Try helping rather than complaining

Reading the article in the Herald entitled "Is 'green' home polluting neighborhood?" made me sad as I am such a booster of Habitat for Humanity that builds homes for people who otherwise would not be able to own a home.

The prospective owners have to have an income enabling them to pay a no interest mortgage and give many hours to help in the building of their home, called "sweat equity." The article told about a neighbor who complained about trash being left around the area of a Habitat for Humanity build, and I wondered why he couldn't have spent a little time picking up the debris and making his area look good - and help someone own a home as he does.

Perhaps he doesn't realize that it is mostly volunteer help that does the construction and how good he would feel in helping someone else.

Habitat is trying to be fiscally responsible by not renting a garbage bin until necessary. Maybe he could get to know some of the workers and realize that they are the "giving persons" of this world and would be uplifting to know.

To enable Habitat to continue to build homes for those who are working but don't have an income to buy a home the usual way, ReStore was started to raise money by receiving all kinds of donations from construction companies, hardware and big box stores, individuals, etc. These items are sold at bargain prices to benefit the individuals who purchase them, the donors who can take a charitable donation deduction from their income tax and Habitat, which has more money to help more to own a home.

It seems to me that Habitat and ReStore are a winning team. Could we all just be givers and not takers or "what is in it for me?" We can all help to make this difficult world a better place to live.

Sheila T. Burris

Elgin