Habitat for Humanity

City of Spruce Grove staff

More than 20 City of Spruce Grove employees got a lesson in home construction on March 10, 2010, as they pitched in to help at the local Habitat For Humanity project on Spruce Ridge Road.

The charitable organization completed six houses for families who could not afford a conventional mortgage, using mostly volunteer labour. The families who live in the houses were required to contribute 500 hours of sweat equity by participating in the construction.

“There are a lot of hard working people in our community who can’t afford a conventional mortgage,” said Long Range Planner Lindsey Butterfield. “Paying off $250,000 over 25 or 30 years can be manageable, but once you add down payments and interest, it’s out of reach for a lot of people.” 

It was a frosty morning as the City of Spruce Grove volunteers donned work gloves, steel-toed shoes and hard hats and set to work hanging drywall and installing insulation. Many of them usually work at desk jobs, and were excited to have an opportunity to do something different for a day.

“It was physically challenging yet an absolutely enjoyable learning experience,” said Community and Protective Services General Manager Jackie Araujo. “I have a whole new appreciation for the skills and abilities of my colleagues.”

Some of those colleagues had never swung a hammer or driven a screw, but after a quick safety orientation and some basic instruction they found themselves cutting drywall, driving screws and stuffing insulation.

For some, working on a Habitat project was something that they had been considering for a while, and the experience proved to be fulfilling enough that they want to do more.

“I’ve always wanted to do this sort of thing,” said Senior Parks and Open Space Operator Doug Reid. “It was certainly a good opportunity. I think I’ll try and get in some more of these.”

For Human Resources Administrator Terry Jensen, it was a way to give back. “It gives one a sense of community and helping the less fortunate,” she said. “It was also a team-building experience for our organization.  ‘Many hands make light work’ as the saying goes.”

After refuelling with a hot lunch donated by other city staff, the crew got back to work in the afternoon and by the end of the day had completely insulated one house, and finished hanging drywall throughout most of another.

“I was thoroughly amazed at the amount of work that was completed by our crew,” said Reid. “At the end of the day, I realized that I have some muscles that I haven’t used for a while.”

Araujo summed it up by noting the impact the staff’s contribution will have on them and their community. “It is extremely rewarding to know that our individual and collective efforts on just one day will truly make a difference in the lives of six families within our community,” she said.