Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Our Sheetrock day
Measuring, cutting, special cuts around the many pipes, blueboard, wallboard, screw guns - all involved, all day. A few pictures to share -
You know it is a good day when...
You know it is a good day when you get a parking space in front of the house. And today was a very good day! We ended up being able to get three of the four work vehicles parked directly in front. We are working in a densely populated city neighborhood. Think detached houses with the width of a sidewalk between each...and very few driveways. That means this street is very parked up. That's an issue for us because of our desire to have the work vehicles nearby for reasons of convenience and security. Everyone on our crew brought tools. And knowing the extent of the renovation meant that all kinds of extra tools were brought. Everything from air compressors to chop saws to drill kits and lots of extension cords and many long squares for cutting drywall. Even if we are not bringing all the tools daily to the worksite, loading and unloading the cars and van is quite the process in the morning. Additionally because the physical space we are working in is tight, the vehicles have doubled as storage lockers. With this a neighborhood where we have been advised to not leave a vehicle unattended you can appreciate why convenient parking spaces are so prized. And yes, today was a very good day!
Good Morning from Atlantic City
Sun is poking its way between the clouds after a rainy day yesterday. We join for the hotel breakfast and then devotions by our cars before heading to the worksite. Today will be full of measuring, cutting, and hanging Sheetrock for 6 rooms in two apartments and painting (lots of painting). Wonderful crew chiefs Tim and Charlie with Fuller- skilled, great leaders, personable. And great comraderie with our Hancock friends - I am humbled by so many skilled folks.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Hi I'm Alex Swanson
I realized that not everyone may know who I am so I figured I should introduce myself.
Hi I'm Alex Swanson, brother of Ben and Max Swanson and eldest son of my lovely parents Amy and Lisle Swanson (My parents are also on this trip, my brothers unfortunately aren't). I work as a commercial plumber for a mechanical contracting company based out Belmont named F.A. Williams inc. I studied plumbing at minuteman vocational school as a post graduate and have worked for F.A. Williams for three years and completed five years of plumbing classes in all. I'm lucky in the fact that I thoroughly enjoy what I do. As a result, most of the time I can be found working. ( my folks can confirm this) I attended the Neon Kentucky trips all four years I was in high school so was excited at the opportunity to join this trip. (As my coworkers asked, "your taking time off from work to go work for free?") Well that's my story. Pleasure to meet you all!
Hi I'm Alex Swanson, brother of Ben and Max Swanson and eldest son of my lovely parents Amy and Lisle Swanson (My parents are also on this trip, my brothers unfortunately aren't). I work as a commercial plumber for a mechanical contracting company based out Belmont named F.A. Williams inc. I studied plumbing at minuteman vocational school as a post graduate and have worked for F.A. Williams for three years and completed five years of plumbing classes in all. I'm lucky in the fact that I thoroughly enjoy what I do. As a result, most of the time I can be found working. ( my folks can confirm this) I attended the Neon Kentucky trips all four years I was in high school so was excited at the opportunity to join this trip. (As my coworkers asked, "your taking time off from work to go work for free?") Well that's my story. Pleasure to meet you all!
I need Luigi!
Arrived in Atlantic City yesterday (Sunday) and quickly rushed to the kickoff dinner. It was here that I was informed that my plumbing experience was indeed going to be helpful and utilized during this build. The house which our entire group, including myself, were assigned to had two bathrooms and two kitchens worth of fixtures which were in need of disconnecting in order to complete demo and then later on install new fixtures. Needless to say I was happy to find out that I could bring a unique skill to the project.
By the end of dinner I had continued my path of discovery, I learned that there were two other plumbers who would gladly use my help on a few other plumbing projects around the legacy build. I was excited!
Today I once again expanded my knowledge. Apparently I was the only plumber out of some two hundred and fifty volunteers. The two men I had learned out about last night turned out to be an electrician and a man named Pete. Pete described himself as "knowing enough plumbing to be dangerous". Well the votes had been cast and I was elected as Head Plumber for ALL 22 projects in the legacy build.
Today I got the opportunity to visit and assess all the plumbing in all the houses. I'm excited for a full and interesting week. I'll finish today with this.... I visited twenty houses today, and I am now convinced there isn't a single vent in all of Atlantic City.
By the end of dinner I had continued my path of discovery, I learned that there were two other plumbers who would gladly use my help on a few other plumbing projects around the legacy build. I was excited!
Today I once again expanded my knowledge. Apparently I was the only plumber out of some two hundred and fifty volunteers. The two men I had learned out about last night turned out to be an electrician and a man named Pete. Pete described himself as "knowing enough plumbing to be dangerous". Well the votes had been cast and I was elected as Head Plumber for ALL 22 projects in the legacy build.
Today I got the opportunity to visit and assess all the plumbing in all the houses. I'm excited for a full and interesting week. I'll finish today with this.... I visited twenty houses today, and I am now convinced there isn't a single vent in all of Atlantic City.
Apple pie ministry
One the way down, we stopped for lunch at the Blue Colony Diner in Newtown, CT. The diner was filled with drawings of hearts in memory of the victims there. The waitresses all wore green ribbons.
The food was incredible. So good we couldn't leave without an apple pie to go. We met to meditate about the pie tonight.
Recap of the first day
On a very rainy day, we were pleased to learn that all our work was indoors. After morning devotions, we made our way to our assigned house - a 3 story home only two blocks from where all the casinos are, but in a residential area.
Louise lives upstairs with her son, and has two apartments on the ground floor. One happened to be vacant when Sandy came, but the tenants of the other left when the evacuation warnings came. Their apartment was a total loss - including all their furniture, clothes and computer.
Louise and her son stayed through the storm. It was a week until the waters receded enough for them to leave their house. Since the water came from the bay, it was very yucky, smelly water.
The street is densely packed row houses, narrow one-way street, no lawns. We were very lucky to find places to park our cars
At the start of the day, the first floor was completely gutted; just raw studs and derelict plumbing equipment. No lights, no water, no power. Alex capped off the remaining pipes, so we could disconnect the remaining fixtures.
Mid-morning, the power company came and connected our meter, so we actually had power and lights!!
Mostly we worked on walls: cleaning up some of the remaining debris, insulation, both foam and fiberglass, then a lot of sheet rock.
Here's Stewart looking for some food :-)
Joining our team was Georgia, from NJ (Cheryl and Mike worked with her in Louisville. Also joining us was Linda Fuller (Millard's wife) and her new husband Paul.
Posted as a group effort
Louise lives upstairs with her son, and has two apartments on the ground floor. One happened to be vacant when Sandy came, but the tenants of the other left when the evacuation warnings came. Their apartment was a total loss - including all their furniture, clothes and computer.
Louise and her son stayed through the storm. It was a week until the waters receded enough for them to leave their house. Since the water came from the bay, it was very yucky, smelly water.
The street is densely packed row houses, narrow one-way street, no lawns. We were very lucky to find places to park our cars
At the start of the day, the first floor was completely gutted; just raw studs and derelict plumbing equipment. No lights, no water, no power. Alex capped off the remaining pipes, so we could disconnect the remaining fixtures.
Mid-morning, the power company came and connected our meter, so we actually had power and lights!!
Mostly we worked on walls: cleaning up some of the remaining debris, insulation, both foam and fiberglass, then a lot of sheet rock.
Here's Stewart looking for some food :-)
Joining our team was Georgia, from NJ (Cheryl and Mike worked with her in Louisville. Also joining us was Linda Fuller (Millard's wife) and her new husband Paul.
Posted as a group effort
Visit from Joe
Joe came to visit at lunch time today. He wanted to check out all our sandwiches. He even attempted to leave a permanent mark on the premises ;-)
Joe is the neighbor's mutt - very friendly small dog.
Scott and Stewart
Joe is the neighbor's mutt - very friendly small dog.
Scott and Stewart
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Millard Fuller Legacy Build 2013
Millard Fuller Legacy Build 2013
Atlantic City, N.J. — April 28-May 3, 2013
Helping to repair homes for the families
affected by Hurricane Sandy!
The Millard Fuller Legacy Build, named in memory of Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing, is an annual, internationally-recognized time of building that brings attention to the need for simple, decent andaffordable housing.The 2013 Millard Fuller Legacy Build will help low-income residents of Atlantic City, N.J., who were affected by Superstorm Sandy in November. Volunteers and donations are needed to help repair more than 20 homes, most of which suffered major flood damage. Please join us April 28-May 3, 2013 in New Jersey with our hosts, The Fuller Center for Housing in the New Jersey Pines.
For more about the Fuller Center for Housing, click here.
On our way to Atlantic City
Fuller Center For Housing Legacy Build 2013 --Eleven Hancock Church members are traveling to Atlantic City on Sunday, April 28 with hundreds of volunteers from around the country to spend a week rehabbing 20 homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy for low-income and disabled families with the Fuller Center for Housing. Thanks to your generosity, we have raised $1,750 to help get these families back into their homes. Follow the group's adventures this week on our blog to experience with us the joy that the love of Christ and hard work can bring. Trip participants:
Tom and Daryl Battin
Stewart Deck
Robin DiGiammarino
Cheryl and Mike Kraley
Scott Martin
Lisle, Amy, and Alex Swanson
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