Savage Pacer Sept 26, 2008

Painting a linen closet and nailing trim board in place aren't the most glamorous jobs, but a small crew of folks working at the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity project in Boudin's Acres didn't mind.
That's because they were all Habitat veterans and know it's the attention to detail that makes a house a home.
So even though Louise Holden of Savage was crammed into a linen closet with a paintbrush, she didn't mind; as she knows her work will help the family of Mohamed Duale and Queen Hanshi feel right at home.
"I feel like I'm helping a family move into a nice home," she said as she maneuvered around on a ladder to reach the upper corners of the linen closet. "They have five boys and they are coming here from another country. They don't know anyone and this will be a huge adjustment."
Holden has been a Habitat volunteer for many years and has done just about every job - from framing houses, roofing and siding to her recent job of painting.
She volunteers on Habitat sites about four to six times per year through her church.
On this day she was the only woman on the job, but said she didn't mind. "I'm doing the same thing I do when I work with my husband - I'm doing what he won't do," she says with a laugh.
In the kitchen, former shop teacher Tom Kitto of Savage was cutting trim board and nailing it in place. He said he likes to help out at punch list time to make sure the little jobs get done right.
Kitto prefers the detail work because he can take his time to get it done correctly. "I can go at my own pace and fuss with it if that's what's needed to make things right," he said.
Like Holden, Kitto is a Habitat veteran who has worked every summer at a variety of Habitat sites in the metro area. And when he and his wife are wintering down in Florida, he also works on Habitat projects there.
Site Supervisor Craig Norton said the punch list portion of the project is just as important as the other segments of work. Having a small group of vets on the job helps make the detail work go faster, he said. Holden and Kitto were working alongside the Dakota County Tuesday Crew, a group of volunteers that has been working on Habitat projects for about 20 years.
Group leader Kenny Drangstveit said the Dakota County Crew has about 30 volunteers who float around from Habitat to Habitat project all year round. Although "Tuesday" is part of their official name, they also work Thursdays and do a little bit of everything.
"We specialize in the interior work," Drangstveit said, "We shuffle from place to place."
Drangstveit has 17 years experience with the crew and joined when they were part of the Dakota County Habitat for Humanity organization. Even though the Dakota County chapter was folded into the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, the Tuesday crew stayed together.
Satisfying work
Mention the word "work" to the punch list workers and they scoff at the notion.
"I always feel wonderful whenever I volunteer because it's gratifying," Holden said. "I don't see it as work."
Kitto agreed, saying he's motivated because he's "the kind of person who likes to give something back."
"For me, this is amusement and its fun," he said. "And the people you work with are the finest you'll ever run into."
Bill Turner of the Dakota County Tuesday Crew has been volunteering with Habitat for 18 or 19 years, and has seen it all. He's also been to a Jimmy Carter work camp where Habitat crews build an entire house in one week.
He said there's nothing like the feeling of helping to build someone's home.

Nancy HuddlestonSavage PacerSeptember 26, 2008