Volunteers needed before Habitat ‘blitz’

Published 2:08 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

SNOQUALMIE – Tom Donnelly could use a few extra hands.

Not for himself, mind you. The project manager for Habitat for Humanity of East King County needs volunteers to prepare the organization’s site on Snoqualmie Ridge for a “blitz build” to be held in August. In a two-week period, 20 houses will be constructed, giving low- to middle-income Valley residents a chance to own their own home.

To ensure that the blitz build starts off on the right foot, volunteers have been busily working over the past several weeks.

“We basically are trying to get all the foundations in so the site will be ready in August,” said Donnelly. He added that he is hoping a community center at the site can be completed, so it can serve as a central staging area during the two-week event, which will take place Aug. 6-18.

Debbie Springer, volunteer coordinator for Habitat, said in order to meet the goal of building the community center and all 20 foundations, 10 volunteers are needed a day. Presently, only two to three are showing up on weekdays, however, that number rises to between 15 and 20 on the weekends.

In addition to building the foundations, Donnelly said volunteer crews are completing decking around the future houses, as well as doing cement work.

And as materials begin arriving for the August blitz build, someone will need to organize them. Donnelly said 13 tractor-trailers will be brought to the site, with three of those trailers serving as a shipping and receiving area, while the remaining trailers will store materials for each of the houses, with two houses to a trailer.

“We need crews of people – about 10 to 15 – to break down shipments, like a whole pallet of nails, into the different trailers,” Donnelly said.

The site itself is beginning to take shape. Utilities have all been installed, and the streets and alleyways are done. Donnelly said even though he would like more help, he’s appreciative of the support he’s received so far.

“It’s really been exciting to see all the people coming out to help us. Every day, I get a call from someone new who wants to help us,” he said.

Habitat is also looking for volunteers to serve as support staff during the blitz build. Donnelly said estimates are that it will take 400 to 500 people a day to build the 20 houses, and another 150 to 200 volunteers to feed them, serve as parking-lot attendants, drive shuttle buses to the site and even massage tired muscles.

“We’re still looking for a whole lot of resources,” Donnelly said. “… So there’s a large need for everybody that wants to get involved.”