Community Service-Habitat for Humanity

The beam we nailed being put up.

The linen closet framing

I volunteered at Habitat for Humanity this week for one day for a total of 10 hours. I went with a friend who also needed community service hours for another class and we went to help out at a historical renovation house at 110 S. Channing in Elgin. I contacted Madi Franck, and her number is 6309408137. The house is being built for a family of seven people. There is two parents and they have five kids. We got to the build site at 8:30 and it was intimidating at first because all the other helpers looked like experienced construction workers and my friend and I are no where near  experienced construction workers. Before this experience I didn't even know how to hammer a nail. But, all the workers were really nice and patient with my friend and I. One of the crew leaders, Travis, worked with us and taught us things. The whole day everyone was working on framing the house, and we first started working on nailing together one of the main beams that go across the ceiling. At first, it was frustrating trying to nail these huge nails in the wood and I kept hitting myself in the thumb but eventually I got the hang of it. The other construction guys made fun of us because it took us so many hits to nail a nail in and they could hammer a nail in 5 hits. When we finished the beam it was lunch time and after lunch we worked on framing a wall for the linen closet. We nailed two sides of the linen closet and then nailed them in place. So, technically we framed a whole room, even though it's just a small linen closet. It was interesting and inspiring to meet all the volunteers, some who took off work, or some who were retired construction workers who took their whole day to come and help. Most of them were regular volunteers, and they had no requirement to volunteer 10 hours for a class, and no other obligations. They just wanted to help and volunteer on their own. The whole day was really hard work, by the end of the day I was covered in dust, I couldn't feel my thumb, I had a blister from hammering all day, I cut my pinky finger, I was sore all the next day, and I smelled like construction worker but it was really rewarding and surprisingly fun. It was good to step out of my comfort zone. I hope my construction work and hammering didn't cause more damage than it helped. :)