Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Habitat 'Harvest' reaps supplies from house being torn down

The walls came tumbling down in Irmo this week as volunteers with Habitat for Humanity stripped a home scheduled for demolition.

As part of this week's Harvest cleanup - typically involving houses or commercial buildings slated for demolition or renovation - volunteers removed household items and fixtures, which will be taken to Habitat's ReStore and sold to benefit the agency's ongoing efforts to help residents in need.

We spoke with Harvest supervisor, Dan Chambers, about this week's project.

How did you happen to find this particular house?

Chambers: "The owners are tearing this one down and building a new one. They told us that we could come in and get everything that we could."

What types of items did you get?

Chambers: "Kitchen cabinets, ranges, stoves, windows, door knobs. electrical plates, light fixtures."

Is there a required skill level for volunteers?

Chambers: "From novice people to tradesmen who have time to come in and want to volunteer their time. No experience is necessary. We've had an electrician this week ... a retired schoolteacher ... a housewife. It runs the gamut. Anybody and everybody is welcome."

How often does this type work take place?

Chambers: "We do this all year long. I would say dozens (are completed each year). We've got four in the works right now. Usually about every week we'll get a call from someone who wants us to come out and look at something."

How big are the homes?

Chambers: "They vary in sizes. This happens to be a big one. Normally the smaller ones are (being) remodeled. We'll come out and take out the old and they'll put in the new."

What room is most commonly remodeled?

Chambers: "The kitchen."

- Bertram Rantin

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