Habitat for Humanity, 4200 Kingston Rd.

Today was another great day at Habitat. My crew worked on putting up insulation (R-12, R-20, and Roxul) in units 9 and 8. Today was not the best crew I have ever had in the world (I still say that was the Markham church group, and I have all the signatures to prove it!) but they were a very good crew. I also really appreciate Brian’s taking the time lately to follow-up with me at the end of every day. I take the time to make sure I let him know how my progress has gone on whatever project, and in turn, he takes the time to come around to my units and do the walkthrough with me, talking about things like I missed filling a couple of gaps, or that the foam needed to be cut back in order to properly seal the cut made in the SIP to accommodate for the electrical wire. (Now I can start to wonder if the wires are 18/3, or 14/2, or what! And read up on products, etc! This is going to be so cool!)

Today I learned the finer details of insulation, how things should be done, and how they should not be done, and my success is a testament, once again, to C+’s amazing way with teaching. She made the lesson very clear to me, and how I was able to interpret it, and field any questions using common sense + her teaching allowed the day to go very smoothly.

I think that’s about it that I have to report today. Kudos to my crew for doing such a good job, following instructions, working well independently, and taking initiative to solve problems. They mostly worked in pairs, with my foaming/caulking/AcoustiSeal team member the only one going solo, and I am surprised and pleased that she had enough work to do even though her day was filled with these smaller projects. She was there with her daughter, and though her daughter was more interested in easier work than challenges, I still feel that she was a good addition to the team. She was also the youngest there, and one of my youngest crew members. She pulled her weight, and really worked well with her partner, who really enjoyed the challenge of doing some of the measuring and more difficult projects. At the end of the day, another one of my crew members, who was taking her lead from her partner (who wants to become a crew leader himself) surprised me. When I complemented her work to Brian, she gave me a huge hug, like that was the best thing anyone had said to her all week! THAT right there is a perfect example of why I go to H4H. She will live there, so she owes H4H that work; it’s part of her sweat equity – but it's still really nice to be complemented and recognized for her work, and I am really glad she got so much out of the day today. She was great, and her energy was really high all day. After Habitat she was going to her real job. Wow, what a day she puts in. I respect her for that alone! She was a very good worker, and I think that it’s wonderful she has a home here.

Lastly, I received open teasing today about being “Miss Canadian Tire”. I assume this is just all in good fun, and must admit that especially if it is, I enjoy that recognition from H4H people of my new job at CTC, although sometimes I wonder … maybe someone is even a little jealous that I am a supervisor there now?

A good question some of the staff of Habitat for Humanity of Toronto should answer

A fellow Habitat volunteer asked a question yesterday, it was rhetorical; just repeating a question someone else had put to her, or she had put to herself, as if to challenge her reasons for being at Habitat: why was she (still) there? She doesn’t get paid, she doesn’t even get appreciated as much as she would like … I understand that. Most volunteers come up against that feeling at least once when they are volunteering; staff of many NGOs tend to take their volunteers for granted, and even I have found that Habitat for Humanity Toronto is no exception. They are paid, and do not seem to realize that we are not. Habitat owes me personally at least $8000 by now for all the work I have done for them.

Since March, I have whole-heartedly upheld their promise to make sure the volunteers (as if I am not one … haha, fork over the cash then!) have a good time! I will continue to do it until the staff prove to me that they don’t appreciate me, but until then … why do I continue to work there?

Hmmmm, I work at Habitat because I feel alive there. I am thrilled to be a part of a project so much bigger than I am, and so much bigger than I ever dreamed I could be. I am there because I have earned the respect at least, if not a bit of a warm spot in the hearts / hearths? of the permanent people / fixtures onsite. I feel like I belong there. I have taken ownership of my work there. I have made some good friends there. I continue to meet interesting, quality people there; people who enrich my life. It is a chance for me to be good at doing something. It is there that I reaffirm my leadership skills; I am a good leader, and my crews reward me every week by reaffirming that fact, no matter what type of people I get. I have led them all. But they at least all share the fact that they want to learn, they want to volunteer, and want to be a part of something bigger than they are. They want to put up vapor barrier, or SIPs, or do drywall mudding, or even just do clean-up. They understand that no job is too menial or tedious when, by doing that job, you are helping to build a new life for someone who currently doesn’t have much in the way of this high standard of living that Canada is known for. In return, I understand that no job is below me, and that I can participate and lead crews to do any job assigned to me, and that we can all have fun doing it.

I have fulfilled my promise to Habitat. Will Habitat fulfill its promise to their people in orange? Will they recognize everything we do for them? We do not ask for money, I definitely do NOT want any books, or anything with the Habitat logo on it (except for my shirt, which I already own). All I ask for is training, investment of their time and organization, an opportunity to be listened to by the staff, and for the people who DO get paid to realize that I am as valuable to Habitat as they are, and to take my advice.

Please Habitat, this is my letter to you. Take seriously the input from the people in orange. Take your own dang notes on the advice they suggest you follow, and prove that you appreciate us by following our advice. THAT would be orange appreciation. Prove that you are committed to us. Meet us half-way. Or else we will leave.
If you want to know what our suggestions are, ask us. You have people volunteering for you who are more quality than you will ever know. You have something magic in your court – don’t lose it because you fail to appreciate it.

“The best prize life can offer, is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing.”
~ Teddy Roosevelt