Habitat’s housing assistance.
Since joining as a volunteer, she has worked on exterior siding, trim, stairs, beams, flooring, and framing—an experience that brings together all the volunteers. Her initial volunteering took place at Highland Terrace and focused on interior work. Switching to the Yarrow Cottages site and joining at the start of a project meant that Tracy could see how a whole house is put together. She is constantly learning new skills that help demystify the world of building.
“I don’t feel as intimidated by house projects. The structure of houses is not such a mystery to me anymore. If you make a mistake, you can fix it. Habitat builds confidence in that way,” says Tracy.
Imagining the families who will live in the houses she builds is easy to do when she sees tangible progress every time she comes back to the site. That keeps her motivated, as does the feeling onsite that building is a team effort.
As a Winter Warrior, Tracy follows the principle that there is no bad weather, only bad gear and makes sure to wear plenty of layers and brings a hot drink and hot lunch. Her advice to people worried about low temperatures during the Winter Warriors season: “Don’t let a little discomfort keep you from making a difference in your community.”
If you want to learn more about the program or are interested in joining next year’s cohort of Winter Warriors, visit www.habitatskc.org/winter-warriors.