Habitat for Humanity RV Care-a-vanners

[bsirby]

We volunteered in our hometown area on weekends but this is a 2 week commitment and wondered if anyone can comment on their experiences. Since our travel cost are ours, even tho tax deductable, does it end up being a big expense? There are builds all over the US and of course we can choose which ones to go on. Thanks

[jackrobinryan]

Brenda and Frank,

did you ever pursue HFH Care A Vanner work? I see no replies from your note several months ago.

I have done several of the builds over the last few years and have nothing but positive experiences to share. I highly recommend them.

PM me if you want to talk directly.

jack

[nvestysly]

RV Care-A-Vanners has been on our radar screen for several years. We've longed for the day when we could take two weeks and help build a house. We've always enjoyed the one-day builds (on multiple weekends) done through our church and employer. So a two-week stint sounded like good fun, fellowship and adventure.

Our first time with RV Care-A-Vanners was a recent build in Dade City, Florida (just northeast of Tampa). The two week experience was everything we hoped it would be. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting the other RVers, meeting the local Habitat personnel, working on the house(s), meeting the new homeowner, etc.

Based on discussion with other first-timers and some who have Care-A-Vanned for a number of years, each build is different, but each is a wonderful experience. We liked it every bit as much as we hoped and have signed up for another and are tentatively planning on several more. They fill up fast so you have to watch the build list regularly so you can find locations that suit your destinations.

Click here for the build list

When we choose a location we look for volunteer camps with sewer hookups at the site. Some camps offer a dump location, some have a dump station off-site and some have a sewer hookup. We don't need to dump every day but we certainly cannot go two weeks without dumping. So be sure to look for that and be aware of your needs.

The volunteer camp sites will vary (sometimes dramatically) from one Habitat affiliate to another. The location in Dade City was several contiguous city lots that had been made into an RV area that would handle about 20 rigs parked closely together. We've been told some volunteer camps are in parking lots, some are in local campgrounds. It depends...

One fellow we worked with told us about a Beatitude that is not found in the Bible - blessed are the flexible for they shall not be permanently bent out of shape. This motto applies to working with Habitat in general and certainly applies to RV Care-A-Vanners. Approach your camping area and various work assignments with compromise and empathy and you'll be fine. You will likely not be staying in an RV resort and your work assignments may simply be picking up trash.

We've found Habitat allows each individual to work at their level of ability and desire. If you want to learn new skills at the job site there will be people around that will help. It's not an official training program by any means but people around you will help. There will be times when things are slow - ran out of materials, waiting for another group to finish, weather delays, and other problems. At that point just think about "blessed are the flexible...." and find another job - pick up nails, pick up trash, sweep the floor - whatever needs to be done.

Many Habitat affiliates also have other volunteer opportunities. Check with the location you are considering and see what's going on in the area. Some affiliates have a ReStore (second hand shop) that needs manpower, you may be able to help with homeowner training classes, you may be able to work in the office. There are volunteer possibilities other than swinging a hammer.

Keep track of your expenses. Items that can be attributed to the Habitat build are tax deductible. Check with an accountant but I suspect you can itemize your mileage to/from your home (or previous location), your meals (or at least some of them), your camp fee if there is one, and other related expenses.

In closing, we loved it and hope to help on many more builds. We're on a wait list for an upcoming build and we will be signing up for several more. I hope you enjoy your experience as much as we enjoyed our time.

Lucius

[bsirby]

Thank you for sharing Lucious. We did enjoy the local builds, so we will be sure to try one of the two-week builds.

[nvestysly]

I've attached pictures of our recent trip. The Habitat work was in Thibodaux, LA.

We were on the road a week or so before we went to Thibodaux - visiting Mobile, AL and the Biloxi, MS area and then headed to Louisiana. On the sightseeing leg of our LA trip, we stayed at Chicot State Park - enjoying some time Ville Platte, Eunice, Mamou and the surrounding area. If you ever have a chance to be in Eunice on Saturday evening be sure to check out the Cajun Radio Show held in the old theater.

Next it was on to Thibodaux for the Habitat work. We had lots of fun building and sightseeing in and around Thibodaux and Houma, LA. Every Habitat affiliate is different and each building project is different. We met interesting people and had a good time.

After we left Thibodaux we decided to spend a few days on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain. It's a beautiful area and we'd love to go back again sometime. We stayed at Fontainebleau State Park.

Here are the captions for the pictures:

1) Bourgeois Meat Market - heaven for a sausage lover. "Miracles In Meat" - what more needs to be said.

2) Angela celebrated a birthday when we were there. I did not ask her age.

3) Bill makes excellent bread and is a very good chef in general. This particular morning (Mardis Gras) he was making beignets.

4) Parade participants in Houma, LA

5) Piles and piles of beads. Where do they all come from and where do they go after the parade? Turns out many of the beads are recycled in a variety of ways - art projects, re-used next year, therapy for the home-bound, etc.

6) Can you say crawfish? This was a special lunch for college students helping with Habitat. The students came down from Ontario.

7) A UFO impaled itself on the side of an Airstream. This picture was taken at the Mystery Museum in Abita Springs, LA

8) Another picture from the Mystery Museum

9) Sunset over Lake Pontchartrain.

10) Yes, we did some work for Habitat - this shows one of the guys installing kitchen cabinets. Our group also installed ceramic tile, painted interior walls doors and trim as well as general cleaning and debris removal, installing insulation and some woodworking.

[jackrobinryan]

Baker Bill is the greatest!! He made an excellent tort for my birthday a couple of years ago.

What an GREAT guy, hopefully more irv2'er will get a chance to meet him.

jack

[Jymen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvestysly I've attached pictures of our recent trip. The Habitat work was in Thibodaux, LA. We were on the road a week or so before we went to Thibodaux - visiting Mobile, AL and the Biloxi, MS area and then headed to Louisiana. On the sightseeing leg of our LA trip, we stayed at Chicot State Park - enjoying some time Ville Platte, Eunice, Mamou and the surrounding area. If you ever have a chance to be in Eunice on Saturday evening be sure to check out the Cajun Radio Show held in the old theater. Next it was on to Thibodaux for the Habitat work. We had lots of fun building and sightseeing in and around Thibodaux and Houma, LA. Every Habitat affiliate is different and each building project is different. We met interesting people and had a good time. After we left Thibodaux we decided to spend a few days on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain. It's a beautiful area and we'd love to go back again sometime. We stayed at Fontainebleau State Park. Here are the captions for the pictures: 1) Bourgeois Meat Market - heaven for a sausage lover. "Miracles In Meat" - what more needs to be said. 2) Angela celebrated a birthday when we were there. I did not ask her age. 3) Bill makes excellent bread and is a very good chef in general. This particular morning (Mardis Gras) he was making beignets. 4) Parade participants in Houma, LA 5) Piles and piles of beads. Where do they all come from and where do they go after the parade? Turns out many of the beads are recycled in a variety of ways - art projects, re-used next year, therapy for the home-bound, etc. 6) Can you say crawfish? This was a special lunch for college students helping with Habitat. The students came down from Ontario. 7) A UFO impaled itself on the side of an Airstream. This picture was taken at the Mystery Museum in Abita Springs, LA 8) Another picture from the Mystery Museum 9) Sunset over Lake Pontchartrain. 10) Yes, we did some work for Habitat - this shows one of the guys installing kitchen cabinets. Our group also installed ceramic tile, painted interior walls doors and trim as well as general cleaning and debris removal, installing insulation and some woodworking.

Thanks for the work you all of you do. I hope you enjoyed your visit in Cajun country.

James