For me the work is the most important part of these trips. As time has moved forward I have realized that the relationships that develop as a result are of greater value, but in almost every case the physical labor and change of circumstance for the recipient is what begins that relationship.
The work crosses many disciplines and sometimes requires us to learn something new in the process.
To start, if we are fortunate, we are able to get advance information usually by going to the place a few months before and working with the person whose property we are working on. This would be the case in Lapwai and Moenkopi, AZ (Hopi).
In Jonestown and Hawaii, because of the cost of travel, we only make one trip and have limited chances to get advance information. We often hear the word “cosmetic” when people refer to the task as they see it. This would mean minor repairs and painting. On more than one occasion we have begun this “cosmetic” work only to find major structural, electrical, plumbing, etc. problems which need to be dealt with for the safety and living conditions of the environment.
The most intense version of this was in Jonestown MS. Where we were asked to put trim around the windows, build a skirt for the trailer base, repair sheetrock and deal with some minor electrical and plumbing issues. We soon discovered that someone had attempted to upgrade the electrical and we could not fix it without tearing out what had already been done. This would go all the way back to a severely corroded electrical panel and poor hook up from the power pole. As we sorted this out Devan, my dear friend and conscience looked up the plumbing and discovered that the piping in this particular model had been recalled in 1995 but no one had followed through. We had to remove and replace all the piping with Pex. There were 12 of us (luckily) and with the help of the woman who lived there and her teenage daughters we moved at a brisk pace. On the last day we worked nonstop for 24 hours. We taught the woman how to strip and replace sheetrock, tape and texture. The exterior skirt board, the window trim and the painting never happened. As I apologized to the woman she cried and thanked us for making her home safe. She had been living for two years with one electrical outlet for the whole house and no plumbing. The total material cost came to over $4,000.00. Usually our crew dedicates $200 each above the travel and food costs for materials. Thanks to some last minute fundraising (in a bar) and the support of our sponsor, the Derocher project, and the trip participants who put in additional donations, we were able to cover the costs.
This is an extreme example but hopefully gives you the idea. Despite these setbacks our group tries to keep the event lively and fun and we do things after work to keep it that way. On one occasion in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, the project manager (an older man with a white beard who the young adult participants referred to as Papa Smurf) asked at the end to address our group. I am paraphrasing a bit but putting it in quotes because of the effect:
I have worked with many volunteer groups here. When they told me I would be working with 18 and 19 year olds I was dreading it, BUT....... I have to to tell you now that this group was the fastest, most efficient and the most downright fun I have ever worked with.
This has been and will always be our goal for these groups.
On these trips there are usually people of great skill and experience as well as people who have never built or fixed a thing ( and every type in between.) This combination allows us to teach, empower and keep the job site attitude efficient and joyful (different than fun).
Types of work we do:
Tear out of existing structural and related problems
Rebuild to a safer environment
Pouring concrete
Roofing
Electrical
Plumbing
Flooring
Decks and accessibility ramps
Sheetrock application.
Taping and texturing
Interior and exterior trim and moulding work
Painting
Minor landscaping and gardening.
Whatever comes up next.
If you are interested in joining us and have any of these skills/training that is always a plus. We cannot guarantee the actual work you will be doing.