Spring Break on Fremont Avenue

With a hint of spring in the air, a diverse group of about 20 volunteers worked together on March 14th to rehab a home on Fremont Avenue in Minneapolis. Work began in February, according to Terra Lumley, who has been on the Habitat staff since 1999 – first as a volunteer, then with Americorps, and now as a Site Supervisor. Rather than experiencing “fun in the sun” or warm sand under their feet, ten Champlin Park High School students arrived at 7:30 a.m. to give up a day of their spring break amid dust, saws and plaster. There is no one kind of volunteer according to Terra, and volunteers don’t need specific skills - just a willingness to work.

Shauna Ling of Champlin Park, working with her dad, Scott, likes to volunteer to help others. She and Elise Nikolic had the laborious and challenging task of sanding grooved paneling. Elise likes to think she is helping preserve the memories within the walls, as well as helping create a place where the new homeowners can create new memories.

The students are all members of their school’s Leo Club, an organization sponsored by Lions International that is supervised by Jane Hansen. About 250 students are members of the club and meet once a month solely to do community service projects, and this is their second time volunteering with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

Downstairs, a group of retirees focused on skilled tasks such as installing new windows. They volunteer because they have fun working together and enjoy the diverse group of volunteers who bring varied skills. They also like being shifted around, never knowing where their expertise will be needed. Rehabs are the group's favorite projects because in redoing they often find the unexpected. Terra embraces these surprises, too, and they often lead to additional construction challenges. She likes the character of rehab houses, and likes that rehabs can be affordable.

Adem Wako, an Oromo immigrant and the homeowner, has put in about 140 equity hours and
worked alongside all the volunteers, including two other homebuyers. He loves the work because he’s learning new skills and how to care for his new home. “Everything is good,” he said, including taking down insulation! The home will allow his family much more space than the one bedroom apartment where they now live.

Donated to Habitat for Humanity by the Bank of America, the house on Fremont was a victim of a tornado, and sat with a gaping hole in its roof. Now, it reflects the character of the community of volunteers rebuilding it: students learning that volunteer work is rewarding and more than an addition to their resumes; retirees sharing fun and building comradery while giving; new homeowners beginning a new life in America, meeting new people and learning new skills; and Habitat employees enjoying working with volunteers and families.

According to Terra, “Everything is going nicely!”

Nicely indeed. . . thanks to the incredible teamwork of a diverse group of caring people who gave up a warmer, spring like day to work! They have already made an impact on the community around Fremont Avenue.

The group from Champlin Park High School also made a video from their day of building with Habitat. Check it out here!

This article was contributed by Bev Alsleben, Habitat for Humanity Volunteer

 If you have a group that would like to volunteer with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, we'd encourage you to explore our available group opportunities and or email volunteer@tchabitat.org for more information.