There are approximately 1700 Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the US. In addition to the local affiliates, there are other "branches" of Habitat which support the affiliates. For example, the trip I went on a few weeks back to Zambia was part of the Global Village group. There are also college campus chapters. Today, I would like to share a little bit about the RV-Care-A-Vanners. This "branch" of Habitat was begun twenty five years ago by Jack and Lois Walters. Jack was a local builder and his wife Lois worked for Habitat's founder, Millard Fuller, at his office, in Americus, Georgia. The Walters floated the idea that there should be groups of people in RVs that would go around the country and help Habitat affiliates build homes. The first year, the Walters led groups down to Florida (in the winter- surprise) and took part in five builds the first year. Just as Habitat itself started with one affiliate (also in Americus) and then grew and grew over the years, the RVCare-A-Vanners also have grown over the 25 years.   This past year they took part in over 200 builds and collectively logged 112,000 volunteer hours ( a dollar equiveldnt of 2.48 million dollars).   Mary Vanderveldt and her husband Dave are the coordinators of the Care-A-Vanners alond with a volunteer staff of 13, all of whom live the RV lifestyle. Mary, in an interview earlier today at the worksite in Tuscaloosa, told me that she has been handling the responsibilities for 14 years. They have an active e-mail list of over 6,000 RVers with 1700-1800 of them active at any one time.   Mary shared that this lifestyle is particularily good for couples who have retired, in that there is a common base of interest in building homes together and seeing the country. Mary and Dave have been preparing for a gala 25th anniversary rally in Springfield, Missouri that will take place in about 6 weeks from now. They are expecting over 200 rigs and will build one new home and rehab five homes. In addition, there will be seminars and workshops for the attendees that will center on safety training, first aid and building techniques. The CEO of Habitat Intl, Jonathan Reckford is planning on attending the rally as a show of support for all of the fine work that the RV-Care-A- Vanners have done throughout the past 25 years.
     Habitat of Tuscaloosa has been blessed with a steady flow of these fine folks . Most are skilled and generally stay for two weeks or more at a time. Two of the couples that are visiting with us now are "boomerangers" in that they have been here with us before and actually came back! Laverne and Sue Clark came last year for two weeks and decided to stay for 5 or 6.
      This group is also trained in disaster response and has proven a great boon, providing leadership for volunteers wanting to help after natural disasters over the past years. The group, obviously, are mobile and ready to move at a moments notice. They are skilled and most have their own tools, and don't need anything more to get going that a place to hook up their rigs.
     It seems like a great lifestyle and personally, I am feeling the tug to turn into one whenever my stint in Tuscaloosa is up. Probably in a cupla years when I'm eligible for Social Security. Until then, I'm looking forward to meeting and working with old and new friends in the RV-Care-A-Vanners.