Giving the gift of time

In these tough economic times, many of us find it difficult to give money to those in need. On Saturday, May 1, seven people met at the home of a longtime Carpentersville homeowner to give something much more valuable than money - their time. This was the first project for a brand new Habitat for Humanity program called A Brush with Kindness. It partners volunteers with low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners to perform exterior home maintenance projects.

The task for this day was to remove a fence and a shed that had seen better days. This group of dedicated volunteers had that done in no time. Soon we were on to trimming up the trees and bushes and mowing the lawn. A project that could have taken all day was completed in a few hours.

I would like to thank all of the volunteers who sacrificed their Saturday for someone who needed a hand. Thank you to Craig Martin of the Village of Carpentersville whose code enforcement department referred the homeowner to our program. This shows the positive effects that can be had when government and nonprofits work together.

I hope this serves as inspiration for others to volunteer. Whether you choose to work with Habitat for Humanity or one of the many other worthwhile organizations, know that you are truly making a difference in the lives of those you help as well as the community as a whole. If you would like to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, call us at (847) 836-1432. I hope to see you on the job site soon.

Justin Lucas

A Brush with Kindness Coordinator

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley

Carpentersville