Rewarding Experience Helps Habitat Volunteer

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Habitat Changes Lives

Rewarding Experience Helps Habitat Volunteer

2008 was a very hard year for Rick Jeary, having been laid off from his job; he didn’t know how he was going to proceed with his future.

"I had heard of the great work Habitat was doing in places like Haiti and Louisiana. Wanting to keep busy, I went on the Internet to sign on and started working [last] June on weekends. Come August, I was working four days a week at the site".

- Rick Jeary, Habitat for Humanity volunteer

Volunteering On-Site Gave Rick Jeary Purpose

Rick volunteered working on a duplex at a Habitat for Humanity Montreal build, which also allowed him to discover if construction was for him.

"I’ve always been a handyman. I wanted to see if I liked it enough to make a living of it."

Having returned from volunteering in Africa this spring, Rick is planning to enroll in carpentry and safety courses.

But he had more obstacles besides unemployment – while volunteering; he also battled and successfully overcame an addiction problem.

Rick Jeary doing what he loves – volunteering his skills on a Habitat build site.

Pride Received from Hard Work, and His Daughter

With all his efforts, and approximately 400 volunteer hours with Habitat, Rick

Jeary was rewarded by being named Habitat for Humanity Montreal’s 2008 Volunteer of the Year.

Having known what it was like growing up on the streets in his younger years, he is extremely proud to know that his time and energy went into giving two families a safe place to live. His daughter Stephanie sees the change in her father, for the better.

"I wanted to give back to the community, but it appears Habitat has given me far more than I gave them".

Habitat for Humanity changes lives, thanks to your support!

If you would like to donate to help make more of these volunteer experiences possible and help families escape the poverty cycle, please click here, or to volunteer on a build site in your area, please click here.