4304 and 4308 14th Ave.
PARKERSBURG - Those who volunteer their time to work with Habitat For Humanity do it to give something back, but many get so much more from it.
Throughout the weekend over 225 volunteers helped with the Parkersburg Bicentennial Habitat Blitz Build of the 50th and 51st homes by the Wood County Habitat for Humanity on Saturday and Sunday.
The houses at 4304 and 4308 14th Ave. in south Parkersburg were being built with the help of local volunteers and the "Habitat Road Trip Crazies," a group of volunteers who travel around the country to build homes in two days.
Many volunteers came in from all over the area while some of the "Habitat Road Trip Crazies" came in from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and elsewhere.
"Things are going great," said Alvin Phillips, executive director for Wood County Habitat for Humanity. "It has been a wonderful two days. I think everyone is tired, but we have had great success."
Local volunteer Kevin McCarthy, a retired DuPont employee, describes himself as an "obsessed regular" who wanted to give something back.
"I have been doing this since 2002," he said. "It is a lot of fun."
The outpouring of emotion is something that still gets to him from the people receiving the houses to the people who helped build them. All of the volunteers were touched by the thanks they have received from both families. There are people he has helped build other houses in the past who still come up to him and gives him hugs and so on for everything he has done.
"That is what you keep coming back for," McCarthy said. "We get some of these real macho guys to help out.
"When it comes time to give the keys to the families, they get big tears coming down their face as well."
He has had a lot of camaraderie with many of the regular local volunteers, developing friendships with many, including Greg Nolan who has been involved with Habitat For Humanity locally for a few years.
"We did not know each other until we started helping out," Nolan said. "That has been a big part of it."
Nolan said there is a satisfaction of seeing the families when the house is ready.
Their eyes light up when they see their house finished," he said. "They are here putting their time in and working beside you, that is a phenomenal experience.
"They can bring you to tears and bring everyone else to tears, but it is good tears. When you are retired and want something to do, what is better than giving your time and service?"
Nolan said they are continually learning things with each new build, things he would not have known otherwise. He was involved in a house build on Avery Street where a kid was in wheelchair. The child was so excited that his family was going to have a house.
"That is part of it," Nolan said. "We think we are doing something to help someone else, but there is so much more given back to us.
"We take away a lot more than we ever give."
At 4 p.m. Sunday, the roofs and siding on both houses were almost done. Although Phillips expected most people to be done by 5 or 6 p.m., he believed many wouldn't stop until they finished whatever they were working on.
"Some people will be close on getting something done and they will stay until they are finished," Phillips said. "We have just had a really good experience."
The homes are for Kristy and Jeff Jacoby, who will live in house 50 at 4304 14th Ave., and Andy Stickle, who will own house 51 at 4308 14th Ave. Each family has four children. The new homeowners were working this weekend with many of the volunteers.
The blitz build had around 200 volunteers Saturday and around 125 on Sunday with many people coming both days, Phillips said.
"We have had people constantly coming in to help," he said.
Dottie Birch of Charlotte, N.C., was one of the "Habitat Road Trip Crazies" who came in for the build.
"It is the feeling you are doing some good," she said. "It is much more rewarding than just giving a monetary gift.
"It is an opportunity to see where your effort is going, to see the families and kids this is helping. It is also good to be able to meet all of these wonderful people everywhere we go. It really warms your heart."
Although the exteriors of the homes were mostly done and a lot of the plumbing and electric work was done on the inside, there is still a lot that will need to be done in the coming weeks, including putting in insulation, hanging drywall and more.
"We are going to continue to need more volunteers," Phillips said. "We work on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
"We have another house under roof on Chesterville Road. We will continue working on these three houses over the next few weeks. Hopefully, we will get all three done by sometime in August or early September."
Many area businesses and building companies donated material, equipment and more to the build with some businesses making special deliveries Sunday to make sure the work crews would have enough materials available.
"We have been very thankful for the help we have had this weekend," Phillips said. "It has been that kind of wonderful community spirit coming together for this."
