Connie Taylor fundraising for Poland - '20 Berry Team
Connie Taylor
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From Connie Taylor
Helping those that need a hand up acquire affordable and safe housing
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About Me
If we look around, we will find that the person standing next to us has a different story than we do. Some people are fortunate enough to have adequate housing; someone else may be struggling to do the best with what they have but they need help. That’s where Habitat comes in…. they give a helping hand. I can remember when I needed a hand…many hands to be honest… even when I was working so hard to break that life cycle…I needed help... it was the help of those that I barely knew… they had faith in me… they guided me, they supported me and was there in time of need…they made me believe … I could live a different life…I did… and I will never forget…
I promised I would give back and make a difference… I choose to volunteer with Habitat because it is a hand up… we work alongside families that are working to provide shelter for their families. I have witnessed mothers and fathers that have significant health issues work alongside us to build their home… I have seen women with baskets on their backs carry bricks up an 10k' elevation mountain so that they can build a 3-room home for their families… I have seen families join to build bricks from cow dung and rice husks…. high school and college students that volunteer to interpret and support us in our efforts to be mindful and guided by their local culture … children sweeping the dirt streets with raffia brooms…. because they too want to join us in making a difference.
Habitat for Humanity makes housing affordable for families who just need a little extra help. For those who work hard to keep food on the table and take care of their families with what they have. Habitat for Humanity makes the mortgage lower with the helping of volunteers and the use of sweat equity from future homeowners.
Each build I participate on … regardless of country…regardless of how tired... bruised... scraped… dirty… how many broken nails…sleepless nights… there is... there is nothing like the opportunity to witness the joy on a family’s face when they walk over their new home threshold… it is a cherished memory of a lifetime.
If you ever have a chance to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, rather it is on a build trip or a local build day, do it. It will change your life like it has changed mine.
More Info
Economic Housing Institute research indicates that almost one in four apartments in Poland should be condemned. Of the existing housing stock, approximately one in eight do not have a kitchen, and almost one in ten share a toilet with an entire floor of apartments or have no indoor facility at all. With a severe affordable housing shortage, low-income families often have no choice but to live in substandard housing that threatens their health and safety.
Global Village is Habitat for Humanity’s international volunteer program. Teams travel to over 40 countries to work alongside communities, build housing solutions, and experience local culture. Our goal is to change the lives of the people we serve, as well as the lives of the volunteers.
To join a team or learn more, visit www.habitat.org/gv.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 1,300 communities throughout the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
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