Inspiring Hope - Making Service your work

 Inspiring Hope - Join me as I feature incredible people who are making a difference for families affected by the wildfires in Lake County, California.  I have the privilege of meeting homeowners, volunteers and local business leaders who are making Lake County a better place.  Today how young people are making a different through the AmeriCorps program.  

Follow our series and read our previous blog, featuring a long term volunteer whose "working" this fall at Hope City at http://cityofhopeforkids.blogspot.com/2016/11/inspiring-hope-volunteer-for-long-term.html

Hope City coordinates a wide variety of volunteer teams, but we're enthusiastic about hosting an AmeriCorps team for the next year.  Our first group, Blue 2 arrived November 4 and has been working on all five of our current home rebuilds.

Blue 2 AmeriCorps team with representatives of Hope City and NCO.

An AmeriCorps team includes members from 18 to 24 who commit to volunteer service for one year.  This team of 13 members hails from across the country and is staying in Middletown within walking distance of four of our work sites.  If you're in town during their stay, you may spot them in the khaki work pants and gray shirts, sporting the AmeriCorps logo.  They are here committed to helping with the Hope City rebuilds.

Our partner, North Coast Opportunities, is the sponsor agency for the team.  They completed all the paperwork and have provided great support.

Crew members have already installed insulation, put up drywall, installed siding, painted, installed windows and doors and prepped for concrete work.  And they are only on their second week of work.

The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps is a full-time residential program for men and women, ages 18-24, that strengthens communities while developing leaders through direct, team-based national and community service.

Join us in thanking our AmeriCorps volunteers!  We're thankful for their hard work and great attitudes!

Hope City:  Rebuilding homes, restoring lives!

Inspiring Hope - A volunteer for the long term

 Inspiring Hope - Join me as I feature incredible people who are making a difference for families affected by the wildfires in Lake County, California.  I have the privilege of meeting homeowners, volunteers and local business leaders who are making Lake County a better place.  Today we highlight a volunteer who has gone beyond just a week of serving at Hope City. 

You can view our previous blog about one of our business partners who brings the lumber to the worksite and so much more. http://cityofhopeforkids.blogspot.com/2016/11/inspiring-hope-rebuilding-partner-with.html


Paul Elmore pulled into Middletown Central Park, set up his fifth wheel trailer and headed inside to meet the group who was in the for the week.  He had been looking forward to volunteering with Hope City since early in 2016, but other obligations kept him busy until September.  Paul would join the volunteer team in camp and spent the week making friends and helping to build.

Paul's original plan was to drive from his home in Tehachapi, California and volunteer for two weeks, then spend a week at home and come back to volunteer for two weeks, but when he came, he stayed for five weeks and worked each week with whatever team was in town.  Paul's extended stay was made easier when his wife made the 6 hour journey to visit for a week.

Paul Elmore shares during a family night evening with volunteers and homeowners.

As a long term volunteer, Paul has filled a variety of roles and worked on all of the home sites.

A foundation coming together on Cobb.

Paul said, "I get more out of volunteering that I give."  He has worked hard on a variety of building projects.  He fills in where needed and even has helped with the grilling for family night.

Grilling with style.

Paul first connected with Hope Crisis Response Network in 2012 when he was looking for a place to volunteer and since he grew up in Indiana, he wanted to help with a small community in Southern Indiana that had been devastated by tornadoes.  He planned a trip to Henryville and upon coming into town was sent to meet with Kevin Cox.  Paul worked one day with another organization and then spent a day at a HCRN build site.  He was impressed with the quality of their leadership and the quality home they were building and continued to work with them.  He finished out the week volunteering with them and then planned a trip and brought out 19 people for a week. 

Paul said, "I was impressed with their focus on devoting money raised for rebuilding, going strictly for rebuilding.  I've been promoting HCRN ever since that first trip."

Paul has been a great volunteer this fall and we look forward to his continuing presence at Hope City.

You can join Hope City as a long term volunteer as well.  We have RV hook-ups available and plenty of opportunities to serve.

Contact us today to join Paul as a long term volunteer here at Hope City!

Rebuilding homes, restoring lives!

Inspiring Hope - A Rebuilding Partner with all the right stuff

Inspiring Hope - Join me as I feature incredible people who are making a difference for families affected by the wildfires in Lake County, California.  I have the privilege of meeting homeowners, volunteers and local business leaders who are making Lake County a better place.  Local partners make the difference in our rebuilding projects  Today we focus on a family owned lumber yard that's putting together the material for a winning home for Lake County residents.

Read our previous post about A Hoosier Connection at http://cityofhopeforkids.blogspot.com/2016/11/inspiring-hope-hoosier-connection.html

Kelseyville Lumber and Supply carries a lot more than just 2x4's and the Hope City staff is very appreciative of their many supplies.  Mark Borghesani leads this family owned business that started back in 1956.  Mark was one of the business leaders that HCRN CEO Kevin Cox and Construction Manager Kevin Moss sought out early in their work in Lake County.

Mark Borghesani from Kelseyville Lumber

Kevin Cox was looking for a company that could provide the materials they would need for the homes they were planning to rebuild for fire survivors.


Mark said recently, "I met a lot of people in business and even at the first meeting with them, I realized that they knew what they were talking about, I knew this project was something that could benefit a lot of people."

So the team worked together, Mark looked over the Hope City home building plans and building materials list and put together a cost estimate.  Mark said, "I felt it was very important to be a resource for them.  Companies outside of the area were recommending Kelseyville Lumber to them.  They are spending dollars locally which helps local families and of course they are rebuilding homes for needy families."

He said, "Our partnership offers Hope City value, we have the materials they need, but we are also able to deliver in a timely manner, help with things like lifting trusses onto the house and placing roof materials on the roof."  Kelseyville Lumber is in the unique position of being able to provide all the building materials necessary for the Hope City rebuilds.  

Mark said, "I talk with local contractors who see a house going up and think that Hope City is taking business away from them, but when you explain that they are building for a family that would never be able to hire a contractor, a job that would never go out for bid, they realize the need for Hope City."

Our staff is so thankful for Mark, Kelseyville Lumber, the wonderful staff both in the store and on the road.  

We couldn't build homes without a good supplier and we have a great supplier in Kelseyville Lumber!

     

Inspiring Hope - A Hoosier Connection

Inspiring Hope - Join me as I feature incredible people who are making a difference for families affected by the wildfires in Lake County, California.  I have the privilege of meeting homeowners, volunteers and local business leaders who are making Lake County a better place.  Hope City volunteers travel from across the country to work on our building projects.  Today we focus on two Hoosiers who have made the trip to California twice their year. 

Read our previous post about  a disaster case manager who stepped up following the Valley Fire. 
http://cityofhopeforkids.blogspot.com/

Indiana is more than 2,200 miles away from Middletown, California, but two men have made the trip twice this year to serve with Hope City and help rebuild homes.  

Terry Keck, left and Ken Troutman, right, working in a home installing plumbing.

Ken Troutman organizes work teams around the world, in fact he travels overseas about six times each year, but says it's been a joy to volunteer here.  Ken says, "The fire brought a tremendous amount of trauma and loss and I can't imagine driving away from your home as the fire consumes it, yet you can feel the love in this place."  Ken brought a team in March that included Terry Keck, another volunteer from Northern Indiana.  The two flew to California in October for their second trip and joined other volunteers on the rebuilding project.  

Foundation work at a home site on Cobb.

The two men worked this week at laying out and wiring rebar for a foundation on Cobb.  They also installed plumbing for two homes in Middletown.  

Ken Troutman working on a plumbing connection.

Terry said he enjoyed volunteering in Lake County, "we've enjoyed the people we work with and the families we work for, you can see the sincerity in their responses as they thank us for helping with their homes.  They have been wonderful to meet and help."  

New plumbing fixtures in a rebuilding project in Middletown.

Terry expects to return for two trips again next year and will likely bring his wife along.  She was part of the March team that worked in Middletown.  Terry said, "I'll be praying for you, praying that the mission continues and for each person at Hope City."

Ken Troutman said God sparked his interest in volunteer work teams about 15 years ago when he traveled to Ecuador with Kevin Moss, construction manager at Hope City.  At that time, Moss was leading overseas work crews.  Ken says his greatest joy is inspiring others to travel overseas to volunteer, but he loves working in the United States and bringing volunteers who are not interested in international travel.  

Ken's volunteer work included our first Hope City rebuilding camp in Gulfport, Mississippi, following Hurricane Katrina.  He towed one of the units to Gulfport when Hope Crisis Response Network set up a rebuilding camp.  He also coordinated several work teams who helped build homes in Gulfport.  

We're thankful for volunteers whether they are long-time friends or new friends.  Hope City staff focuses on providing a good team experience where volunteers have meaningful work with the proper tools and materials on hand, good food after a hard day of work and a good night's rest.  

Some of our October volunteers, from Indiana and the Bridge Church in Santa Rosa.

Have you planned your volunteer trip?  We are scheduling teams for 2017 right now.  Call or email today and we'll get you the information you need to plan a trip.  

You can rebuild homes, restore lives!