Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity News

Our Big Build was again a big success, but sometimes we forget all the volunteer work that goes on behind the scenes before and after the big event. The following photos feature some of our "regulars" who turn out week after week to "build homes, and build hope".*
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*Thanks to Sharon Graves and Mike Schleissmann for the photos

Rick signs our safety form

Max and Mel lay out interior walls

Tom and Max at "chopsaw"

Jim, Eric and Darrell survey the situation

Ron, Leeanne, Jim, Sharon and Leonard inspect work

Thanks to all the volunteers that were able to help with the “Big Build” yesterday. We had a great turnout with over 50 volunteers on site, a number of whom were new volunteers. President Jim McMeans thanked everyone for coming, and explained how groups would work together with an experienced red hat team leader. Our general contractor John Strobel gave us a short course on construction and how to interpret all the symbols marked on the lumber. Jim Spitzer informed everyone on the safety issues. People started gathering into work groups and the assembly and nailing of walls began. It’s an exciting and sometimes noisy time. Throughout the day you could see the excitement and joy on Diane Lewis’ face as she saw her house start to take shape.

The walls were first built in sections lying on the ground. As more walls were assembled the slab and ground around the slab took on the look of a giant puzzle or patchwork quilt. But suddenly one of the walls was raised into position and then another, and another, and the house took shape and you could start to see what each room would look like. By noon all the walls had been raised and braced. That’s teamwork!

The Wimberley Church of Christ had a wonderful picnic style lunch set up for us. Pastor Tim Moore offered grace, and then everyone filled their plates and enjoyed all the goodies. After lunch and time spent truing up the walls it was time to put up the sheathing. While several groups worked on that, others were busy adding top plates and blocking for the trusses. At 4:00 we called it a day. And what a day it was thanks to all of you.

I would also like to thank all those who worked on Thursday and Friday last week preparing for the Big Build. That group of volunteers cut all the lumber, drilled all the plate holes, marked all the plates, built the cripples, and kitted the walls that were on site for the Big Build.

We will continue framing the house with work days scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 8:30 each of those days.

To get to the site go west on RR 2325 and turn onto Woodcreek Drive. Turn right at the first stop sign, Presidio Road, and proceed to the second street on the left, Lone Star Trail. The home site is at 25 Lone Star Trail.

Lynn Williams, Volunteer Coordinator
Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity
512 847-0390

www.wimberleyhabitat.org
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Thanks to Jim McMeans for the below photos

Volunteers prep for Big Build

"Kitting" a wall

Opening remarks to Big Build crews

Assembling a wall

Raising a wall

Volunteers gather for lunch

Thanks to John Strobel and crew, the foundation and driveway are ready for our Big Build Saturday. Hope to see you there!

Foundation for House #11

Hello Volunteers,

We have scheduled our BIG BUILD SATURDAY for March 29. For our new volunteers this is a day that is reminiscent of an old fashion barn raising. By the end of the work day we will have the house framed and hopefully the roof decked.

We’ll get an early start, 8:30 to 9:00 am, stopping for lunch around 12:00, and continuing to work until about 4:00 pm. All framing materials will be in place for you. Plan for all day if you can or just part if you have other commitments. Dress in comfortable work clothes and sturdy shoes. Bring a hammer and tool belt or nail pouch. A Porta-Potti is on site.

As I mentioned, lunch will be served around 12:00. Lunch will be provided, sandwiches, chips, etc. as well as soft drinks.

Everyone must sign a Liability Release Form before beginning work. I have attached the required form as a Word document. It will help speed up our getting everyone started by 8:30 or so if you could print out the form, fill in the blanks, sign at the bottom and give it to Jim McMeans or myself at the work site on the 29th.

To get to the site go west on RR 2325 and turn onto Woodcreek Drive. Turn right at the first stop sign, Presidio Road, and proceed to the second street on the left, Lone Star Trail. The home site is at 25 Lone Star Trail.

Looking forward to a great day. Thanks for your support of the Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Lynn Williams
Volunteer Coordinator
Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity
512 847-0390
www.wimberleyhabitat.com

A crowd of eager supporters gathered on Saturday, February 23 to witness the official
groundbreaking for Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity’s eleventh house at 25 Lone
Star Trail in the Eagle Rock Subdivision.

Pastor Mark Bryant of Wimberley’s First Baptist Church conducted the ceremony with
the assistance of WVHH’s board of directors. Cherie Chilcote and Robert Cox, two
partners in earlier Habitat houses attended, along with numerous WVHH volunteers.

The partner in building this year’s house is Diane Lewis, who has a 2 ½ year-old
daughter, Carleigh, and is an employee of Deer Creek Nursing Center. Like partner
families in previous Wimberley Habitat houses, Diane will contribute 300 hours of sweat
equity toward building her new home, and Diane’s brother and many friends will help
her.

This year’s Habitat house occupies a large corner lot with a redbud tree at 25 Lone Star
Trail in the Eagle Rock Subdivision. Attendees found that the foundations have been
surveyed and that preparations for pouring concrete are well advanced. After the
foundations are ready, Jim McMeans, President of Wimberley Valley Habitat, expects to
schedule a “Big Build Saturday” during March. When the house is completed this fall,
Wimberley Valley Habitat will sell the house to Diane at its actual cost under a long-
term, interest-free loan from Wimberley Habitat. Her mortgage payments for the house will go
into a fund for building future Habitat homes.

Many forms of community support keep the costs of Habitat houses affordable for its
partner families. Fundraisers include raffles on WVHH-built playhouses in Hill Country
style, with a July 4th drawing as part of the Jubilee festivities. Over forty walkers turned
out on November 10, 2007 for the first annual WALK 4 HABITAT. The Wimberley
Merchants Association will sponsor a Sidewalk Sale of the Wimberley Square this March
1 and 2, and a percentage of the profits will go to WVHH. Sales at the Village Store
generate a regular flow of sustaining funds in direct proportion to the number of Habitat
volunteers who also volunteer hours there. Sustaining members of WVHH come from
many Wimberley Valley churches, providing volunteer hours and serving on the WVHH
board. In addition, suppliers and contractors provide most materials and services at cost
or with deep discounts, and volunteers pitch in with dirty work that does not require
specialized or licensed workers. Volunteers work under the leadership of seasoned
professionals. Often churches will designate work days for their members; eg, Wimberley
Presbyterian Church volunteers traditionally gather to paint the interior of each house on
a designated Saturday. Food and fun are always part of that agenda.

Come join us as we work on Diane Lewis’ home. Volunteer Coordinator Lynn Williams
will keep established volunteers advised by e-mail as to work days, and new volunteers
may sign up to work by going to our website, http://www.wimberleyhabitat.org.
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WVHH thanks volunteer Richard Barnett for contributing to this article

WALK 4 HABITAT A SUCCESS.

Early morning showers did not dampen the spirit and enthusiasm of over forty
walkers who turned out for the WALK 4 HABITAT on Saturday morning,
November 10th. Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity Board member Leeanne
Ruane, organizer of the event, along with volunteer Brent Pulley led the group
from the First Baptist Church along Old Kyle Road after Constable Darrell Ayers
temporarily closed the road for the walkers. Habitat walkers trooped through
town, across Cypress Creek, and down Mill Race Lane where many saw the
historic millrace for the first time.

Walkers then continued toward the Community Center and visited the Patsy
Glenn Refuge where Master Naturalists and avid birders Jane Little and Cara
Wernli gave walkers a tour of the Refuge, a two acre preserve for native species
and birds. Upon their return to the Baptist Church, walkers were invited to stroll
down to the Blue Hole for refreshments and a quick look at the famous swimming
hole. Habitat Treasurer Leonard Denney said “I appreciate the support of the
businesses and individuals who have made this walk a success.” All funds
raised from the WALK 4 HABITAT will go toward construction of Habitat’s
eleventh home in Wimberley.

Habitat walker Charlie Fleming said that this walk had shown him some of the
Wimberley history he had never before seen. Ace Hardware owner Richard
Kilcrease and wife Angela said “We enjoyed meeting so many supporters of
Habitat and look forward to working with Habitat on the construction of the next
home.”

Ready for Walk

Walk organizer Leanne Ruane chats with Charlie Fleming

WVHH President Jim McMeans talks to Constable Darrell Ayers

Constable gives advice for safe walk

On the road again

Cookie and Cherie dodge raindrops