Category Archives: Georgia

Good times, good work

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I’ve got a song in my head that I didn’t even know a week ago. That’s because I was lucky enough to spend a week with a hard-working but fun-loving group of students on Alternative Spring Break. They blasted the radio and sang along when a favorite song came on as we drove to our work sites, to the YMCA for shower time and to the coffee shop or main street to hang out. Made me feel young again. (We definitely have to give up the American car culture, given climate change, but I’m sure glad I got to enjoy it for so many years.)

We made great headway on two Habitat for Humanity Houses in Athens, Georgia. This group really knows how to work. The days ended with everyone pitching in to cook and clean up, then came games and good conversation.

For years I’ve been writing admiring Web stories and press releases about Suffolk U students who give up the traditional spring break vacation to perform service work. But until I joined them this week, I didn’t realize that foregoing the vacation doesn’t mean giving up the fun — not at all. There was no drinking or carousing on this trip, but a group of students who were, for the most part, strangers two months ago are now fast friends. Thanks for letting me join in the fun!

Who knows, I may now let my own radio dial linger at Usher or Lil Wayne — but I draw the line at Britney!

–Nancy K

Highlighting the issue of Affordable Housing

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Working with Habitat for Humanity all week has made us all take a second look at the role of affordable housing in communities. We met Tina, the future owner of the house we roofed. She took time from her work week to thank us for our hard work and to take in the progress made on her house. Tina and her family have been contributing “sweat equity” hours on their house and other Habitat projects as they wait for the first home. 

To gain perspective on the ouscal situation in Athens, GA, our group spoke with Matthew Murphy, the affordable housing administrator for Athens-Clark County. His agency oversees federal funds allocated for affordable housing issues in the county. Recently named the poorest county in the U.S., the county struggles to find housing alternatives  for families that live at or below the poverty line. Our group discussed potential approaches to increasing the availabilty of reasonably priced rental units and single family homes. Should this be the responsibility of comminities and local non-profits? Or as a nation, should our government provide more funding through taxation? It becase obvious that this is a very complicated issue that requires the coordinated efforts of all levels of government, non-profits and citizens. — Julia H.

Hurricane Tom

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Tom teaches Jess how to cut a straight line with a power saw.

Tom teaches Jess how to cut a straight line with a power saw.

What moves people to work for the common good? Tom Strong started volunteering for Habitat after a career in the military. He was a pilot with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where he flew into hurricanes, tracked tornados and followed right whales up and down the East Coast.Tom holds the world record for piloting planes into hurricanes; he’s done it 335 times and brought home many a plane peppered with holes from lightning strikes. 

He began volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in Georgia and eventually was hired as a construction manager. Tom’s been a patient and helpful guide in our work this week, as has Beau Harvey. More on Beau later.

–Nancy K