Habitat Flathead seeks volunteers to build more homes

Habitat for Humanity of the Flathead Valley wants to build more homes and more quickly. But to do that it needs to substantially increase its number of volunteers. 

The nonprofit’s goal is to increase the number of houses built from three to more than 10.

“Volunteers are the backbone of Habitat for Humanity’s model,” said MaryBeth Morand, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley. “The labor they provide is the primary reason our homes are affordable.”

One key source of volunteers for Habitats all over the United States is a group of volunteers called Care-A-Vanners. The volunteers travel from one Habitat home build site to the next in their own RVs, at their own expense. Most Care-A-Vanners are retirees with extensive construction experience. They usually stay for a couple of weeks at a local Habitat construction site and dramatically increase the rate at which the homes are built. 

The increasing cost of campsites in the Flathead Valley has made it difficult for traveling volunteers to stop here, so in response, Habitat Flathead is installing RV hookups in the yard behind its Kalispell Restore to accommodate Care-A-Vanners. More than half of the spots have already been reserved for this summer. 

“Habitat Flathead is committed to doing anything we can to enrich the volunteer experience for our local volunteers and Care-A-Vanners alike,” said Morand.

To find out more about volunteering or making a donation, visit  www.habitatflathead.org or send checks to 2535 Hwy 93 S, Kalispell, MT 59901.