Building Freedom Day

Last Tuesday, September 11, I started my day at 3:15 A.M. as I left the house headed toward Corazon
del Pueblo where I was joining the rest of the Habitat staff team in setting up for the biggest donation
and volunteer day of the year. Every year on September 11, Habitat Tucson holds a ‘Building Freedom Day’ in which they solicit donations and volunteer work to raise the walls on multiple homes in memory of the tragic event which happened in 2001. This year’s event was very successful with over 300 volunteers and four homes in which walls were raised.

As I arrived at the job site at 3:30 I could feel a good energy building in the people already hard at work setting up for the big day. We had people setting up volunteer registration stations complete with hard hats, sunscreen and safety glasses for all. Others were setting up the presentation and meal tent, others the catering station, and others the parking arrangements for all of the volunteers coming that day.  While this was happening there were still more Habitat staff and volunteers getting the construction sites ready – ensuring the proper lumber, tools and fasteners were in place.

 

Hard hats, sunscreen and safety glasses station

At about 5:30 A.M. the first shift of volunteers started to arrive, being welcomed by a very enthusiastic group of Habitat homeowner’s. The homeowner’s lined the sidewalk leading up to the registration table, and as each bus load of volunteers showed up they gave a hoot and a holler for their efforts that day. Their cheerful reception of the volunteers set the tone for the hard day’s work ahead. The volunteers were offered breakfast while a few Habitat directors and local ministers gave opening remarks for the day.

After the pep talks finished, the first shift of volunteers went off to work. They moved from the tented area to a neighborhood block which contained four empty slabs ready to be built on. As the volunteer teams got to work, the neighborhood was instantly filled with the sound of hammers and the site of people sharing God’s love by building homes for those in need.

Bare slabs at the beginning of the day

The first shift of work ended at 9:00 A.M. and a second shift of volunteers came on site. They continued the miraculous work up to the lunch hour. When 12:00 came around, the four empty slabs which started the day were no longer empty. Each of the slabs had framed exterior walls and sheathing. Two of the homes even made it as far as putting some roof trusses up. The work that was completed between 6:00 A.M. and noon was spectacular!

Raising the first wall!

Making progress...

...still more progress!

We ended the construction day there (it gets too hot in Arizona to work in the heat of the afternoon)
and moved to the tent area for lunch and a closing program in which five Habitat families burned the
mortgages of their Habitat homes. It was heartwarming to sit and watch the multi-generational families come to celebrate the achievement of owning their very own home and a great way to end such a wonderful day with Habitat Tucson.

This tremendous event took place on my fourth day of work – what an awesome way to get acquainted with Habitat Tucson and the wonderful people who do so much hard work to make the organization one that has a great presence in the community! I got to spend the day hopping back and forth from working on the construction sites, to talking with homeowners and construction crew leaders, to meeting many people who are behind the work of Habitat Tucson. It was a great orientation to the work, the people and the community that I will be spending my time with this year.