HANAPEPE — They cut lumber for trusses all last week, and on Tuesday started assembling the lumber into finished trusses, said Bob McNamara, construction superintendent for Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity. Kyle Wilson, James Comiskey, Katie Rausch and Steven Soto are
HANAPEPE — They cut lumber for trusses all last week, and on Tuesday started assembling the lumber into finished trusses, said Bob McNamara, construction superintendent for Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity.
Kyle Wilson, James Comiskey, Katie Rausch and Steven Soto are from Clinton, Conn. and Madison, Conn., and arrived here last Tuesday to volunteer at Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity.
“We’ve been cutting and building since we got here,” said Comiskey, who said the trip was motivated after they heard about it from a friend who was here with a Global Village group. “They’ve also had us working in the ReStore thrift shop to help clean up and stock.”
McNamara said this is just one group that’s here during the summer.
“In July, we get more Americorps volunteers who usually stay for about a year, and then there’ll be several other Global Village groups rotating through,” McNamara said.
Currently, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity is waiting on plan approvals from the county Planning Department for a home on one of the ‘Ele‘ele sites.
“Once the plans get approved, we’ll start building,” McNamara said. “Right now we’re just building trusses and getting ready for the approval before we start.”
Janis Benn, volunteer coordinator for Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity, said there are two Global Village groups scheduled, one in August and the other in September.
Jude Welling will be leading the August Global Village group, her first exposure to the Kaua‘i projects being through a group led by Thor Erickson in June 2009.
“She is very excited to be returning with her own team and to see all the work that has been completed since her last visit,” Benn said in an e-mail.
Merinda Bobeck will be leading the September team, this trip being her third to Kaua‘i to help build homes.
“Her first trip had her helping build homes in ‘Ele‘ele,” Benn said. “Last year she returned with her brother to build more homes in the same neighborhood. Merinda’s dedication to helping build homes for Kaua‘i families is an inspiration to everyone she works with.”
Benn said there are three additional teams scheduled to arrive on Kaua‘i between October and January.
She said local volunteers are always welcome to come and work alongside the Global Village volunteers.
For more information, visit www.kauaihabitat.org or call 335-0296.
