Another week at Syracuse Habitat for Humanity has come to a close. By my count, I just finished my third week of eight as a summer VISTA. With each week I become more and more proud to work for Syracuse Habitat for Humanity.
Last week flew by and I was barely able to catch my breath. Unlike previous weeks, I did not have a specific task to accomplish or a goal to work toward. Instead I did a little bit of everything. I did everything from stocking doors at the ReStore and assisting customers to editing marketing manuals. By the end of the week, I was ready to do something more long term. I got my wish in the form of database entry and development.
While I still wish that I was directly working with volunteers, this new project is exactly what the VISTA program is all about. It’s about capacity building and strengthening our organization. After my tenure is finished, Syracuse Habitat for Humanity will be stronger and be able to use volunteers more effectively. We will be able to easily track total volunteer hours by site, year, and even individual. All of this will help us to honor our volunteers, which are the heart and soul of our organization.
We will also be able to better use volunteers to suit our needs and their interests. Skills and experience will be viewed as assets and we will develop a more streamlined efficient machine. At least ten thousand hours of volunteer work was put forth at Syracuse Habitat for Humanity last year alone. That’s hundreds of thousands of dollars saved and invested into new homes. If we paid for construction, office work, Restore donation collection, etc our organization would fall apart. That’s why my VISTA experience this summer is so meaningful.
That’s how I feel at the beginning of my fourth week as a VISTA for Syracuse Habitat for Humanity. While I may not see the full impact of my work, I am sure that what I am doing is very important and am excited about the next few weeks.
