On June 27th, we had the opportunity to spend the day in Berkeley, California to help rehabilitate a home for a 76-year-old veteran and his family. Giveback Homes works closely with the East Bay/Silicon Valley chapter of Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable homeownership opportunities to low-income families in need.
Earlier this year, we planned and organized a 5K race in the East Bay to raise funds for this Build Day. When the day of service finally arrived, we woke up early and arrived at the project site on Harmon Street. It was a warm, sunny day in the East Bay, and our team of volunteers was ready to dive into the work and get dirty.
We arrived at the project site, met the local project leads, and got oriented. After reviewing safety guidelines and protocols, we discussed the agenda for the day. The project leads had thought through every detail to guide us through a safe and effective day of work. It was a particularly exciting day, as the local team was finalizing a task that required an inspection by the City.
Our group paired up and got to work. Within a few hours, our team of volunteers knew their way around the site and was able to complete various tasks even more swiftly. Before we knew it, it was time to break for lunch. We sat at a picnic table at the adjacent park, sharing stories about ourselves and getting to know each other more.
After insulating the exterior of the home with house wrap and installing safety features on the ground-level floor of the home, we started to clean up for the day. We gathered tools, secured equipment, and circled up for a debrief. We exchanged reflections and lessons, and we also learned that we passed inspection!
We are grateful to Giveback Homes and its partners for working hard to provide these important opportunities to families who need additional resources, and for connecting members like us to this excellent community. It was an honor to come together and make a meaningful contribution to this family whose roots are planted in this Berkeley home.
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