Traveling volunteers join Voke students in Habitat effort

BY MICHAEL DEEHAN
[ Originally published in the Gazette on: Saturday, October 14, 2006 ]

CAROL LOLLIS

Larry Humm, of New York, works on a set of steps to the deck at the Habitat for Humanity House in Northampton. Humm, a member of a traveling volunteer group, worked on the house for two weeks in September. They left a message for the family, though it will ultimately be covered

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NORTHAMPTON - In a bit of intergenerational collaboration, retirees from around the country worked for two weeks last month alongside students from the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School at a Habitat for Humanity work site on Westhampton Road.

'The Careavanners,' a group of nomadic Habitat for Humanity volunteers, and students from the city's vocational school joined forces to make progress on two new homes under construction by the Pioneer Valley chapter of Habitat for Humanity on Route 66 near Glendale Road.

The Careavanners travel the country, stopping for two-week stays at various building sites. Most are retired and spend weeks or months on the road.

Local Habitat affiliates, like the Pioneer Valley group, arrange for the crew to stow their vehicles in parks or other areas while the volunteers work at a local site.

The 25 volunteers who make up the Northampton crew have stayed at the Three-County Fairgrounds during their visit.

The two houses are duplexes, each featuring one three-bedroom unit and one with two bedrooms. The group's goal is to get both families into their homes by Christmas.

Careavanners have various reasons for their volunteerism. Krystal Young, a retired real estate manager from Pennsylvania now on her 10th 'build,' as Careavanners say, said she 'wanted to travel, wanted to be worthwhile, do something with a purpose.' She has been traveling with the Careavanners since September 2004.

'The homeowner knows they're going to get a decent place to live,' said Young.

The Smith Vocational students are providing electrical and carpentry work on the two new homes.

A group of senior electrical students installed the house's interior wiring last year and the 11 current students, all juniors, spent two weeks working on the house's wiring and light fixtures.

'This is their first real experience out of the shop,' said Paul Chandler, the electrician's instructor.

Chandler said he and the student crew have talks every morning about what they want to accomplish and how to stay on task during the build.

'The Smith Voke kids are great,' said Habitat coordinator Cynthia Wade. 'They've been doing a great job as far as I can tell,' she said.

Another volunteer, Asa Rogerson from North Carolina, is much younger than his retired companions but just as dedicated.

Rogerson shut down his North Carolina construction company for a year, sold his house and set out with his wife and three children to use his skills for the needy.

'We've been blessed, so we're giving back to the world,' said Rogerson, 'This is what I know how to do.'

Rogerson has volunteered repairing homes decimated by Hurricane Katrina and is headed for another construction project in Mexico in three weeks.

The Careavanners have moved on by now, though the Smith Voke students' work at the site continues.

For information on Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity go to http://pioneervalleyhabitat.org/ or call 586-5430.