Arizona National Guard builds homes and community bonds with Habitat for Humanity

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Brent Allred, Staff Sgt. Craig Wester and Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Blake of the Recruiting and Retention Command, help build a house for a Globe, Ariz., resident while volunteering for Habitat for Humanity on Jan. 8. The Arizona Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Command has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity since 2007.  

GLOBE, AZ, UNITED STATES

01.28.2011

Courtesy Story

Arizona National Guard Public Affairs

GLOBE, Ariz. - Several Arizona Army National Guard soldiers volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to help build a home in Globe, Ariz., Jan. 8.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization dedicated to having volunteers build homes for people in need. One hundred forty-one National Guardsmen from Arizona’s Recruiting and Retention Command have volunteered for Habitat for Humanity since 2007.

“The soldiers really enjoy helping and it’s good for them too,” said Sgt. Maj. Nathan Breese, a sergeant major for the Recruiting and Retention Command. “They feel good about themselves when they are doing good for others and it’s a core value of a soldier to help others so we enjoy doing it.”

Breese said he and his soldiers decided to work with Habitat for Humanity because it is a good cause. His soldiers were very excited about the chance to help build a safe home for someone in need.

“Habitat for Humanity was very excited about us helping, so it really made us even happier to help,” Breese said.

Within one day, the National Guard’s 11 volunteers were able complete 90 percent of the house’s drywall. The soldiers also helped prepare the house for the stucco that will be applied to the home’s exterior walls.

Every time we volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the soldiers get to do something different. They have done everything from painting the houses during Arizona’s summer heat, to roofing and moving dirt piles to create a solid foundation for the house, said Breese.

“Everyone who volunteers seems to have a great time and everyone involved goes away feeling very positive,” Breese said.

• Date Taken: 01.28.2011
• Date Posted: 01.28.2011 18:23
• Story ID: 64417
• Location: GLOBE, AZ, US