Full Circle

We have officially come full circle, the AmeriCorps year will be complete in exactly 1 week. How quick time flies. The last few weeks in Habitat were great, it was such a fantastic project with really great people. We managed in our time there to help complete the second story of phase one in Millstone and the first story of phase two. It was a lot of progress to make and it was pretty impressive to see.

We have now almost completed our last week of hours. How great is that, I'll be home next week Thursday and I'm so very happy about it. This week has just been a normal transition week except a few extra things since we have to turn in a bunch of stuff. Tonight is also Ameri-prom or Ameri-corpse, yup zombie themed. Basically this weekend will be full of packing and going out with everyone here for a last hurrah. See all ya'll next week :]

Trusses in phase 2

Phase 1

phase 2

Me and Ella decking

Team at the CCC event

The team and Wilmington Habitat Staff

Halloween

As the year winds down

Well I'm officially almost done with my AmeriCorps year, crazy huh? I have to say as our last project working with Habitat for Humanity here in Wilmington, DE has been absolutely wonderful. The amount of things that we get to learn and work on is incredible, and the opportunity to lead volunteers has been such a great experience. I mean where else would I learn how to put up walls or what shaft liner and sheething are. I have absolutely no complaints about this project whatsoever, it has so far been a wonderful experience. The individuals we get to work with are fantastic and really it's just a great project. I really wish AmeriCorps would include more projects like this, it is not very often that you are able to learn so many new skills as well as work with other volunteers in a leadership position.

Anyway all we have left is a week and a half here at Habitat and I have to say I wish we had been here longer. The exciting thing is I'll be home in 25 days! Although I still do not have a job so I'm just stressing a bit over that. Oh well, here's some pictures!

The purple stuff is shaft liner

Phase 1

Phase 2

The team!

DJ and I with Vance Worley from the Phillies

Sheething

Habitat is amazing

So I have to say I love our project, absolutely every single bit of it. Our site supervisors and sponsor is fantastic, the work we're doing is great, the housing while a tad cramped really isn't bad. Overall I have to say I'm just really enjoying what we're doing. So far I've learned how to install breaker clips, worked on some house framing, put up tyvec and siding, and done some demo. It's just going really well. Next week we're switching up groups so it looks like I'll have a chance to work on second story house framing which I'm pretty pumped about. That's really all, anyway here's some pictures.

Caulking in Camden

Putting walls together

The team after we put together two walls

Installing breaker clips

Pulling walls out

The start of the new houses

Installing siding

We finally have a project

Our team finally has a legitimate project for fourth round, after almost 4 weeks. We started out in Massachusetts on a project that did not have enough work for us, we then got pulled back to the Point being told we would be going to Harrisburgh, PA to work with FEMA and then that fell through. Then after our team leader found us an incredible sponsor through Habitat Camden we were then told we weren't allowed to continue there due to procedural issues. So finally after an entire month our team will be heading to Wilmington, Delaware to work with Newcastle County Habitat for Humanity.

I am excited, we do get to finally have a solid project with Habitat which I know I personally and the rest of my team have wanted since day 1. The unfortunate aspect of all of this is what it took to get us here and the fact that we had found a wonderful Habitat to work for in Camden. It's been incredibly stressful and tiring having to drive an hour and a half to and from work everyday and just very disappointing knowing that we put all this work in with Habitat Camden and are not able to stay with them. I am truly hoping this project is very well planned out and goes well for our team because that never seems to happen. So I'm hoping we finish strong and have a good end to the year. 47 days. Here's some pictures.

Me painting

The team and Habitat workers at the site

The team outside Habitat Camden

Switching up the projects

So our fourth round project is about to change, we've been working with Springfield Longterm Recovery the past week and are leaving tomorrow. The project had the premise of being very good and organized but the group is just not ready to have a team here, there is just not enough work scheduled for us to do. Instead we are leaving tomorrow and have no idea what we're doing. Potentially we're going to be going to Delaware to work at a state park building a boardwalk for a week then heading to Pennsylvania, or depending on how the meeting went with the JFO in Pennsylvania we may be going there right away. Basically we have no idea, flying by the seat of our pants. Oh well, I'll update when we find out. Here's some pictures.

The team hanging out

Matt lifting large logs

Monson, Massachusetts

Fourth round has begun in lovely Massachusetts, no really it's incredibly nice here. We're staying in Monson, MA at the Monson Developmental Center. It's pretty nice, beds, internet, and Moose 7. Our team is working in Springfield with Springfield Community Together which formed after the June tornadoes here in MA. Currently we're doing a lot of clerical work, creating a logo, creating a website, making a database, coming up with a new name, finding organization to request volunteers and resources from. It's actually really interesting and really enjoyable for once, it looks like it's going to be an excellent project. Starting on the 16th we start working at The Big-E, which is a local festival (carnival rides, food, animals, etc), and then October 1-5th we get to participate in the 25 in 5. Which is where we help rebuild 25 homes in 5 days, needless to say we're incredibly stoked about that. Overall it looks like this is going to be a really good project in a really good location.

Soon to be fourth round

I'm absolutely awful at staying updated lately. Currently we've pretty much finished our transition week, fall break started last night so I have a nice four day weekend to relax. Unfortunately my plans to go to Atlantic City completely fell through which needless to say sucks. Right now we're waiting to hear the for sure on what our fourth round project is going to be. We're supposed to head to Springfield, MA to work on long term disaster recovery, so warehousing, case management, debris removal, a 5 day blitz build, etc. Although since Irene passed through there is a chance we'll be switched to an immediate disaster recovery project, most like Vermont. We should hear by Tuesday, I'll update then. Here's a picture or two from capture the flag!

Me and Alexa

If you can't tell the Ravens were blue