Beale volunteers help community build homes

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christine Collier
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (ACCNS) --  Through gusty winds and slippery rain, warm temperatures and hot sun, members from Team Beale have braved the weather to help families build their own homes in an ongoing community project. 

Beale's Air Force Sergeants' Association Chapter 1372 has partnered with Mercy Housing, a non-profit public benefit organization, to help families in need build houses in local communities. The goal of Mercy Housing is to provide a community development program that promotes revitalization and reinvestment in rural and urban neighborhoods. 

"It's a great concept," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Bright, Beale's AFSA plans and programs officer. "Families apply to build their homes, receive government grants, and spend at least the required 40 hours a week building their new houses." 

Sergeant Bright learned of the Mercy Housing project as he was looking to purchase his own house with friend Staff Sgt. Josh Burdett. 

"We saw some houses being built and thought they looked pretty nice," the sergeant said. "When we stopped to inquire about the builder, we were told about the project. Sergeant Burdett and I immediately started to think about how we could get volunteers from the base involved with these families." 

AFSA quickly became the platform by which base members could be reached. Since the base has become involved, 70 volunteers from Beale have completed more than 280 hours of work on the homes, building in any weather. 

"It doesn't matter if it's windy and rainy or hot and sunny," said Tech. Sgt. Jeanna Rogers, Beale's AFSA president. "The important thing is that we're out here helping these families - families that are so grateful for any assistance we can provide." 

Each home takes approximately 10 months to build, and there are currently 30 homes under construction. All of them are scheduled to be finished by the end of summer, and there are another 70 home sites beginning construction soon. 

"Beale volunteers have been working hard to do whatever they can for these local families," Sergeant Rogers said. "It has also helped that wing leadership has been extremely supportive of AFSA's involvement in the project." 

In addition to the support Beale has provided and will continue to provide, the families benefiting from the Mercy Housing project also have been supporting each other. There are 10 homes built per phase and and each family works with the other families to keep the home building on track and at relatively the same pace. 

According to Sergeant Bright, the idea is to build small communities where neighbors actually know each other and help one another out. Beale's involvement also brings base members out into the community, so the community knows Beale is part of the neighborhood as well. 

"It feels like we are actually making a difference," Sergeant Bright said. "Once you go to the site you realize that these families are just like you and that makes you want to help even more. At the end of the day, you are glad you got up early on a Saturday and made a difference." .