Featured news

Hello fellow Care-A-Vanners,

We are in the midst of the busiest time of year for builds, and that goes for Americus too. For the past two weeks, Habitat for Humanity International has hosted a team of 16 Care-A-Vanners. Our mission has been to refurbish the Global Village & Discovery Center and do some critical repairs to other HFHI buildings. Bringing the village back to life has been a great project for us. We have cleaned, washed, painted, varnished, repaired shutters, glazed windows, fixed furniture, sewn new drapes, repaired roofs, replaced signs and the list goes on. We also did a community service project building a shed for the local charter school to store their gardening tools for their new school garden. The kids will plant and tend the gardens and the food will be served in the school cafeteria.

This group of Care-A-Vanners is like every other group we have worked with. They have worked so well together, had fun and gotten the job done. I have been tied up with a lot of meetings and Dave has been sick, but despite that the team just moved the project forward with nothing but a long list of projects in hand. We also had one of our Master Safety Trainers on the build and he gave everyone the four-hour general safety awareness course.

One more team is arriving soon to finish the project and there will be plenty of work left for them to do. The best thing to come out of this build is a renewed tradition. Volunteers – specifically, Care-A-Vanners – are back in Americus and we will be back year after year to help maintain Global Village and the other properties that HFHI owns on its campus. We are doing what Care-A-Vanners do best and that is build capacity, this time at home for Habitat for Humanity International.

God bless,

Mary Vandeveld
RV Care-A-Vanner program manager
[email protected]
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Safety corner

The "U" in safety

Because Mary asked me to sit in for a while at the Safety Corner, I tried to come up with an "opener" to get things started. There are lots of topics for us to cover, many of which we have touched on already but will find more to talk about over time. But, quite frankly, the most important thing in the Safety Corner for all of Habitat is the "U."

OK, so technically there is no "U" in Habitat or safety, but bear with me.

As we talk about safety concerns, issues and procedures, there is a tendency among some of us to say "I've been doing it this way forever," which doesn't move us towards being safer and decreasing incidents. It is not just the individual about which we are concerned, though that is important. We're concerned about the safety of the whole group. Most frequently, when something happens to one of the group, others are involved and impacted.

As you know, there are OSHA rules and requirements. As we have gotten larger in our work, we are more visible to the OSHA world and we all need to be cognizant of that. There might be natural inclination to wince at rules and regulations, but if we keep in mind that they are there for our safety, we can understand the need to adhere to those procedures. Failure to do so can be costly, both to individuals involved in incidents and to affiliates in the form of fines.

So, as we move ahead at the Safety Corner, keep the "U" in safety in mind – the "U" in you, the "U" in us, the "U" in uninjured. When you look at past pieces in the Safety Corner archive and those to come, think about how you can help us do a better, safer job at our work sites. What can you contribute to us being safer, more watchful, etc., on the work site? Lots of "U's" there!
Stand by for more "U's" to come. Even you can suggest something that you think should be covered here. We'd love to hear from you! Let us know what you see that needs more coverage.

Alan Davis
Master Safety Trainer
[email protected]

Why We Build:

Habitat for Humanity Build No. 1: Vero Beach
By first-timers Doug and Chris Chartrand

One of the hardest parts of starting "RVentures" was giving up all our volunteer activities and the friendships at home. While reading another RV traveler's blog, we found out about the Habitat for Humanity Care-A-Vanners program. During our build with this talented crew, we found a great way to use our talents to give back – and the new friendships formed was a precious bonus!

Our build site was the Waterside Community in Vero Beach. The Habitat for Humanity affiliate purchased the land and will build approximately 50 homes here. During our two weeks, we worked on five houses in various stages of construction. Future homeowners worked alongside us. To be considered for the program, they put in 300 hours of work at the build site as well as attend classes that will help ensure that they will have the skills to be successful homeowners.

As a result of this "sweat equity," the homes showed the pride of the new owners. The treats provided by grateful families show how they continue to give back for the gift of their new home.

I was a bit nervous starting out, as I am a construction "newbie." I had never handled power tools. In fact, Doug wasn't even sure that I knew the difference between nails and screws! But Richard, our construction supervisor, had no problem finding jobs for me that were within my skill and comfort level.

In fact, after he tasted the "yummy bars" that I brought for break one day, he decided that I could be the official "snack maker" – I can do that!

In all seriousness, my greatest moments were about being able to work alongside Doug and the other volunteers and have them patiently teach me "serious construction skills." By the end I have learned:

That caulking is a lot like cake decorating.
That working with the friendly, supportive and experienced Women Build team is just as therapeutic as coffee with my girlfriends!
That laying tile flooring is as fun as assembling a puzzle – but the pieces fit much better when Doug does the measuring of small corner pieces!

We signed up for the one build initially as we were unsure how we would like the Care-A-Vanner experience. We are glad to say that it exceeded our expectations so much so that I entitled this blog entry as "Build No. 1"– there will be more! After just the first week, we got back on the Care-A-Vanner website and have signed up to three more builds in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Louisiana in late summer and fall.

Thank you Doug and Chris for sharing your story with us. Share your "Why We Build" story with fellow Care-A-Vanners by sending your stories to [email protected].

Announcements

The RV Care-A-Vanner safety grant was awarded to Sisters, Oregon Habitat for Humanity. The grant amount was $2,000 and the money will be used to purchase safety equipment. This affiliate has actually been trained in safety twice after they lost their first construction supervisor and were so committed to safety that they reached out for training for their new construction manager. They also hosted training both times for other affiliates. To date, the RV Care-A-Vanner program has given $28,148 in grants to affiliates. Thanks to our Master Safety Trainers who through their work training affiliates, we are able to fund this grant program.

Our office has moved
We are now located in the Rylander Building at 322 Lamar Street in downtown Americus. We are two blocks from the Global Village & Discovery Center. If you are passing through Americus this winter, stop and say hi. We are here from late October to early April every winter.

Proper build etiquette
Arrival day for builds is Sunday. If you would like to arrive early, you must clear it with your team leader first. Often we have back to back teams at a build and there is not a camp site open until Sunday. The same holds true for staying late.

RV Care-A-Vanner Travel with a Purpose PowerPoint presentation
If any of you are doing a presentation and would like a PowerPoint about Habitat for Humanity and the RV Care-A-Vanner program, you can download the latest version of "RV CAV: Travel with a Purpose" from my dropbox. Be sure to let me know how your presentation went!

RV CAV promo video
You can download a copy from my dropbox and share it with all your RV friends. It is also on our website.

Why We Build
Your stories are always so touching to read. Share yours with fellow Care-A-Vanners by sending your Why We Build stories to [email protected].

Featured builds:

Sebring, Forida is looking for more help. They have three homes that need to be completed by the end of June. We have builds scheduled with them in March and April that are not full. Go to our build list to sign up today.

Hours and stories needed:

We need everyone to report their hours to the Care-A-Vanner desk. If you are on a build without a team leader, be sure that someone is assigned to keep track of the hours. If you are a drop-in, those hours count, as do ReStore volunteer hours. Affiliates do not report your hours to the desk. I need hours worked and number of houses worked on. This data is very important for grant applications and grant reporting. It is the partner families that keep us motivated, so send your stories and your hours to [email protected].

Tithing connections

In early February, more than 200 Habitat leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., to learn about our policy priorities, hear from distinguished guest speakers and spend a day meeting with more than 300 congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Despite the packed agenda, participants representing 35 states left energized, taking home the skills to advocate in their own communities.

In years past, our dedicated Hawaii affiliate has traveled the furthest to attend Habitat on the Hill. This year, Kif Nguyen, national director of Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, won that prize.

Habitat for Humanity Cambodia is one of eight national organizations currently enrolled in Habitat's global advocacy campaign called Solid Ground. The campaign, which officially launches in March, seeks to advance access to land for shelter for millions of people around the world. Land, specifically secure tenure, is often the biggest challenge faced by our national offices. During the conference, Kif highlighted his local advocacy efforts to improve land tenure in Cambodia. He also emphasized the critical role tithe plays in increasing his organization's ability to reach those in need. Last year, Habitat Cambodia served more than 8,000 families, or 40,000 people, on a budget of $1.5 million. He hopes to significantly increase those numbers through the Solid Ground campaign.

Moving forward, U.S. Habitat affiliates can play important roles in Solid Ground – namely, increasing awareness, providing technical support and raising resources for Habitat partners overseas. We encourage you visit habitat.org/solidground, follow the campaign @joinsolidground and email us at [email protected] with questions.

Dan Petrie
Director of Global Affairs and Advocacy at Habitat for Humanity International
Washington, D.C.

Windows to Washington - March

The countdown to Solid Ground is over!

Last October, Pope Francis visited the United States and spoke to one of the largest gatherings of heads of state in history about the importance of land. His comments prompted us to give you a sneak peek in this column of plans for an exciting advocacy campaign addressing challenges related to land. That campaign, Solid Ground, will remove one of the biggest obstacles in our path to a world where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to live: access to land for shelter.

It is with great excitement that we share with you: The Solid Ground campaign is underway!

There are four numbers to keep in mind when you think about Solid Ground: nine, eight, four and one.
Let's talk about "four" first. The campaign has four subthemes: gender equality in land rights, disaster resilience, upgrading slums to improve lives rather than displace people and secure tenure, meaning living without fear of eviction. Keep in mind that when we talk about "land," we don't necessarily mean soil itself, though that's included, too. Think of land as "space" – a place to cook your meals, to relax, sleep and to feel safe. Think of land as a place to live, whether on the ground floor or several stories higher.

While "nine" may remind you of "Love Potion No. 9," in the case of Solid Ground, it means global. Nine countries – Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Kenya and South Africa, along with our work in the United States – are among the first wave in Habitat's global network to implement Solid Ground in order to improve access to land for shelter. These crusaders in the global movement for improved access to land for shelter are advocating at the local and national levels to improve the laws and policies that impact access to land. Recognizing that there's no "one size fits all" approach to land challenges, each Habitat entity is focusing on one or more of the four subthemes according to the needs and circumstances of their communities.

When we talk about "eight," we're talking about March 8, which is International Women's Day. As the global network announced the campaign, Solid Ground campaign director Anne Myers joined Habitat for Humanity's new COO, Tjada McKenna, at an event in Atlanta sponsored by the wonderful Women Build team. The panel discussion addressed gender equality in land rights, which you can read about in Habitat's 2016 Shelter Report .

That brings us to "one." That one is you. You have a role to play in this campaign in the time and manner that works best for you. Is one of the countries listed above of particular interest? Are you passionate about one of the themes? Want to use your voice to call for improved land laws? Or just curious what on earth we mean by "secure tenure?" You'll find the information you need and regular progress reports on the Solid Ground blog. Spread the word about this exciting effort! Then stay in touch to learn more and be part of Solid Ground's success.

Team leader corner

Hello team leaders!

A very special thank you goes out to our February team leaders. They are: Dyana Todd; Bob and Sharon Hammer; Jake Newell and Angela Sayler; Carl and Linda Schmidt; Diane and Larry Mock; Gae and Bill Bradley; Brian and Brenda Reister; Judy Hippler; Carol and Bill James; Dave and Mary Vandeveld; Jeff and Sharon Lawrence; Chuck Ostrander; Pam and Randy Warner; Jay Guild; and Doug Augustine.

Remember, if you've been thinking about becoming a team leader but are not sure what's involved, contact me at [email protected] and I will send you the guidelines. If you serve as team leader at least once during the year, you will receive a very nifty team leader T-shirt!

Welcome letters
When sending your welcome letter to your team, please try to remember to send me a copy. If you are leading more than one build in the same location, no need to send me more than one. I am starting a file of information from the various affiliates so that I will have it to send to teams that have no team leader.

Rosters
If you are unable to read the roster I send you, or things appear to be on the wrong lines, chances are you have a Mac or iPad and Word documents do not format correctly. Just let me know and I will send them in PDF. Also, please remember to include the GV number or at least the date of your build when contacting the CAV desk about a build. It makes it so much easier to find the build you are referencing.

Devotions
I have been collecting devotions and would be happy to send you what I have.

Safety
This month I would like to remind team leaders about a few responsibilities you have around safety. First, when you send out your welcome letter, please attach the safety handout that is in your team leader information packet. Also, safety should be mentioned every day at the job site. It can be a combination of general safety tips as well as those specific to the day's work. Encourage people to ask questions. Coordinate with the construction supervisor about who will do the safety talk. If safety equipment, such as glasses, gloves, hard hats, etc., is needed and not available, tell the construction supervisor. If the affiliate is not responsive, call one of us at the desk to get it addressed immediately. In the meantime, do not let people work in unsafe conditions, such as using saws without protective eyewear or working on roofs without fall protection. If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to ask. Also, given the crazy winter we are having, please be sure to have a safety plan in the event of extreme weather, whether it be flash floods or tornados. Thank you for your role in protecting our volunteers.

Finally, team leaders are needed for the following builds. If you are available and willing, please contact me.

April 3 – 17	Thibodaux, Louisiana
April 3 – 17	Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
April 10 – 24	Sebring, Florida
April 10 – 24	Fellsmere, Florida

Thank you and happy hammering!

Brenda Sawyer
Team leader coordinator
[email protected]

Spread the word
Send your RV friends a Care-A-Vanner brochure about this wonderful mission by pasting this PDF into an email or just printing it out to give to fellow RVers in campgrounds.

Collegiate Challenge and Care-A-Vanners

Hope everyone's winter was safe and those who were building felt accomplished. George and I experienced some of the unusual weather activity while building in both Florida and Georgia this winter, but didn't have to actually go to a tornado shelter.

If you are a team leader, be sure you ask where the nearest shelter is located and how to access it to share with your team. For those on Collegiate Challenge builds, check with the affiliate when you first arrive to find out this information since there isn't a team leader. You should not only know where to go, but have a key or other access.

As I write, some of the Collegiate Challenge builds are over, while others are in progress and others still to come. For those who may decide at the last minute to help an affiliate with the students they are hosting, below are the slots that are empty as I write the end of February for mid to late March. Look for the CC after the city and remember, they are only one week long.

Week of March 20	Taos, New Mexico	1 rig
Week of March 20	Corpus Christi, Texas	1 rig
Week of March 28	Taos, New Mexico	1 rig

Diane Gravlee
Collegiate Challenge coordinator
[email protected]

Welcome new Care-A-Vanners

Tim and Renee Belton, Don and Susan Cary, John and Laurie Darnell, Bob Fitzgerald, Don and Barb Frank, Mitchell and Katherine Greenberg, Clif and Jeannie Hammock, Jerry Moore, Linda Otto, Jon and Sharron Prisbe, Richard Rohrer, Cindy Schenck, Carl and Marjorie Simerson, Karen Van Til, Tom and Genny Turechek, Steve and Melanie Young.

Our apologies if we have included a seasoned Care-A-Vanner or if this is a duplication. Habitat for Humanity is grateful for the work that you do!

Disaster Rebuild

Remember our mission in disaster response is to come in at the time of the rebuild efforts and to stay until the last house is replaced or repaired. A lot has to happen before rebuild begins, including permitting, fundraising, FEMA grant application and awards, building capacity at the affiliate, family selection, etc. It is easy to remember the disaster that just happened, but where we need the help is the disaster that happened two or three years ago.

HFHI Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery, our partners, are also working with affiliates to do fortified building to reduce injuries and damage to homes and a when disaster does strike. This includes building safe rooms in tornado area, hip roofs in hurricane zones and using anchoring systems appropriate for the risk. If you are interested in learning more about fortification standards, please review IBHS Fortified for Safer Living Standards. Your knowledge can help our affiliates learn more about these new building practices.

Central Illinois: The community of Kincaid, Illinois, has 1,400 residents and 600 homes. Fourty homes were critically damaged. The homeowners did not have flood insurance nor do they have the resources to get their homes repaired. The community came together and gutted the 40 homes but now need help putting them back together. Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County in Springfield, Illinois, is mobilizing to help. There are some things that have to come together before we can deploy the Disaster Rebuild Team. These include the affiliate expanding their service area to include the Kincaid community and working with local agencies to determine the lead agency for the repairs. Then permitting has to occur. I will send out an email blast when we are ready to mobilize help.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Tuscaloosa is still building homes for people who lost their housing unit in the 2011 tornado. To date, they have completed 55 houses, and yes, there are tornado victims who still have not gotten into homes. Our mission continues there as we stay until the last home is replaced. Tuscaloosa loves the Care-A-Vanners and has builds listed throughout the year. It is a very nice place to work.
New York City: We currently have one Disaster Rebuild Team member deployed with a Disaster Corps volunteer to New York City doing Sandy repairs. Their deployment is two weeks. If more opportunities come up in New York, we will let you know. No, you don't need to take your RV down through Times Square. We will fly you there if you are willing to sleep in a church! Thanks to Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for their financial support of this deployment.

Questions, cancellations or concerns?
[email protected]
RV Care-A-Vanner staff contact info

Current list of active builds
Builds list

How to register for a build online
Step-by-step instructions

Roster updates
Please email updated roster information to [email protected] or [email protected], or call 1-229-410-7534.

Report Care-A-Vanner hours
Help us keep track of total volunteer hours contributed, and partner families served. Please email these stats from your drop-in or ongoing builds to [email protected].

Support the Care-A-Vanners
Donate now