Carpenter Club sets framework for Habitat home

From left, Al King, Andy Fullington, James Jennings, Hugh Lawhon, Paul Hall and Dale Landry stand up a wall while building a house in Benton on Tuesday.
From left, Al King, Andy Fullington, James Jennings, Hugh Lawhon, Paul Hall and Dale Landry stand up a wall while building a house in Benton on Tuesday.

Volunteers are going strong in Saline County to build a home for one of their own. The eighth Carpenter Build of Habitat for Humanity of Saline County broke ground in Partnership Village on June 11. On Tuesday, much of the house’s framework was up as the “Tuesday Crew” cut wood, hammered nails and performed various other carpentry duties.

This crew of men and women has been participating on Tuesdays during build projects for a long time, said Shari Day, executive director of the Saline County Habitat affiliate. The group is comprised of former certified public accountants, engineers and retired executives. An emergency medical technician and a nurse volunteer work with the crew as well.

The awesome part about all of Habitat’s builds, Day said, is the diversity of volunteers who come together for one cause.

“They lend their time and talents, and they are so valuable,” she said.

As he took a break and watched his companions work, David Pyle, board president, said many of his friends didn’t know anything about carpentry when they picked up a hammer for Habitat for the first time.

“We all just keep coming out because we enjoy what we’re doing,” he said. “It’s a good bunch to be around, and the basic mission of Habitat makes it a worthy cause to be involved with.”

These volunteers are certainly hands-on workers, but the Carpenter Club — this build’s namesake — allows people in Saline County to help build homes without ever picking up a hammer. The group comprises individuals who directly support Habitat for Humanity by making a $25 donation each time a house is dedicated to a Habitat partner family. The goal is to build a Habitat home with Carpenter Club funds, which is achievable, Day said, if the organization receives a membership base of at least 500 individuals.

“People should join because their donations help Saline County families build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter,” Day said.

To date, the Saline County affiliate has built 65 homes for low-income families. The organization was incorporated in 1999, and the first home was dedicated in 2000. The current home being built will complete Habitat’s Partnership Village neighborhood at Market and Woodlawn streets in Benton. Future homes will be built just across the street, said Hollie Hughes, administrative and volunteer coordinator.

Hughes said there is a big need for land in Bryant, noting that about 20 to 24 families apply for a Habitat house each year in Saline County, and many of the families have children in Bryant schools. Application meetings to learn more about becoming a Habitat partner family are held monthly. The next one will take place at 6 p.m. June 27 at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton.

This home is being built for a single mother of three young children. Kelley Hagelstein said being able to give her children bedrooms of their own is important, especially since her oldest is 9 years old and, as an autistic child, needs his own space. She works for the Blood Bank of Arkansas. Before becoming a certified nursing assistant, she was an Army police officer.

Every person deserves a decent place to live, Day said. Three things the Habitat for Humanity staff looks at when considering an applicant include a person’s need, the ability to pay and the willingness to be a partner in the project.

According to the website habitatsalinecountyar.org, Saline County Habitat partner families commit to help in the construction of their home and the homes of other partner families. A minimum of 300 “sweat equity” hours are required for each partner family, with an additional 150 hours required of each able-bodied person over the age of 18.

Houses are sold to partner families for no profit and are financed through affordable, no-interest mortgages, which are issued over a fixed period, usually 20 years. Mortgage payments are used to support the construction of more houses through the revolving Fund for Humanity.

None of these goals could be accomplished without the help from volunteers, Day said.

“And it’s not just the volunteers who build,” she said. “We have volunteers every day who keep us stocked with food and water.”

Anyone interested in volunteering in any capacity can call (501) 315-5434 or visit www.habitatsalinecountyar.org for more information.

Upcoming Events