September 11th and Habitat for Humanity

Before day break, Habitat for Humanity volunteers gathered for the seventh annual “Building Freedom Day.” This launches the construction of four homes to be completed over the next several months with volunteer hours and donated funds. Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has built or rehabilitated 250,000 homes. Candidates for ownership are selected by their need, willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay a no-interest loan.
I was a first time participant in the event and was mesmerized by the emotion of the day. The US Flag was presented by the Davis Monthan Color Guard, the National Anthem was sung by an Airman, and opening remarks were from Colonel Paul Johnson, the new wing commander at DM. Thoughts went out to the victims of 9/11 and the day was dedicated to their memory. Michael McDonald, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Tucson, asked that each volunteer also honor someone from their own life with this service.

Construction began at 6:30. Dozens of unskilled, untrained, novice volunteers flocked to the four poured concrete pads. At each pad was the lumber necessary to frame the walls and a leader with the experience to build a home. The leader was assisted by a handful of experienced builders and staff members. Each provided the necessary direction to accomplish the task at hand.

Habitat has found a system that works and they repeat it each year, making modifications as needed. On site, the untrained volunteers are led by the experienced and there is one person accountable for oversight. Morale is high because everyone wants to be there and sees the good that is done. The site is organized with the tools and materials necessary to complete the job.

I was having difficulty driving nails with much speed because they kept bending. An experienced framer came over and repositioned me to swing directly over the nail rather than at an angle. This improved my effectiveness somewhat, but I was far from capable. She then took my hammer and replaced it with, what she called, a “framing hammer”. I had been trying to drive nails with a “finishing hammer”. At home, it made no difference to me, but on the site, a framing hammer was a major improvement. It was heavier with a longer handle and the face had a waffle pattern that gripped the nails. Once I had the proper tool, my efficiency rose quickly. I still had some bent nails and was now having trouble pulling them out. My builder buddy explained that a framing hammer’s claw was designed for tearing apart boards that had been nailed together. It was more likely that a professional would need to pry apart lumber then to pull nails, because they rarely bent the nails they were driving.