Courtesy Photo | Maj. Doug Chace, Company A, Warrior Transition Battalion, watches closely as he cuts a...... read more read more
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TILLICUM, Wash. - Members of the Warrior Transition Battalion volunteered to assist in a project building homes for Habitat for Humanity in Tillicum, Wash., July 23-25.
The project gave soldiers the opportunity to donate their time and help give families in the local communities their own homes.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that constructs homes for families in need, with the help of volunteers.
Potential homeowners are required to contribute 500 labor hours on home-building projects to receive lower mortgages through the “sweat equity program.” The time that the Soldiers spend volunteering count toward the 500 hours future homeowners need, making it easier on the families to complete their work.
“I’ve always loved volunteering,” said Spc. Cristina Saucedo, a human resource specialist in Alpha Company, WTB. “Coming out here feels very rewarding at the end of the day. I feel great, because I know someone’s going to be living where I worked.”
Saucedo, a California National Guardsman, spent three days assisting in three newly constructed homes in Tillicum. Volunteers spent seven-hour days doing various tasks such as laying down tile and sod, paving walkways and cutting boards for doorways.
For the past six years, WTB has helped in the construction of homes in Pierce County, said Woody Stone, retired Army major and outreach coordinator for the unit. The Soldiers work with the future homeowners on the build sites.
Many Soldiers in the WTB are preparing to transition out of the Army and this is an opportunity for them to try out another skill and meet new people, Stone said. It is also a good way to get them active in the local community.
“I really like working with people from base,” said Kendra Sampson, Youth and Group Engagement Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, AmeriCorps. “It always feels good to see Soldiers getting out into their local community, getting involved and really understanding more about where they are.”
The experience was fulfilling for Sgt. Linh Kim, squad leader in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, WTB. Kim believed working on the project was an amazing opportunity and welcomed the opportunity to learn more about Habitat for Humanity.
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” Kim said. “I’m very passionate about giving back to the community, helping families and those in need.”
The ability to lend a helping hand to local families was just as rewarding to the Soldiers of WTB as it was for families able to purchase their own newly-built homes.
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.29.2014 18:05 |
| Story ID: | 137669 |
| Location: | TILLICUM, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 216 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Warriors lend helping hand, by SGT DJ Borden, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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