049 Bill Farris–Habitat for Humanity
From Banker to Builder—Thanks to Habitat for Humanity
Bill Farris is always learning. Each time he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity he learns something—how to swing a hammer, use a saw safely, measure accurately…and it’s fun. He describes a day with Habitat as seeing “ants on crackers”…in other words, a swarm of folks helping to create a home! A retired banker, Bill now thinks of himself as a builder.
“Don’t think you can build a house? Join a Habitat group and see what you can accomplish,” Bill challenges everyone. Not only do volunteers have the opportunity to learn new skills, but also they can use their existing skills, including painting, landscaping, and even clean up, to finish out the construction. Men, women, and older teens can be part of the team, and the time commitment is flexible.
An ecumenical Christian ministry, Habitat for Humanity provides the life-changing opportunity for people to own affordable quality homes. Habitat family members participate in learning about home ownership and then invest “sweat equity” as they work alongside the volunteers. They too are gaining new skills, and they are also acquiring the dignity of seeing what their own work has achieved and an appreciation for the belief in them exhibited by the commitment of so many volunteers. Together, the families and the volunteers create safer neighborhoods for more children and facilitate a pathway of hope for those served.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville builds 32–50 houses a year in a four-county area. With that many homes to build each year, Habitat is always looking for additional construction volunteers. If you are interested in building as a group, or as an individual, please visit their website www.habitatnashville.org for additional information.
Find other episodes in this series at retiretovolunteering.com.
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