HABITAT INTERDEPENDENCE DAY BUILD-A-THON...A SUCCESS!

[RaizelD <RaizelD...>]

Dear Friends and Family, 

Twenty six individuals and couples contributed a total of $800 toward my
Habitat Build-a-thon effort.  I was one of inidividuals with the largest
sponsorship--thanks to you!  

It was an incredible experience.  I took photos with a toy camera and if I
could I would post them on the net, but alas my computer is not powerful
enough to do that.  (So until I can do that, let's be creative.)

HABITAT BUILD-A-THON 1998:  PART I

Picture in your mind, a large lot, the size a football field with a dirt road
up the middle, and 3 small completed two-story houses with fresh primer
(windows still boarded up) on either side; opening up to a larger lot, with
six foundations and subfloors (3 on either side).  At the back of the lot, sit
registration tables with waterbottles, t shirts books and other goodies and a
group of enthusiastic registrars.  

July 3rd was a cool morning, and I arrived groggy eyed  at 7:45 am, signed in
and stood around munching on bagels, Odwalla juice and coffee, watching the
voluntees pour in.  Skilled craftspeople (crew leaders) wore purple t-shirts,
semi skilled volunteers and Habitat staff wore blue and others in an array of
work clothes of all colors.  Faces were young and old, female and male, mostly
caucasian, some Asian and some African American.  Several expectant home
owners, having completed various numbers of hours toward their 500 hr. "down-
payment" were also on the site.  

(FYI:  The home-owners-to-be are chosen in a process that includes looking at
present housing conditions, family configuration and special needs
circumstances.  The goal is to provide "simple, decent housing" to all folks
who can afford to pay a monthly mortgage.  So this program serves working
people, who because of the huge financial leap it normally takes to be a home
owner--expecially in the Bay Area--to get settled in good neighborhoods with
good homes.  It helps these folks get a major jump start toward a brighter
future.  The 500 work hours are the equivalent of a down payment on the
mortgage and must be completed before move-in.  Mortgages are 0% interest and
are paid directly to Habitat.  Please check out the East Bay Habitat for
Humanity web site at www.designjk.com/habitat/  for more information or email
them at habitat (at) best(dot)com)

During breakfast, the build-a-thon coordinator spoke from a podium set up in
the middle ot the lot, beside a sign which posted the house sponsors
(corporations who donate a minimum of $5000 to sponsor a home--3 out of these
6 had sponsors) and in kind donors, including The Cheeze Board collective in
Berkeley, who donated yummy pizza for lunch.  She spoke of Habitat's vision
and the success of the campaign and the amazing effort that we were involved
in.  Approximately 10-15 folks were participating in the building of 5 of the
six houses that day.  Over the six days the numbers would grow significantly.
A show of hands indicated that there were many return volunteers from other
years.  We were given a long list of safetly instructions and asked to stick
with the house we chose to work on for as many days as we would be attending
the build-a-thon.  

I chose the middle house on one side and we began working.  My crew was great.
I had a team leader who worked at Habitat as a one year intern with Ameri-
Corps.  (Clinton's program for U.S. domestic "service" work.)  Amy was a great
team leader and David, the skilled contractor was also an excellent and
skilled craftsman.  We began by selecting our tools--I became very intimate
with my hammer over the 2 1/2 days I spent there-- and began building walls
which we later raised, section by section till we shaped an entire house.  

[Stay-tuned for Part II after a good night's sleep and a full day of work
tomorrow...]