January 2014 RV Care-A-Vanners Update
 
It is time to sign up or finalize your commitment to the 25th Anniversary Build/Rally in Springfield, Missouri, April 21, 2014

Featured News

We are starting a new year and I am starting my third year as the RV Care-A-Vanner coordinator. It doesn't seem that long, but husband Dave thinks it's been longer, and he thought I retired! I want to start this new year by thanking all of the Care-A-Vanner desk staff without whom I could not run this program. This is truly a team effort by a group of very dedicated Care-A-Vanner volunteers and our spouses who are patient with us as we pound away on our laptops at all hours. Speaking of the Care-A-Vanner desk staff, another Care-A-Vanner couple has fallen under the "Mary spell." Dan and Carolyn Banks have joined our growing desk staff to help lead our disaster response effort. Dan and Carolyn have led our Disaster Response efforts in West Liberty, Kentucky, and Moore, Oklahoma, and they recently completed the Competent Person Safety Training, so they are uniquely qualified to take the reins of disaster response from me. Please join me in welcoming Dan and Carolyn. We, your desk staff, are all looking forward to meeting you at the 25th Anniversary Build and Rally in Springfield, Mo., starting on April 21, 2014. If you have not signed up yet, please join us for this once in a lifetime event to celebrate 25 remarkable years of building. What better way to celebrate those years than by getting four more families into safe, affordable housing?

I have some more news to share with you. First, we trained 23 RV Care-A-Vanners as Competent Person Safety Trainers. What a group of very talented individuals! The training was held in Americus in early December. They will be tasked with training our 1,500 affiliates on the new OSHA regulations. Once we get these Care-A-Vanners on the road doing their training, we plan to train a second class, so stay tuned for that opportunity. You will get a chance to meet many of these trainers at the 25th anniversary as they will be helping Don Hartle, who used to be HFHI's only safety trainer, teach our half-day safety course that everyone will get the opportunity to participate in. We will also have a CPST on each of our jobsites during the project.

Second, if you have been reading your newsletter lately, you know we have a fundraising campaign going to fund two new homes as part of our 25th Anniversary Celebration. Some of us have set up fundraising pages to aid in that effort and it is not too late to do that. Joe Gano gives step-by-step instructions later in the newsletter, or you can go to our website and just make a donation. Our goal is $125,000 and � drum roll please � after a $62,500 donation from FMCA, we are in reach of our goal. As of December 18, 2013, we have $43,000 to go to meet our goal. The sponsorship by FMCA was made possible by FMCA members rounding up dues and other generous contributors over many years. We are grateful to FMCA for their donation. Now let's get the RV Care-A-Vanners working on matching that donation. We invite all FMCA members to our 25th Anniversary Build and Rally so we can honor you for your substantial donation and your building efforts over the years. I just received late word that the Rambling Builders Club is adding $500 to our build fund. Thank you Holiday Rambler folks for that generous contribution.

And finally, the future is bright for the RV Care-A-Vanner Program. We are expanding our efforts in unique ways, including safety training, disaster response and the Collegiate Challenge partnership, all of which contribute to the mission of ending poverty housing. Thank you! See you in Springfield!

God Bless.

Mary Vandeveld
RV Care-A-Vanner coordinator
[email protected]
Facebook


Windows to Washington

Happy 2014 everyone! Hope you had a wonderful season and that you're staying warm during this chilly time of year. Some families have a wide variety of political views, which can make for interesting holiday gatherings to be sure. But there's at least one thing on which we can all agree, and we don't mean whether Uncle Joe's pumpkin pie really is as good as Cousin Sarah's. No, we're talking about energy efficiency. This time of year, as we crank up our ovens to bake and our heaters to stay warm, it's not the glow of the holidays that makes us all come together on this issue, it's just common sense!

Unfortunately, it's all too common for families in many parts of the world, including the United States, to struggle to afford to keep warm during the winter months. With greater energy efficiency, dollars spent on energy go further and more people can afford adequate heat. Our team at government relations and advocacy supports residential energy efficiency for all, including low-income households. One measure in particular that we support is a bill called the Weatherization Enhancement, and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act. The bill was introduced by three Senators: Coons (D-DE); Collins (R-ME); and Reed (D-RI), and extends the Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program for another five years under revised standards and requires that the Department of Energy establish strong, achievable weatherization standards. Learn more about this bill and add your support.

From all of us in the government relations and advocacy office, happy New Year!

Piper Hendricks and the GRA team
[email protected]
202-239-4420


trips In Memory of Owen Jones

Owen Jones died peacefully on December 23, 2013, at his home in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, after a struggle with cancer. He and Jean were long time Care-A-Vanners and traveled in their small truck camper. Their last Habitat build was in Alliance, Ohio, in 2008. Owen loved to travel and build. Jean wrote: "I take comfort in thinking of heaven as vast unexplored spaces with occasional projects in need of repair or construction. It certainly has helped that we met such wonderful people along the way."

Owen was born in 1929 and was the beloved husband of Jean Stirrett for 59 years. He was born and raised in British Columbia and he held a deep affection for his hometown of Smithers. After graduating from UBC, he got his master's at University of Toronto, where he met Jean. He was a high school geography teacher at New Liskeard, Orillia, Nigeria, and Mississauga. Owen loved traveling and camping and he was never happier than when tackling a building project at his Haliburton cottage in Dayspring. The funeral was December 27 at Hillcrest United Church in Georgetown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to S.H.A.R.E or The Bruce Trail Conservancy.

Greetings by Jean Jones:
"Owen died peacefully at home this morning. Our eldest daughter and her husband and our youngest son kept a vigil around his bed last light. He knew and acknowledged our presence until just a few minutes before he died. As in all things in his life, his final hours were peaceful and gentle. We are grateful he retained his cognitive abilities and that by some miracle, during his entire struggle with cancer, he had no pain. We have valued the friendship of you folks, our Habitat friends, and wish you all the best in 2014."


trips In Memory of Jack Holmes

Jack Holmes suffered a stroke and died on November 22, 2013, two days after his 80th birthday. He and Colette were active Care-A-Vanners at one time, having done builds in Tucson, Arizona, and Greeley, Colorado, as well as other locales. They also worked with their local affiliate in Montrose, Colorado. He leaves his wife, Colette, as well as their children. His memorial service won't be until July 12, 2014 at the Montrose United Methodist Church. Colette's address is 2206 American Way, Montrose, CO 81401, should you wish to send her a card.


Accomplishments

Remember: Send Mary Vandeveld photos of your builds or newspaper articles. If you would like to submit anything to the newsletter � a good story, a new way to do things, a construction tip or an update on a build � please do. This includes our partner affiliates! This is your newsletter, and we welcome the input. Besides, you have got to be getting tired of hearing from only me! Send your contributions to [email protected]. I want to hear from all of you!


Team leader corner

I hope you all enjoyed a pleasant holiday season. Kit and I were home in Maine. Leaving a bit later than we normally do, we had to contend with an ice storm, loss of electricity and tree damage. We are now on our way to Texas for a build and are looking forward to some warmer weather!
We're sending a big thank-you to dedicated December team leaders Dyana Todd; Jay and Joyce Rush; and John and Janie Bare.

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. Lack of construction experience is not a reason to pass on being a team leader. Organization and people skills are what are important. So don't forget to check the "team leader interest" box on your registration if you are willing to lead the build.

Team leader as "confidence builder"
The thing that I remember most about the team leaders on my earliest builds is that they encouraged me to learn new skills. I had absolutely no building skills when I started, and was happy to play gopher and do any "unskilled" jobs. It wasn't until I was asked, "Do you want to learn to lay tile?" and "do you want to learn to use a chop saw?" that I ventured out of my comfort zone and began to learn new skills. As team leaders, I encourage you to teach and/or encourage whenever the opportunity presents itself, especially to the newer Care-A-Vanners. Help them to build confidence and, perhaps, venture a tiny bit outside their comfort zone.

I hope to get to meet many of you at the Care-A-Vanner 25th Anniversary Build and Rally. During the rally, I will be giving a seminar on the role of the team leader. I will cover some basics but am still hoping to get some suggestions or questions beforehand, to know what is most important to you. What advice would you give to a new team leader? What lessons have you learned? What challenges have you faced?

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

  • February 9-23 Hobbs, N.M.
  • February 16- March 2 Indiantown, Fla.
  • February 23- March 9 Hobbs, N.M.
  • March 2-16 Dade City, Fla.
  • March 2- 16 Macon, Ga.
  • March 16- 30 Dade City, Fla.

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 just copying this link https://www.habitat.org/sites/default/files/rvcareavanners-brochure-12.2013.pdf into an email or just print out and give to fellow RVers in campgrounds.


Disaster Response

The RV Care-A-Vanner program has awarded a $1,500 grant to Morehead Area HFH, known to us as West Liberty, Kentucky. This money will be spent on scaffold parts, fall protection gear and ladders. This money was made possible from the last of our grant money from Larson Manufacturing, who through their seed money have enabled the RV Care-a-Vanner program to get our Disaster Response program off the ground. Thank you Larson Manufacturing.

  • Moore, Okla.: Dan and Carolyn Banks are leading our response in Moore. They have secured RV parking at the fairgrounds in Norman, Okla., for a rate of $7.50 a day. These are full hookups with Wi-Fi, a real luxury for a disaster response build. Go to our website and look for the Moore, Okla., builds beginning on March 9 and running into November 2014. If you would like to be on my email list for regular Granbury/Moore updates, please send me a note to [email protected].
  • West Liberty, Ky.: West Liberty lost 500 housing units, many of them low-income, in a March 2, 2011, tornado. The latest news from West Liberty is that they have hired another construction supervisor for this year. That means we will not have to have house leaders on every build as we have done in the past. I have posted the 2014 builds in West Liberty and they are on our website. Sign up now so we can finish the mission we started. The tornado rebuild should be complete in the 2014 build season, and then we will offer regular Care-A-Vanner builds in support of the Morehead affiliate and their goal of building two to four houses a year. This year our teams have helped get 14 tornado affected families into homes. Congratulations to the 2013 builders. Job well done! If you have any questions, contact me at [email protected].
  • Tuscaloosa, Ala.: Tuscaloosa is rebuilding following the massive tornado in 2011. I have listed the Tuscaloosa builds on our website through the 2014 winter build season, including some Collegiate Challenge builds in March 2014. No experience is required to work at Tuscaloosa, except for the Collegiate Challenge Builds. Thanks to a grant from the RV Care-A-Vanner program made possible by Larson Manufacturing, there are now six full hookup sites and two water and electric sites there.
  • Superstorm Sandy: There is still a lot of work to be done in the Northeast even though the Care-A-Vanner build season is over for the year. I expect to be listing builds in the Sandy affected areas soon, so watch the website for updates. If you would like to be on my email list for Sandy recovery, please send a note to [email protected]. I will notify Care-A-Vanners on my list first about build opportunities there.
  • Colorado 2013 floods: We had six affiliates in the flood affected areas in Colorado. There was a huge need for low-income housing in the area with a rental vacancy rate of 1 percent before the floods. There were also some mobile home parks that were destroyed in the floods. The six affiliates are working closely with the Colorado State Support Organization and they already have a plan to work together and rebuild 100 new construction homes and do 100 Critical Home Repairs. I have talked with the director of the SSO and I think there will be a need for Care-A-Vanners next summer in their rebuild effort. I have an email list for the Colorado flood rebuild effort, so if you would like to be on the list, send me a note to [email protected].
  • Illinois tornados, November 2013: When will the disasters stop coming? Initial assessments are being done on this tornado outbreak on November 17, 2013. There were tornado touchdowns in seven states and straight line wind damage in five states. I will have more information in the future newsletters.

Featured Builds

Don't forget those Springfield, Mo., builds for 2014! Yes, our 25-year celebration and rally. We have room for everyone. I have posted a follow-up build in Springfield after the anniversary build and rally is complete. This will be a regular two-week Care-A-Vanner build to clean up whatever needs to be done to finish the houses. The build is listed as GV14-0157 Springfield, MO 5.4.14-5.18.14. Sign up today on our website.

Florida builds: Who doesn't want to be in sunny Florida during the winter months, especially this winter? We have a number of slots in Sebring, Indiantown and Delray Beach all winter. Delray Beach and Indiantown are new affiliates and Sebring is back after a several year hiatus, so let's support them by filling their builds.

Check out our upcoming build list for 2014 and sign up early.


trips Collegiate Challenge and Care-A-Vanners

We are still in need of a few rigs for Collegiate Challenge builds this spring. Check the build list for those with a CC after the name of the city and are not full. Hope everyone will have a great 2014 building and serving the many families in need of simple, decent housing.

Diane Gravlee
Collegiate Challenge coordinator
[email protected]


trips Anniversary Celebration

We are now in the New Year with great anticipation and excitement for the 25th Anniversary Care-A-Vanner celebration in April. We have shared a lot of information about the event and registrations have been going well.

One of the aspects that hasn't had much press is the business of fundraising. Everyone should consider having a fundraising account open on Share.Habitat and soliciting contributions from everyone you know. It is the charitable giving season of the year. We need more people to be opening fundraising accounts, and it is really easy.

Step 1: Go to the website - https://share.habitat.org .
Step 2: On the website, select RV Care-A-Vanner 25th Anniversary from featured campaigns. There you will see a short video frame by Jane and me about the event. If you have not already seen it, click on it - it only runs two minutes.
Step 3: Slowly scroll down the next panel and look on the right side of the screen for the phrase "BECOME A FUNDRAISER." Just below that you will see that there are already several of us who have been working on this for a while and have raised almost $20,000. Click on that phrase.
Step 4: There is a link between Share.Habitat.org and Facebook which makes the operation of the site much easier.
Step 5: Make your own contribution to start the ball rolling.
Step 6: Use the Share.Habitat tools to let all your friends and family know about the program.
Step 7: Every time someone makes a contribution, you will receive an email. Thank them and keep tabs on your progress. Follow up with people as needed.
Finally, we are looking forward to seeing everyone in Springfield.

Jane and Joe Gano
25th anniversary event coordinators
Jane: [email protected]
Joe: [email protected]


trips Anniversary Seminars:

Our 25th Anniversary celebration in Springfield, Mo., is less than three months away. The seminars and workshops we have planned will take place on Sunday and Monday, April 27 and 28, at the fairgrounds. As you check in at the fairgrounds, you will be asked your preferences for the workshops, so we would like to give you a little information about each of the programs planned to whet your appetite. Be thinking about which you will want to attend.

As of now, we have planned the following:

Volunteer engagement: What's In It for You?
Presented by Mark Andrews, vice president, volunteer and institutional engagement, Habitat for Humanity International

  • Understand Habitat for Humanity's strategic initiative to advance volunteer engagement, and discover new resources that may be available to enhance local volunteer programs. Questions and answers will make this an interactive group.

Building High Performance, Sustainable and Affordable Homes for Habitat for Humanity
Presented by Keith Kaan, Habitat home designer and build supervisor, Mason Coounty HFH, Mason TX

  • High performance, green and certified homes can be very affordable and efficient as shown in a case study of Habitat homes built in Mason, Texas. This presentation will show how we build homes that have summer electricity bills as low as $20 per month and reduced water usage by about half. We justify construction of high performance homes with a payback for the improvements in less than two years. Partner families can minimize the risk of getting behind on their mortgage and enjoy big savings for the life of the home as well. The presentation will cover the concepts of what we do, why we do it, and how we do it. We'll have slides of recent builds and there will be scale models to help illustrate the construction techniques.

Around the World with Global Village
Presented by Allyson Drinnon, associate director, volunteer and institutional engagement, Habitat for Humanity International

  • You can't bring your RV but you can still make new friends while building. Join Allyson for a snapshot of Habitat International's work, what volunteers are doing around the world and how you can get involved. This workshop will cover the steps to join an international Global Village trip, costs and fundraising and leadership opportunities.

Disaster Preparedness and Response
Presented by Kristin Wright, Disaster Corps specialist, Habitat for Humanity International

  • Participants will learn how HFHI engages in disaster response, highlighting HFHI's Disaster Corps program and RV Care-A-Vanner rebuild team. Learn about types of disasters, key terms used in disaster risk management, phases of the disaster cycle, emergency management standards, the National Response Framework and what can be done to prepare and respond to disasters.

First Aid and Citizen CPR Workshop
Presented by the Southern Missouri Region of the American Red Cross

  • Learn some basic responses and techniques for more common emergency first aid so you will be more confident in responding to emergency needs. Watch a short demonstration on Compression Only CPR. Although no official certification will be offered, the class should make participants better prepared to know how to respond to emergencies.

Golf Chipping and Pitching Clinic
Presented by Ina Davis, RV Care-A-Vanner and golf professional, Crystal Mountain Resort, Mich.

  • Learn the proper fundamentals of the chip and pitch shots � the scoring shots � and learn the proper club selection. Guaranteed to eliminate the dreaded sculled, fat and miss-directed shots. Bring your sand wedge and 9-iron. Don't have a sand wedge? Bring your pitching wedge and 9-iron.

Team Leader Seminar
Presented by Brenda Sawyer, RV Care-A-Vanner and team leader coordinator for RV Care-A-Vanners

  • This seminar is appropriate for those who are considering serving as team leaders as well as for our veteran team leaders. We will go over some of the duties of team leading but spend the majority of time discussing various challenges faced by team leaders. This will include managing team dynamics and conflicts, devotions and other topics brought forth by those in attendance. Please send questions or topics to Brenda before the rally (preferred), or bring them with you to the seminar. Brenda is looking forward to meeting many of the team leaders who she knows only through email!

Joplin, Mo., Disaster Recovery: The Story of a Comeback
Presented by Scott Clayton, executive director, Joplin, Mo., Habitat for Humanity affiliate

  • Hear the story of disaster recovery for the city of Joplin and the accomplishments of the HFH affiliate: flourishing against terrific odds, bringing groups together to service families in need and staff dedicated to helping � resulting in an astounding rate of recovery.

RV Care-A-Vanner Desk Questions and Answers
Presented by the RV Care-A-Vanner desk staff.

  • Meet the volunteers who keep the RV Care-A-Vanner program working. Come with your questions, suggestions and concerns.

The Selection of Habitat for Humanity Partner Families
Presented by Nancy Williams, director of family services, Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, Mo.

  • The Springfield affiliate has two family services committees, the family selection committee and the family advocacy committee. Nancy will walk us through the process from initial marketing of the program and recruiting of applicants to the burning of the mortgage when the house is paid off.

Family Motor Coach Association Habitat for Humanity Chapter
Presented by FMCA staff

  • This group partners with the RV Care-A-Vanner program. Learn about their organization and their involvement with HFHI's RV Care-A-Vanner home building opportunities.

We hope we have something for everyone and you can join your fellow Care-A-Vanners in several workshops!

In addition, Don Hartle, U.S. safety specialist from HFHI will offer a Safety Training Seminar: Safety on the Job Site. Everyone attending the RV Care-A-Vanner 25th Anniversary Reunion and Rally will attend this safety seminar. Don will cover OSHA's involvement with our affiliates in recent years, insurance statistics of claim types and frequency of claims and how we need to change and improve our safety thinking while building. Don will also present residential roof related fall protection options that are available. Fewer and fewer of us feel comfortable on a roof, but each house needs one and we need to feel comfortable up there! Other types of fall hazards will be covered, such as holes and covers, ladder safety requirements, guardrail requirements, scaffolding requirements, trenching and excavation openings, stairways, etc. Don will touch on general electrical safety � tools, power cords, GFCI protection, etc.; emergency action plan � what's necessary and where to post for all to see; and flammable/combustible � signage, storage and extinguishers. As we build, we all need to be responsible for our own safety and the safety of those working around us. Consider this seminar a "tune up" so that we can build safer.

Warm regards,
Joyce Rush
New member coordinator
RV Care-A-Vanner program
Habitat for Humanity International
Phone: 724-579-2850
Email: [email protected]


trips How to support the 25th anniversary build using Share.Habitat

Share.Habitat makes it easy for you to make a donation to the 25th anniversary build and to enlist your family and friends as well. You and they can also use it to stay informed about the progress of this exciting project.
1) As a supporter you can see what's going on, encourage others and spread the word.
2) You can also become a donor by clicking on "please donate." Donate by mail or secure credit card. Choose any amount. Donate anonymously if you prefer. It's all up to you.
3) To maximize your impact, become a fundraiser. To create your own fundraising page on Share.Habitat, visit the campaign page, then:

  • Scroll down until you see the "Up your impact" box on the right hand side.
  • Click the last link in that box, which reads "Become a Fundraiser."
  • From there, you can choose to create an account through Facebook, or you can simply click "Sign Up" under the Facebook banner to just use your email.
  • If you are not using Facebook, just enter your name and email address, and create a password.

Now that you've created an account, you will be taken to your fundraising creation page. You may edit this page by clicking on your Dashboard tab at the top, and then on the "Make Edits" link at the top. Personalize your page by:

  • Writing a short statement about why you're fundraising.
  • Setting a goal. How much would you like to raise for this cause? You can change the default amount to your choice. (The end date and default donation are set for you, but you are free to change them.)
  • Uploading photos that help tell the story of your support for this anniversary event. You may also copy and paste the URL to a video hosted on YouTube or Vimeo that will display on your page as well. Some content is there for you already, but you may delete it, move it around or add to it.
  • Telling your Care-A-Vanner story in your own words. Tell your donors why this event is important to you.

That's it! You're now ready to accept donations to your Share.Habitat fundraising page. You can add to the experience by doing the following three things:

  1. Click on the Dashboard tab at the top of your page to share your story using the promotional and email tools found there.
  2. Use the dropdown box at the top right of the page to edit your account settings. This is where you add a profile picture to show the world it's your page!
  3. Click on the Edit button in the strip at the top to update and edit your fundraising page.

If you have any trouble or questions with the process, please send Mary Campbell an email at [email protected]. I'll answer as soon as I can and share helpful hints in future newsletters.

How to support the 25th anniversary build without using Share.Habitat

Let's face it. Some of us prefer good old-fashioned low-tech � writing a check! We need your support as well. To contribute to the 25th anniversary houses by check, simply write "25th Anniv. House � Project Code 1113001" in the memo line of your check payable to "HFHI RV Care-A-Vanners" and mail it to:

HFHI RV Care-A-Vanners
25th Anniversary Build
121 Habitat St.
Americus, GA 31709

So there are three methods to support the 25th anniversary build:


Welcome new Care-A-Vanners

Charles Baldacino, Carol Bowman, Peggy Bradley, Dean and Deborah Huber, Dave and Barbara Johnson, Kenneth and Heidi Maitland, Bill Messer and Marg Chauvin, Peter and Marian Meyer, Jim and Vicki Morris, John and Fran Powers, Richard and Eileen Schlieper, Lee Wilson, Jeff Zucker and Jeanie Wilcox

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


 Safety Corner

One of the items we generally overlook when we hit the job site is the temporary electrical power. OSHA requires that there be a ground fault circuit interrupter between the line power and your extension cords. This could be either a GFCI circuit breaker or GFCI receptacles in the temporary power box. If neither of these exist then there should be a GFCI circuit breaker in a short extension cord pig tail, which plugs into the temporary power. The affiliate will need to have this item. If none of these options are available, notify your team leader who will raise this with the construction manager. These devices are designed to prevent you being shocked in the event you accidentally become the ground. This is especially important in wet conditions

Another electrical safety point to consider is the power cords you plug into the temporary power outlet. Most home centers sell 14-gauge and 12-gauge extension cords which a lot of affiliates purchase. A 16-gauge cord should never be on the job site. However, if you look at the cord ends on a 12-gauge or 14-gauge cord you will most likely see that the cord ends are stamped with a 15 amp rating. Overloading these cord ends beyond 15 amps can cause the cord ends to melt down. If you are using a 14-gauge cord for a long run from the temp power box to the construction site and then splitting it to other cords, keep in mind that a 14-gauge cord is only rated at 15 amps. If you run multiple cords off of this cord for a variety of tools, you could be overloading the cord. For instance a worm drive saw draws 13 amps. There's not much room for anything else before you overload the 15 amp limit on a 14-gauge cord. If the outlets on the temp power block are 20 amp you could easily overload a 14-gauge cord and not trip the breaker or the GFCI.

Gauge refers to the size of the wire

  • The thinner the wire, the higher the gauge number
  • The thicker the wire, the lower the gauge number
  • The lower the gauge, the more electrical current (amps) the wire can carry
  • The lower the gauge, the longer distance the wire can be run from an electrical source.

MAXIMUM DISTANCES UP TO 15 AMPS

0 � 25' 14 Gauge
25 � 50' 14 Gauge
50 � 75' 12 Gauge
75 � 100' 12 Gauge

Frank Peccia
Care-A-Vanner safety coordinator
[email protected]


Questions, cancellations or concerns?
1-800-HABITAT, ext. 7534
1-229-410-7534 (direct)
[email protected]
RV Care-A-Vanner staff contact info

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].

Donate to RV Care-A-Vanners
How to donate money or vehicles


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