WestCMR allows employees two days of Volunteer Time Off (VTO) annually to support philanthropic activities. This year, our team members participated in Habitat for Humanity builds.
See what our team members had to say about their VTO experience from the first half of the year:
February 2024:
Rick Austin and Christina Gross–
“The team of Habitat workers were extremely helpful and some of them were actually in the program themselves. The team talked to us about their qualification processes and how each potential candidate goes through a rigorous program to be eligible for a house. This program teaches not only the fundamentals of home ownership, such as balancing their accounts, homeowners’ insurance, utilities, etc., but they also participate throughout the build and learn how to fix and repair issues that homeowners face.
We learned that each home built goes through multiple inspection processes, one of which gives them an Energy Star rating to help offset certain costs. This is where Christina and I helped during our volunteer hours by caulking each of the electrical outlets, light fixtures, and ductwork to make sure there were no gaps between the drywall and the fixtures themselves.
This helps to ensure the air from outside the home and attic does not interfere as much with the air on the home’s interior. Christina also helped install the countertops and some trim work throughout the home and used a finishing nail gun for the first time! Overall, it was a great learning experience from start to finish and knowing that we are helping families in need made it that much more memorable.”
“The employees were excellent guides/supervisors, making sure I had clear instructions and could perform each task. While the work was laborious, it was easy to grasp, and the team was very grateful for my help, which made the entire experience pleasant. I was happy to have the opportunity to contribute and volunteer my time and would be happy to do so again in the future.”
March 2024:
“This was my first Habitat for Humanity home build, and I have to say it was a great experience, but some serious hard work! When we first arrived, we reviewed our safety rules and an outline of the day. Our tasks for the day were cleaning out and organizing the garage, pulling up paper and tape from the floors, cleaning inside and outside the kitchen cabinets, and polishing windows inside and outside.
During our first break, our team lead, Jimmy from Habitat, went into detail about Habitat’s home qualification process and cleared up any speculations some may have on how someone inquires about one of these homes. Jimmy spoke about the vigorous process that one must go through, from completing courses on “How to be a good neighbor” to “How to take care of your lawn.” They must also complete 350-450 labor work hours for Habitat while still working full-time! Before the day I volunteered, I honestly wasn’t quite sure how one came by these homes. But I’m happy to say thanks to Jimmy i’m well educated on Habitat for Humanity now and am thankful to WestCMR for giving me so many opportunities to volunteer for our community.”
“During my volunteer day, we were doing the “final clean” of the home-building process. We did basic cleaning tasks like vacuuming and sweeping, as well as small detail tasks like peeling off all the tape covers in the refrigerator and picking off specks of paint from the windows. I have previously done a home build with Habitat, putting in windows and insulation, so this experience was a lot different!
On one of our breaks, our construction crew leader shared some background facts with us. The one that stood out to me was that the entire process of qualifying for a home with Habitat requires a lot of time and effort. He mentioned that if you are selected to be a candidate, you must complete 32 courses/classes on topics like budgeting, home maintenance, and how to be a good neighbor! On top of that, you have to volunteer 350-450 hours of “sweat equity” while working a full-time job and taking care of your family. Volunteering was a great time because I could spend time away from the office to familiarize myself with one of the organizations WestCMR sponsors and advocates for!”
May 2024:
“Eliana, Luke, Kim, and I got our hands dirty volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, and it was a great experience! Not only did we help build homes for families in need, but we also learned some useful skills along the way, from installing wood trim to confidently wielding a power saw (without losing any fingers). But beyond the practical know-how, I gained a deeper understanding of Habitat’s mission to provide affordable housing to those who need it most. It’s amazing how a few hours of sweat equity can make a big difference in someone’s life. I’m happy we got to spend the day volunteering and learning about a great cause.”
June 2024:
“I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity on June 6th, 2024, and my day began when I arrived at 8:30 am. The volunteer site was not far from WestCMR in Clearwater, FL. Habitat for Humanity helps people in need, specifically by building houses for families that need a place to live. These houses usually involve families who aren’t financially able to afford a place to live that is safe for their family. Not only do they build these houses around the United States, but they also branch out into other countries and help build homes for low-income families. After checking in, we shared our names and reviewed the tasks we would complete that day. Several of us volunteered that day, so the team leader assigned us a task depending on what we could do. I did this volunteer opportunity with my fellow WestCMR team members Camila and Rich. This was my first time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. The tasks I completed were cleaning the trim throughout the house, painting all the trim, and touching up the doors throughout the house that had scratches in the paint.”
At WestCMR, giving back to the community is a top priority. This year, WestCMR committed $100,000 toward a new community build for Habitat for Humanity. You can read more about it on our blog here. We encourage everyone to volunteer and help improve the world, one step at a time.