Volunteer experience offers friendship, fun through building

Without people like Ron Kuhn, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s home building program would not be nearly as successful as it is.

Ron is a volunteer on the regular crew called “Bud’s Bunch” at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. A regular crew is a group of the same volunteers that donate their time together weekly. Because of the weekly routine, regular crews give build sites consistency, dependability and often a higher skilled volunteer pool.

“I have been blessed in life, not necessarily with riches, but with health and happiness, and good friends and family. I feel it is important to give back, and since I love building, this is an excellent way to do it,” said Ron.

Currently, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity has ten regular crews that total over 300 people.

Group dynamics
Volunteers on regular crews range from twenty-somethings to retirees. It is a great way to get out and meet new people.
Patrick Nyland, age 27, graduated from Northwest Technical Institute in 2002 with a degree in Architectural CAD Technology. Due to unfortunate economic times, he was laid off and decided to use his free time to become a volunteer on a regular crew at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

“It’s a great way to spend the free time that I have. I also figured that it would be a good place to network within my field,” said Patrick. Since he started volunteering, Patrick has met several people within the construction field.

Another volunteer named Bud Helmen was approaching retirement and asked the people within his network to join a regular crew with him. Bud formed Bud’s Bunch and became one of the first regular crews at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
Whether you are looking to jump-start a career or coming to the end of your career path, volunteering is a great way to put extra time to good use.

No experience necessary
Some volunteers have worked in construction before, while many others have not. Regular crew members continue to pick up new skills along the way, no matter what their previous skill set was.

Charlie Keffer describes his experience with regular crews: “I joined with significantly less experience than everyone else in the group. Over the years I have learned a lot from others… We are a friendly group and everyone is committed to doing the best work possible no matter what the challenge or task.”

With the help of site supervisors, regular crew members learn several skills from laying sub-floor to roofing.

Benefits
As a member of a regular crew, volunteers develop a hobby, construction skills and life-long friendships. Many volunteers apply the construction skills they have learned on site to projects around the house.

“Working regularly with the same group of co-workers is fun, efficient and effective. Over time, members have developed their special skills to a high level. We can work at different tasks effectively and efficiently,” said Charlie. Regular crews continue to volunteer not only for the construction aspects, but also to see each other and have a good time.

As Bud’s Bunch member Tom Goodoien puts it, “Remember: if you aren’t having fun, you aren’t doing it right.”

Contributed by Laura Krinke