Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners

[nvestysly]

Hi Everyone,

It's been a long time since I've posted to this thread. Yes, we've been busy working on Habitat projects - both at our local affiliate and with the RV Care-A-Vanner program.

I haven't been keeping track of our "builds" but I'm sure it's over a dozen at this point and we have several planned for this year.

The RV CAV group has released their official promotional video. Take a look and spread the word.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIVDZgxhkT4

[Motor7]

Thanks for bringing this thread back up. My wife is a really good cook, and for years I have been kicking around a Chuckwagon type enclosed trailer to respond to national disasters. Folks have to eat at a Habitat build too, so maybe I need to get off my duff and build the mobile kitchen.........

[nvestysly]

Originally Posted by Motor7

Thanks for bringing this thread back up. My wife is a really good cook, and for years I have been kicking around a Chuckwagon type enclosed trailer to respond to national disasters. Folks have to eat at a Habitat build too, so maybe I need to get off my duff and build the mobile kitchen.........

Motor7,

Your chuckwagon idea sounds great to me. Not only could the chuckwagon be used to support natural disasters but I think Habitat affiliates around the country would be very receptive to the idea.

Some (but not many) affiliates provide lunch for the volunteers. The majority of two-week projects are bring-your-own-bag lunch situations. I think most volunteers would welcome the idea of an RVer making lunch for the group.

Be sure to look at the list of upcoming projects at

RV Care-A-Vanners Program -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l

Even if your chuckwagon is months away (or more) from completion you can begin to get an idea of where the projects are held so you can determine how Habitat RV CAV fits into your life.

Good luck with your idea. I hope to see you on a Habitat project someday.

[nvestysly]

Anyone have any Habitat for Humanity updates? I'd like to hear about your experiences so we can enlist more volunteers for the RV Care-A-Vanner program.

Our recent project in Mandeville, LA was very successful. Our group of 50 volunteers was able to erect walls and install roof trusses on four homes. I'll post pictures at a later date.

[waroland]

The organization "Camper On Mission" is a good place to look for volunteering. The have a national web site and most states have a chapter with their own web site. We work with them just about full time. There are project from 1 week to 4-5 months. PM me if you need more information.

[nvestysly]

We've participated in several RV Care-A-Vanner projects since our last post. Anyone had an opportunity to work on one of these projects?

Our projects in the past year have taken us to NE, WV and TX.

[phays]

I'm an RV Care-A-Vanner and have been for several years. I completed 4 builds this year and 6 last year. I forget how many I did in earlier years. I full time and use South Dakota as my domicile. This year I built in Sioux Falls, SD, and took the opportunity to renew my driver's license and apply for my mail in ballot.

I encourage any rv'er to try the RV Cav's if you have an interest in Habitat for Humanity. All of my experiences have been good. As a full timer this is a way for me to give back to others and help a family get into a house.

[nvestysly]

It's been a while since posting here. We've been averaging three "builds" per year and looking forward to a few more next year.

If you've worked on RV CAV projects, or hope to some day, be sure to post your experiences and questions here.

For those of you who will be attending the Florida (Tampa) RV SuperShow in January 2018 be sure to check out the Habitat RV CAV information booth in building A near the Camping World store.

[gvjackson]

A recent:

• retiree,
• RVer,
• iRV2er, and,

just joined Care-A-Vanners a month ago. It was nice to stumble across a Care-A-Vanner forum here on iRV2, although, it's not very active.

First assignment coming up in January. Looking forward to it.

Had initially planned our first snowbird trip to the Southwest, but, after thinking about it, decided it was better to spend the time helping others, over just enjoying some nice weather 1,100 miles South!

We will spend some time before and after the assignment(s), just relaxing.

[nvestysly]

Originally Posted by gvjackson

A recent:

• retiree,
• RVer,
• iRV2er, and,

just joined Care-A-Vanners a month ago. It was nice to stumble across a Care-A-Vanner forum here on iRV2, although, it's not very active.

First assignment coming up in January. Looking forward to it.

Had initially planned our first snowbird trip to the Southwest, but, after thinking about it, decided it was better to spend the time helping others, over just enjoying some nice weather 1,100 miles South!

We will spend some time before and after the assignment(s), just relaxing.

Hi gvjackson - good to hear from you. We typically spend some time before and/or after a Habitat project enjoying the area. There's usually time during the project to do some sightseeing too. Please post pictures and comments regarding your Habitat RV CAV experience.

We recently returned from a two-week project in Lafayette, LA. We met new people, learned a few things, had some good food, met a new Habitat partner family (homebuyer) and had a general good time while helping others.

Habitat is a hand-up, not a hand-out!

[nvestysly]

Several RV CAVers met at the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa recently and staffed an information booth and provided daily seminars to help spread the word at Habitat for Humanity and more specifically, the RV Care-A-Vanner program.

At the SuperShow we made contact with over 1100 people via the booth and seminars. That's HUGE! Several hundred of those points of contact signed up for the monthly newsletter so we hope some new "builders" will be volunteering soon.

Don't overlook the fact that RV CAVers can volunteer in a variety of ways - it's not necessary to swing a hammer or operate a power tool - you can work with Collegiate Challenge to give direction to college students on spring break, take the training to become a Competent Person Safety Trainer (CPST) and train others on the topic of jobsite safety, help out in the ReStore or participate in any number of other ways to support the cause of building decent, affordable housing.

[woodosgood]

We just wrapped up a two week build in Americus, GA, the headquarters of Habitat for Humanity International. This build was different from others we've participated in (traditional builds, the Tampa RV show, and collegiate challenge) because we worked on model homes in the Global Village and a "conference center" that will be used by Habitat for public and company events.

Habitat has a 5 site 50 amp FHU campground located about 3 blocks from our work site and all of us worked on various projects ranging from hanging sheet rock, "mudding" sheet rock, sanding, painting (interior and exterior), building a stage, repairing mortar, replacing floor boards, repairing stairs, installing kitchen cabinets, etc.

Check out the website for the RV Care-A-Vanner builds scheduled for 2018 (and check back often, as others are added during the year) here:
RV Care-A-Vanners Program -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l

[Dan_S]

Originally Posted by woodosgood

We just wrapped up a two week build in Americus, GA, the headquarters of Habitat for Humanity International. This build was different from others we've participated in (traditional builds, the Tampa RV show, and collegiate challenge) because we worked on model homes in the Global Village and a "conference center" that will be used by Habitat for public and company events.

Habitat has a 5 site 50 amp FHU campground located about 3 blocks from our work site and all of us worked on various projects ranging from hanging sheet rock, "mudding" sheet rock, sanding, painting (interior and exterior), building a stage, repairing mortar, replacing floor boards, repairing stairs, installing kitchen cabinets, etc.

Check out the website for the RV Care-A-Vanner builds scheduled for 2018 (and check back often, as others are added during the year) here:
RV Care-A-Vanners Program -- Habitat for Humanity Int'l

I have done 2 builds this past summer/fall, Princeton, MN & Lawrence, KS. Have signed up for 1 next July. Hoping to find another 1 or 2 for next summer. Great experience and great people. Volunteered at the H4H restore in New Brighton, MN couple weeks ago. Will be doing that again soon.
Photos from Lawrence, KS. Their 99th build!

[nvestysly]

Thanks for posting pictures of your recent projects. It's always fun to see what's going on around the country.


Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners will have an information booth at the 2019 Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa, January 16 - 20.

If you're headed to the show, or know somebody who is, be sure to stop by the booth - we're located next to the Camping World "store" in building A. We'll have lots of smiling faces and friendly Care-A-Vanners to answer your questions about the program.