DUBOIS – Members of the Wallkill, NY Reformed Church decided helping families would be a good thing to do. Every summer over the last nineteen years they have piled into a host of vehicles to travel across the county and into Canada to do just that building houses for Habitat for Humanity.
Recently a group of 21 church members arrived in the DuBois area – their goal was to help David and Tammy Salgado build their new home. Over the course of the week these volunteers poured cement, built steps, worked on a porch, hung drywall, added insulation, and installed siding.
In their “off time” they became tourists traveling to the Clearfield County Fair, Bilger’s Rocks, to see majestic elk, and other sites.
Organized by Dave Haldeman, these Wallkill Habitat for Humanity volunteers select their destination each winter. The selection process is quite simple: it’s based on where can they help the most. Once the site is selected the group collaborates with the local Habitat for Humanity volunteers to identify projects that need to be completed. Haldeman explained the volunteers love to see how much they can get done over their stay, but the real reason they keep volunteering is that enjoy helping the families.
“A friend told me about the Wallkill group,” Jimmy Dunn explained. “I just wanted to do something to help.”
Dunn, a maintenance supervisor with a large extended family, made it clear that the Salgado’s home will transform their lives. In the end the home will benefit not only the family but also the community. “I‘m looking forward to helping another family next summer,” Dunn added.
Without ever stopping his work, John Paul introduced two of his three children-all volunteers from Wallkill. “I began bringing my children as soon as they were old enough. Over the last twelve years it’s become a tradition for my family. Ryan will be a freshman in college and Megan a junior this year. Next year my youngest daughter, Emma, will be old enough to join us.” Like the Paul family most of the volunteers on site have been traveling with the Wallkill group for many years. Just listening to their conversations as they work revealed how much they enjoy each other and what they were collectively accomplishing.
As they packed up their vans, cars, and pick-up trucks at the end of the week the Wallkill volunteers gave John Farr, director of Habitat for Humanity of Clearfield a check for $1000. Cash contributions like this help to pay for building materials, land, and other expenses. Habitat for Humanity also depends on in-kind contributions and items from local companies and building supply firms, who help provide much needed materials. Homes built by Habitat for Humanity are not free-families carry mortgages, pay property taxes, and invest extensive time building their home, but, in the end, everyone benefits-both the family and the community.