2020 Clear Vision for Habitat and AmeriCorps
Happy New Year!
To start off the Year 2020, we are recognizing AmeriCorps as one of our partners that has blessed our endeavors to build and repair suitable housing for the low income in Carteret and Onslow Counties. In order to be a “Fly on the wall view” and see what we do, check the video taken by one of our AmeriCorps members Andrew Smith. 
The work being done on a house at 116 Palmetta Drive in Newport and his story follows: 
“I often get asked why I wanted to become part of the team at my local Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity. The short answer is I wanted to give something back to my community. I can not give it in financial means, but I can offer the sweat of my brow, the toil of my hands, and the willingness to serve.
In my case, the ‘what’ is the reason for the ‘why’. Hurricane Florence hit Eastern North Carolina in September of 2018. The hardest-hit areas included New Bern, Newport, Belhaven, Oriental, North Topsail Beach, and Jacksonville, along with Down-East Carteret County.
In my life, I have been witness to and personally experienced a number of hurricanes. The first one I remember clearly and I don’t even know the name of. I only know I was young enough to consider it an adventure rather than a danger. As I have grown older and seen more storms come and go my perspective has also grown. After Florence, I became keenly and personally aware of the havoc and devastation to both lives and property.
I had known of Habitat’s mission to provide housing to the disadvantaged for a long while, but until recently they did not do disaster recovery, only new construction. The job I had been working at for a number of years closed for business and I was at loose ends, looking for a new role in life, preferably one where I could give back rather than collect a paycheck.
That’s when I learned about AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that engage citizens in intensive service projects to meet community needs. Through this program, I am completing a 10-month term of service as an AmeriCorps member at the Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity.
AmeriCorps members are provided to Crystal Coast Habitat through SBP, a national nonprofit dedicated to shrinking the time between disaster and recovery.
With my new awareness and my service status, I thought this would be a perfect time to take a new path, dust off old skills, learn new ones, and help those most in need at the same time. A win-win for all involved.
And here we are, 3 month-ish into a 10-month term, my first fully restored home under my belt. This displaced family has her paperwork finalized and can move in!” This is why we do what we do. This is why we need volunteers.
Please join us in this New Year at Crystal Coast Habitat.
