Habitat-NYC hires professional contractors and architects to design and build the exteriors of single and multiple family homes. Volunteers help complete the interior construction.
“I’ve known John for six years, when he first began volunteering,” says Roland. “Both he and Jeanne have a passion for social justice and a desire to give back to their community. They have become two of our most skilled volunteers at our construction sites and fundraisers. It’s individuals like them that encourage social justice.”
The organization is committed to supporting safe and healthy communities through green building. Each Habitat site is designed to reduce waste and use energy more efficiently, and is constructed using earth friendly materials. The families living in these homes benefit from a safer, healthier indoor air environment, and enjoy lower electric bills.
Often the greatest challenges for volunteers is taking on new tasks. But it can also be the most rewarding. “We were recently working on-site in Brooklyn and had to climb a ladder from the second to third floor,” says John. “Jeanne is afraid of heights, so going up was easy, but coming down she had a slight meltdown. I talked her through it and once she was securely on the ladder, she raced down, stepping on my hand along the way. At the time she was scared, but we laugh about it now.
“We feel so fortunate that we’re able to work with an organization such as Habitat for Humanity-NYC,” says Jeanne. “The best parts about volunteering for us is learning new skills, being able to work with our hands, and working side-by-side with our fellow New York City neighbors.”