Volunteer Spotlight

"Neighbors Helping Neighbors"  

Here at Habitat, we consider all our builds to be an illustration of neighbors helping neighbors - since the builds are completed by community volunteers. But in some cases, the neighbors actually live in the very neighborhood where the new home is under construction. We have found that when the occasional neighbor has an objection to an affordable home nearby, their grumbles can garner attention. But more often, the neighbors - like those in this story - are supportive. We'd like to raise up the more common, yet somehow less visible, story of those neighbors.

Carol Johnson decided to volunteer after taking a neighborhood walk.

Teena and Brian Tilton, who live right next door to our current build on Sandy Meadow Way in Eastham, were pleased that a Habitat home would be bringing new children into their neighborhood. It turns out that they have a daughter the same age as one of the girls who will be moving into the home this spring, and they are already carpooling and giving her a ride to school. The Tiltons own a building inspection and Title V septic inspection business, and they know how expensive homes can be on Cape Cod - and how hard that can be for families. Their own home is also an affordable home. Teena is particularly impressed by the skills her new neighbor, Pira, is learning. "It has got to be a very empowering thing to do. Not only is Pira providing for her family, she's building a house for her family. And her daughters are seeing that she can do that." 

A Habitat build site starts out without running water and with no electricity. Power is provided by a generator until the electric is hooked up, and bottled water is purchased for the site. Brian ran an electric line from his house to help power the tools at Sandy Meadow Way because, as he put it, "having a crew listening to a generator in their ear all the time makes for a long day." The Tiltons also allowed the crew to refill water bottles at their house, and use the bathroom. Teena says it's great to be able to help the crews because they are so nice. "There's a window on the side of our house where the guys come to fill up water and such. They always are polite and they know my dog and always talk to my dog." Teena was also surprised by how well organized the build days are structured at Habitat. "When my family comes together to do a project, they go in five directions at once. I thought that with fifty volunteers getting together, it would be crazy. I'm impressed by how organized it all is."  

Gilbert Merritt was no stranger to Habitat's work when he learned that a Habitat home was going to be built on Nickerson Road in Orleans, around the corner from his house. He had worked on the build at Gomes Way two years earlier. He found out about the build from a mailing - one that always goes out to the nearest neighbors of a new Habitat build. Gilbert was pleased that a Habitat home would be filling that empty lot. A neighborhood, Gilbert believes, needs "a balance of old folks looking after young people and young people looking after the old folks and people riding bikes and walking out on the street. Habitat homeowners typically have young kids and in our neighborhood, people are getting older and spending more time in Florida so there is less activity. Having a family with a child is an asset - they become part of the fabric of the community."  

Gilbert enjoyed the work itself - and especially enjoyed getting to know the men and women who volunteer for Habitat. But even better was getting to know Christina, the homeowner and his new neighbor. They still keep in touch, and "still have meals back and forth."  Like the Tiltons, Gilbert discovered that living in the neighborhood meant he could provide extra help: from time to time he found himself running home for additional tools, and he also ran a hose from his backyard to help supply water to the site. Gilbert notes that one of the special features of a Habitat build is that "when you do something wrong, no one gets hollered at, you just work together to fix it. That's important in a group where there is a widely ranging skill set."

Carol and Donna (front) with Joanne Broderick

Donna Mahan and Carol Bishop are the closest neighbors to our Habitat home at 13 Yellow Brick Road in Truro. Because Yellow Brick Road is a cul-de-sac and the Habitat home is situated at the very end, their house is actually closer to number 13 - even though they live on a different street - than the homes on Yellow Brick Road. Both Carol and Donna say they have always been interested in volunteering for Habitat, so when the house was going to be in their backyard - literally - they knew this was their time. Not everyone enjoys having a construction site right next door to them, but Donna and Carol say the experience has been "terrific." They enjoy working on the house and have high praise for Bob Ryley, Habitat's Director of Construction. "Bob is an outstanding teacher, which is very exciting because we are learning new tricks of the trade." They describe Bob as "a kind soul as well as a great leader."

Donna, who is a glass artist with a studio in her home, says she can't wait to have her new neighbor, Melissa, and her kids creating art in her studio. Carol, a retired therapist who used to work for the county jail, says she loves children and looks forward to seeing them grow up right here so nearby. "We are thrilled to be the closest neighbors and have been delighted to offer our home, water, and food, anything that would make this experience even more wonderful for everyone. We like being referred to as 'the girls down the hill.'" Their house is a short walk from the Truro library and a community playground - a playground which Carol and Donna also helped to build. They have already made plans for Melissa's kids to cut through their backyard as a shortcut to get to the library or playground and the two women feel that the neighborhood will be enriched by having more children in the Truro community.