Volunteers fend off rain to help Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity’s Carter build day
HOUSATONIC — While bundled in layers of clothing and safety gear, about 35 volunteers braved the rain on Friday to build homes at Prosperity Way.
Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity hosted its build day for the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which celebrates the legacy of the late president and first lady. The Carters were known for their commitment to Habitat for Humanity’s mission of bringing affordable housing to everyone.
The volunteers showed up to Prosperity Way, just off of North Plain Road in Housatonic, to assemble the modular homes, completing outdoor projects while the weather held. When the rain came, they switched to indoor work.
Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity will have six homes completed in the next few months, officials said, with an additional 14 coming in later phases.
Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity CEO Carolyn Valli, in pink, looks at one of the six homes in the process of being built.
Friday was the first day Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity hosted a Carter build day, but it wasn’t the first for CEO Carolyn Valli.
“I’ve participated in other affiliates,” Valli said, referring to the International Habitat for Humanity build days.
“But one of the things that they’ve been very concerned about is, across the country in rural communities, you don’t get the amount of attention,” she said.
That is why International Habitat for Humanity began the Rural Rally, which coincided with the annual Carter build day this year.
This allows regional Habitat for Humanity chapters to “bring attention and advocacy to projects like this that, without government support, is going to be very difficult to complete,” Valli said.
Although it is the Central Berkshire branch’s first time hosting a Carter work project day, the organization had around 35 volunteers show up to aid in construction.
Some of the attendees — like retiree Alan Kulberg, who previously worked in construction — are “core volunteers” for the organization. Kulberg, for example, volunteers “a good three or four days a week, just because I love doing it.”
“I like to do construction. I like the mission of providing housing for people,” he said.
Also among the volunteers were groups from Greylock Federal Credit Union, Team Pretty Tough and even state Sen. Paul Mark showed up.
For many volunteers, the community and camaraderie Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity has built makes the work worth it — even when it rains.
“Carolyn does a great job of keeping people in the know,” said Stacey Carver, the founder of Team Pretty Tough. “So people in the community who want to help the community are pretty much avid followers and try to help whenever we can.”
This energy radiated across the build site as volunteers darted between buildings, helped the main construction crew and took pit stops at the snack station.
“I know our team is excited ’cause we always like trying a new challenge and a different type of project,” Carver said.
What makes this project unique is the fact that the homes are modular; Kulberg estimated that the homes came to the site “70 percent done.”
Six homes are currently under construction, and Valli said they should be done within the next “four months” if the weather is good. Although the homes don’t have a list price yet, Valli said Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity is “pretty committed to getting a finalized number within the next 30 days.”
Four of the modular homes that will soon be completed. In front of the homes is a row of volunteers’ cars.
Throughout the day, the crew battled inclement weather, Valli said. This meant that build plans were constantly in flux, but each volunteer found something to be excited about.
“I’m excited to learn how to build the stoop, because that’s new to me,” Carver said. “I love demo work too, but I’ve done that, so I’m letting others do that today.”
For Valli, who was hands-on during the event, the day’s highlight was much simpler.
“Talking all of the people here, the volunteers here,” Valli said. “I always like to find out, like, what is their why?”
