Volunteer Spotlight: Luke
This summer, I had the chance to volunteer for the first time with SGV Habitat for Humanity during a Build Day in El Sereno. I was excited and a little nervous since I had never been on a construction site before. But within minutes, the SGV Habitat staff and other volunteers made me feel welcome.
The staff explained what we’d be doing and how we’d split into teams. There was something for everyone to do, from painting, building furniture and general repairs. I liked that I could choose what I felt comfortable doing.
I wanted to learn something new, so I signed up for restoration work at one of the El Sereno homes. I learned how to mud drywall, paint, and install flooring. I’d never done any of it before, but the construction team was great! They taught by example and were really encouraging. My favorite task was drywall mudding. It felt good to fill in cracks and seams and make the walls look brand new.
Around noon, we gathered for lunch, which was a great break after a full morning. It was nice connecting with others and hearing about the different jobs people were doing. But the best part was going back after lunch and seeing how far we’d come. I didn’t expect to make that much of a difference, the house looked so much better after just a few hours. I was proud of what we accomplished.
Volunteering with SGV Habitat has been one of the most meaningful things I’ve done. I learned new skills, met great people, and gained a new appreciation for what it takes to build and repair homes. I’ll definitely be back.
