George Rivera Jr. talks with Geoff Casey as Maria Rivera cuts siding. The Riveras will be moving into one of the homes on Ridge Road.

Youth pack up their hammers

By Phil Goble Jr.
phil@surrymessenger.com

The lots are empty no more.

Barely two weeks ago, seven people were waiting for a home. Another four figured it would be near Christmas or beyond before they had a place of their own.
Now, all are close to moving in to their own Greater Mount Airy Habitat for Humanity dwelling.
And all the thanks goes to a bunch of teens and young adults.
On Wednesday morning, 45 college-age men and women packed up their cars, boarded planes and headed for parts all around the country.
The Driftwood program had completed the project started by WoodsWork, the youth group that hit the build area on Ridge Road more than 10 days ago.
WoodsWork is a program for high school students from rising sophomores to graduating seniors. Driftwood takes them after graduation.
Both groups are from Wood Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, Md.
“I don’t have the words to describe it,” Maria Rivera said Tuesday as she cut siding for her home. “All these kids are in my heart. It’s my first house.”
Maria Rivera, her husband George and their four children will be living in one of the homes.
Emilee Lee and her two children will live in another.
The third home was without an occupant at the start of building when the designated family backed out. That opened the door for Mary Talbert, a single mother of two who also has a foster child. When Mary was put in the home slot, WoodsWork had to juggle some design plans — the original plan called for a three-bedroom, but Mary needed four. Her new home has four.
“We come from a fortunate area and it’s nice to come and help someone else,” said Andy Levitt, a member of Driftwood. “We love it. Everybody has been very welcoming.”
This was a special build for Driftwood. It was the 25th anniversary of the project that started with a group of 14 students in a confirmation class at Wood Memorial.
For this build, former members arrived from Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, New York, Arizona and North Carolina.
“This is the 25th anniversary, so we invited everyone who has ever been on one,” organizer Dick Willis said. “We’ve got someone here from every year except one, the first one.”
It meant a lot to the young builders.
“I did six initially,” Chad Sargent said. “This has been my first trip back in about 18 years. It’s changed, but the spirit is still the same.”
“I came back because it was kind of the reunion tour,” said Tom Cosner, who flew in from Flagstaff, Ariz. “We kind of came back to catch up with old friends.”
And they came to build — and to help.
“The sense of accomplishment is great,” Cosner said. “The sense of helping someone else. That’s still the same.”
That feeling is one that drives each one. It’s a sense of fulfilling the calling of God to reach out and touch your fellow man.
“Once you’ve been here a week, it’s home to an extent,” Stacey Messick said. “I’ve had so much fun with (the homeowners). We come to help them build, but they do so much for our lives. It’s really neat.”
Hand in hand, the two groups — builders and homeowners — have worked side by side. It’s a common Habitat model with uncommon partners. Usually, the builders are local volunteers who give their time and efforts on weekends, holidays and late afternoons. Here, the group was visiting from two states away and worked morning until night. They did use wall units built by East Surry students and stay at Surry Central, however.
In the end, the houses were near completion — one home had a few sheets of drywall left to do before painting, the addition on Mary’s home needed was roofed and roughed in and siding was nearly done on all three.
The group left $10,000 to make sure all three got completed as quickly as possible.
“Obviously, it was a blessing to our affiliate and our families,” said Tim Vanhoy, executive director of the Greater Mount Airy Habitat for Humanity. “I don’t know what to say. It came at a good time when we had families in need.”
And those families know just what a special gift came their way.
“It’s been amazing,” George Rivera Jr. said. “It’s just been a blessing.”
With a jump and smile, he and Maria were anxious to give a tour of their new home. Through each room they went, detailing who would get which room and just where the kitchen would be.
They talked about their experiences with the builders and the joy of, hopefully, getting to move in by the end of August.
Back on the front porch, Maria beamed.
“Look at my porch,” she said, arms spread wide. “Look at my beautiful house.”