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Homes for the holidays
  
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By Michele Sample
If you build it, they will come, just in time for the holidays.
Honna Gauthier, a Lone Tree resident, along with 250 other volunteers from across the United States, built nine homes in five days.
The Third Annual Whirlpool Corporation Building Blocks Event was held Nov. 17-21 in Dallas. The project was part of a Habitat For Humanity International affiliate program Whirlpool has recognized over the last three years. The first, Nashville, Tenn., in 2006 and then Phoenix in 2007.
Gauthier, a four-year employee with Whirlpool, was chosen from an application and essay contest, explaining what makes them a “building block” in their community.
“They have seen that I worked with Habitat Build before and being such a loyal employee,” Gauthier said about why she believes she was chosen.
Gauthier’s volunteer days in Dallas started early, around 6:30 a.m. each morning. A list provided by the Habitat International and Whirlpool personnel would organize the daily responsibilities.
“We would take off and do anything and everything,” Gauthier said.
The home that she and 30 other volunteers worked on remains dear to her heart. The new homeowner is a single mom, raising two boys, 8- and 10-years-old, after her husband was a victim in an unsolved murder.
“She wanted to make sure she could raise the boys in a home and community where they would be motivated to go to school,” Gauthier said. The frame of the house was already built for them, but they put up walls, the ceiling, roof and siding. Two team leaders were assigned to each house and Habitat personnel would supervise the building for code protocols.
Gauthier overcame a life-long fear of heights while she was building the home.
“I have always been afraid of heights, but I got up on the roof and put up shingles,” she said.
Another challenge she overcame was the use of power tools.
“A power drill, power saw, were intimidating,” Gauthier said. “But I told myself this is for a good cause, and I had to learn.”
She laughed and said she is ready to buy a house after all her experience.
According to Gauthier, the “entire project was so much fun,” even though they were exhausted. She said it was “a good tired.”
The most rewarding memory Gauthier brought home with her was when the dedication of the home was given on the last day there.
“The boys were running around the house finding what room they wanted as their own,” Gauthier said.
As they handed the mom her new key to her home, there were tears in her eyes and she said, “You just made my dreams come true. I will never forget you.”
The Whirlpool Corp. typically donates a range and refrigerator to every new Habitat home built in North America, and this time donated a washer and driver as well.
“The holidays are a reminder to give thanks for what matters most in our lives,” said Ellen Taaffe, vice president of Mass Brands for Whirlpool. “It’s through the hard work and dedication of partners like Honna that we are able to work toward achieving that mission one block at a time.”
Gauthier said her whole experience was rewarding and made her feel phenomenal “giving back”.
When asked if she would be interested in another Habitat project, Gauthier said, “Bring it on.”
Honna Gauthier, a Lone Tree resident, along with 250 other volunteers from across the United States, built nine homes in five days.
The Third Annual Whirlpool Corporation Building Blocks Event was held Nov. 17-21 in Dallas. The project was part of a Habitat For Humanity International affiliate program Whirlpool has recognized over the last three years. The first, Nashville, Tenn., in 2006 and then Phoenix in 2007.
Gauthier, a four-year employee with Whirlpool, was chosen from an application and essay contest, explaining what makes them a “building block” in their community.
“They have seen that I worked with Habitat Build before and being such a loyal employee,” Gauthier said about why she believes she was chosen.
Gauthier’s volunteer days in Dallas started early, around 6:30 a.m. each morning. A list provided by the Habitat International and Whirlpool personnel would organize the daily responsibilities.
“We would take off and do anything and everything,” Gauthier said.
The home that she and 30 other volunteers worked on remains dear to her heart. The new homeowner is a single mom, raising two boys, 8- and 10-years-old, after her husband was a victim in an unsolved murder.
“She wanted to make sure she could raise the boys in a home and community where they would be motivated to go to school,” Gauthier said. The frame of the house was already built for them, but they put up walls, the ceiling, roof and siding. Two team leaders were assigned to each house and Habitat personnel would supervise the building for code protocols.
Gauthier overcame a life-long fear of heights while she was building the home.
“I have always been afraid of heights, but I got up on the roof and put up shingles,” she said.
Another challenge she overcame was the use of power tools.
“A power drill, power saw, were intimidating,” Gauthier said. “But I told myself this is for a good cause, and I had to learn.”
She laughed and said she is ready to buy a house after all her experience.
According to Gauthier, the “entire project was so much fun,” even though they were exhausted. She said it was “a good tired.”
The most rewarding memory Gauthier brought home with her was when the dedication of the home was given on the last day there.
“The boys were running around the house finding what room they wanted as their own,” Gauthier said.
As they handed the mom her new key to her home, there were tears in her eyes and she said, “You just made my dreams come true. I will never forget you.”
The Whirlpool Corp. typically donates a range and refrigerator to every new Habitat home built in North America, and this time donated a washer and driver as well.
“The holidays are a reminder to give thanks for what matters most in our lives,” said Ellen Taaffe, vice president of Mass Brands for Whirlpool. “It’s through the hard work and dedication of partners like Honna that we are able to work toward achieving that mission one block at a time.”
Gauthier said her whole experience was rewarding and made her feel phenomenal “giving back”.
When asked if she would be interested in another Habitat project, Gauthier said, “Bring it on.”
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