Habitat for Humanity - Cayuga County

I have volunteered with a number of rebuilding organizations over the years including Habitat for Humanity. Witnessing your work become something permanent and part of someone's home is fulfilling in a different way than other volunteer opportunities.The Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity is no different. They had two houses in different stages of rehab during the time I worked with them. The people overseeing the work are committed to their task and great guides for volunteers. I searched their website and emailed the organization whom connected me with Kip the affiliate co-president and volunteer coordinator. We emailed and I arranged to volunteer on a Friday morning.

The Set Up

I volunteered here on two separate Fridays. The site is located in the city of Auburn. There is plenty of room for parking on the street and there is a big Habitat sign out front. Once on site you sign in and sign a waiver then one of the coordinators asks about your skills and interests. The first time I was on site there were 4 or 5 of us. The house is in various stages of completion. I started in the bathroom which had recently been tiled. I spent about 4 hours cleaning the shower and floor tiles so that they were ready for grout. All materials were provided and the Kip and the site manager came to check on me frequently. It was tedious work, but necessary! Music was playing in the home, the air was comfortable, and I was able to complete my task. During both visits everyone on site was helpful, happy and conversing.

The second time I volunteered there were only 3 of us onsite. The other two, including the site coordinator and a volunteer who was a retired painter, were working on installing ceiling trim and painting in the main living area. I was asked to clean the paint, dust, and smoke residue off of a beautiful wood banister and railing. There was some discussion about how to best do this. I first used water and a scrub pad to clean the cobwebs, dust and surface materials. Time consuming for sure! Once you wipe down the main surfaces, you must get between each spindle and down on the trim. Sometimes working from the back of the railing sometimes from the front. Leaning over enough to clean but not so far that you fall! Ha! I was able in 4 hours to clean all the paint off the railing and other surface residue. We also researched some ways to remove more of the smoke damage. I haven’t made it back since to see if they accomplished this.

Impact

This affiliate has provided housing for 20 families in the Auburn area. They have partnered with numerous businesses and provided opportunities for countless youth, families and adults with a desire to contribute to society. I always feel good when I can work with people who care about the quality of the work they do and the people impacted. I felt that here. I know they can use help in a variety of ways, so please reach out and help them or your local Habitat for Humanity in providing stable housing for families.

To Discover How you Can Help!

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Find ways to donate to Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity here

Locate your local Habitat here