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LOCAL
Wilmington StarNews
Like many who retire and move to the Wilmington area, Laura Byrd and Glenn Byrd began looking for something to do. In addition to getting out of the house, they wanted to give back to the community.
Glenn Byrd enjoys working with his hands and quickly found a place on Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity’s construction crew. Laura Byrd also found her niche working in Habitat’s ReStores, and eventually, she also began working on the construction crew.
The couple has been volunteering with Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity for three years now. They were initially drawn to the organization because its mission of providing people with safe, affordable housing.
“Then I met the people and that really kept me,” Laura Byrd said.
“Getting to know all the volunteers — it’s a great group of people and staff,” Glenn Byrd agreed.
Other than projects in their own home, the couple didn’t have any construction experience prior to volunteering with Habitat. Both say they have learned a lot from the different experiences.
“You don’t have to be a contractor or an experienced home builder,” Glenn Byrd said. “You just have to be willing to work hard and accept instruction and learn.”
Both Glenn Byrd and Laura Byrd say that the work offers them “something different every day,” and they enjoy it. Recently, the couple had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala with Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village program to help residents there with home improvement projects. They heard about the program through other volunteers on the job sites and decided to sign up.
The couple had never been to Guatemala, and when they volunteered, they didn’t know the scope of the work they would be doing. They explained that was determined by the needs of the Habitat affiliate in Guatemala.
“We just kind of kept an open mind,” Glenn Byrd said, adding it was not unlike working on job sites in the Wilmington area.
Once there, the couple joined a dozen other Habitat for Humanity volunteers from across the U.S., and learned they would be replacing the homeowners’ dirt floors with concrete and building smokeless stovetops for their kitchens.
“They cook inside their homes on open fires,” Laura Byrd said.
She explained, as a result, respiratory issues are common among the Guatemalan people, and the smokeless stovetops would help improve the quality of life. During their stay, the group helped six families. Both Glenn Byrd and Laura Byrd said the experience was rewarding.
“It wasn’t all about the work,” Glenn Byrd said. “It was also about the interactions.”
They noted though the families they helped had very little, they were willing to share what they had with the volunteers. The families also showed their appreciation at a closing ceremony, held at the hotel where the volunteers stayedThe couple said the experience was “very moving.”
Laura Byrd said they also had the opportunity to experience a bit of the culture, including touring a chocolate shop and tasting the product.
Now that they are back home, they have resumed their usual volunteer duties. While they hope to take another trip with the organization, they are also encouraging others to volunteer with Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity.
“I mean it’s hard work, but I think it’s a great chance to get out and help the local community,” Glenn Byrd said.
Renee Spencer is the community engagement editor at the StarNews. Reach her at [email protected].
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