Today, we went to the new Habitat for Humanity warehouse outside of Lake Charles. Habitat just signed a lease to use the complex which has 19 offices and lots of garage space for storing the programs supplies. Before the purchase of this building, Habitat stored their tools and building supplies at different locations all over town, including a garage shared with the police force. We were the first people to enter the building in four years, since it was sold by an oil company. In the mean time the building has fallen into ruin, the carpet is moldy and there are rats and chewed up fabric everywhere. We went through the place cleaning up garbage, tearing up carpet, and getting ready to paint. At one point we saw a rat run behind some junk in the corner of the room where it was trapped. Eric, our team leader and myself started moving the junk around and the rat ran out the door, proceeded by girlish screams in the hallway. We found old black and white portraits of the oil tycoon who founded an oil company and built the building. We also found beer cans and what one team member claimed were marijuana seeds, from a purported group of illegal immigrants who were squatting in the building.
The Habitat for Humanity warehouse where we spent two days painting and cleaning.
FexEx special deliveries brought us PizzaHut for lunch. In the afternoon we painted two rooms which will be the entryways for building. We worked at this site because it rained all day, and for the same reason forwent a planned trip to a Gulf Coast beach.
Emily and Janet, our AmeriCorps helpers this week take a break inside a Habitat for Humanity house we worked on this week. While resting in this photo, both are very hard workers and served as tour guides, leaders and taught construction skills. Both Emily and Janet were quiet and kept to them selves when they were first assigned to our team, but over the course of the week have come out of their shells, and began to participate in our jokes and games. We really appreciate their help, they give so much of themselves to help others.
The most interesting thing I did today was talk with the two Ameri Corps members who work with out team. I call them our “embedded Ameri Corps members.” They are Emily and Janet and both are really chill and nice. They aren't our bosses, but do take a natural kind of leadership role in the group. Jody is 24, and graduated from St. John's College with a degree in politics. Interestingly enough, it is forbidden for the Corp's members to talk about their political opinions, it is also against the rules to swear and they are subject to random drug tests. Both Jody and Emily are from the Sacramento, California, office and they have a bit of a rivalry with the Corp's members from Denver who are also down here helping out with Alternative Spring Break.
Jody said that while their team has yet to be drug tested, the Denver team, which is newer than her team was just drug tested. She speculates that their might be some shady characters on the Denver team, some of which might not be around too much longer she added. We all know that she is talking about one specific Denver team member, we've nicknamed Stars, for the tattoos on her arms.
The Habitat for Humanity warehouse where we spent two days painting and cleaning.FexEx special deliveries brought us PizzaHut for lunch. In the afternoon we painted two rooms which will be the entryways for building. We worked at this site because it rained all day, and for the same reason forwent a planned trip to a Gulf Coast beach.
Emily and Janet, our AmeriCorps helpers this week take a break inside a Habitat for Humanity house we worked on this week. While resting in this photo, both are very hard workers and served as tour guides, leaders and taught construction skills. Both Emily and Janet were quiet and kept to them selves when they were first assigned to our team, but over the course of the week have come out of their shells, and began to participate in our jokes and games. We really appreciate their help, they give so much of themselves to help others. The most interesting thing I did today was talk with the two Ameri Corps members who work with out team. I call them our “embedded Ameri Corps members.” They are Emily and Janet and both are really chill and nice. They aren't our bosses, but do take a natural kind of leadership role in the group. Jody is 24, and graduated from St. John's College with a degree in politics. Interestingly enough, it is forbidden for the Corp's members to talk about their political opinions, it is also against the rules to swear and they are subject to random drug tests. Both Jody and Emily are from the Sacramento, California, office and they have a bit of a rivalry with the Corp's members from Denver who are also down here helping out with Alternative Spring Break.
Jody said that while their team has yet to be drug tested, the Denver team, which is newer than her team was just drug tested. She speculates that their might be some shady characters on the Denver team, some of which might not be around too much longer she added. We all know that she is talking about one specific Denver team member, we've nicknamed Stars, for the tattoos on her arms.
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