Photo By Kristen Wong | Lance Cpl. Kali Lamarine, separations clerk, Headquarters Battalion, works with a...... read more read more
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HONOLULU — Marines and sailors from Headquarters Battalion and Patrol Squadron 9 caulked, painted and dug for “Hammers for Heroes,” volunteering with Honolulu Habitat for Humanity to help build a home in Honolulu, Dec. 5.
“Hammers for Heroes” consisted of 21 houses around Oahu being constructed or renovated for families in need by Habitat for Humanity from Dec. 1 - 7.
More than 150 volunteers, including active duty service members from various branches, worked on a house on Auwaiolimu Street from Dec. 2 to 6.
“It’s just been totally amazing to have so many committed and willing volunteers representing so many different units of the military community to help [the owner] and his family,” said Ashley Gauer, volunteer coordinator of Honolulu Habitat for Humanity. “They come on site with an open and willing heart … it really exudes the true meaning of aloha, and that’s what we’re about.”
Gauer said during the event, volunteers made friends, and asked
to continue working on the house for additional days and come to the house’s dedication in March 2012.
Wallace Bailey, the owner of the house in progress on Auwaiolimu Street, is a former soldier and Vietnam veteran.
Bailey, originally of Wildwood, Fla., plans to move in with his wife, son, daughter and grandchild in February 2012. He said working with the service members brings back memories from when he was in the service. He noted that there continues to be camaraderie in the military.
Come February, Bailey looks forward to one simple pleasure — “sitting on my brand new porch, kicking back.” He said he was thankful to Habitat for Humanity and the volunteers for “a job well done.”
Among the volunteers is Lance Cpl. Kali Lamarine, separations clerk,
Headquarters Battalion. She previously volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in 2009. The 21-year-old spent Dec. 5 painting the interior of the house.
“I love being able to get involved,” Lamarine said. “It was a good
experience.”
Lamarine, of Manchester, N.H., also plans to wrap gifts at Windward Mall in support of Habitat for Humanity.
Also from Headquarters Battalion, Lance Cpl. Angelo Lopez, a travel clerk, helped with the landscaping portion of the event, digging into the driveway with a pick-axe.
Lopez, of Rio Rancho, N.M., has done construction work in his hometown, so work came naturally while volunteering for Habitat for Humanity for the first time.
“It was like familiar territory,” Lopez said. “It felt good to work with my hands and at the same time, knowing that you’re helping someone feels even better. It’s kind of like a win-win for me.”
Both Lopez and Lamarine said they liked Habitat for Humanity’s process in choosing families for a home. According to Gauer, families must work on a house for another family, then help work on their own.
“The home is then sold to the family at no profit and zero interest,” according to a press release from Habitat for Humanity. “Their monthly payments are returned to a ‘Fund for Humanity’ that is used to build more houses.”
Danyl McGarr, the site supervisor for Habitat for Humanity, is in charge of training and supervising volunteers at Bailey’s home. She said there was an average of 20 volunteers onsite each day.
“They are great people,” McGarr said of the volunteers. “They are
perfectionists.”
Pfc. Josephcris Romero, logistics specialist, VP-9, said being able to work with his fellow sailors while volunteering with Habitat for Humanity was fun. He also enjoyed using the jackhammer. Romero, of Honolulu, also helped install drywall in the house.
“I would love to go back [and] see the progress,” Romero said of
volunteering. “It’s good to give back to the community.”
Some volunteers, like Petty Officer 2nd Class Hervin Barahona, logistics specialist, VP-9, were able to learn something new about building.
Barahona, of Phoenix, said through volunteer work he learned what to expect if he ever needed to cement a driveway. He said everyone was welcoming and friendly.
“I feel like I’ve known these people for a really long time,” Barahona said.
Pfc. Stephanie Acs, yeoman, VP-9, painted the ceiling, did some caulking and helped work on the driveway.
“I’d recommend it, and I’d do it again if I had the opportunity,” she said.
Honolulu Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1988 and has built more than 60 homes on Oahu. For details, visit http://www.honoluluhabitat.org.
| Date Taken: | 12.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2011 21:34 |
| Story ID: | 81587 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 211 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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