Habitat for Humanity Care-a-Vanners

[D&R_SC]

If you are looking for an excuse to visit different parts of the country with your trailer, you might consider Habitat for Humanity’s RV Care-A-Vanner program. Here’s an excerpt from their website, www.habitat.org/rv.

“RV Care-A-Vanners is a volunteer program for anyone who travels in a recreational vehicle, wants to build Habitat houses and have fun doing it. RV Care-A-Vanners welcomes people of all ages, from all walks of life who want to pick up a hammer and help change lives.
There are ample opportunities to learn and plenty of meaningful work for everyone. No previous construction experience is necessary!”


Here is a video about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwkNVaYgNis

We did two 2-week “builds” with them while in Florida this past winter. The first was in Sebring right after attending Scamp Camp and the other in Vero Beach. There were several other builds throughout Florida and numerous in other states. The program provides affordable ($12 Sebring, $5 Vero) campsites. Most builds have 12 volunteers who work 5 twelve-hour days each week. Volunteers vary from highly to minimally skilled; all have a desire to help others.

Most of the Care-a-Vanner crews are made up of 12-14 volunteers who work under the supervision local habitat affiliate employees. In Sebring, we started out with 5 couples and 2 single women. At Vero Beach, there were 4 couples, 3 women, and 2 men. Most evenings we got together for happy hour where we shared snacks, brought our own beverages, and swapped RVing stories. Between the workday and the happy hour, we soon developed bonds.

Most volunteers had large trailers or motorhomes. One woman shared her Casita 16 with a cat and a large dog. She was on her 40th build over the past eight years. Another had an RPad that she had bought on her way to Florida and her first build. She sought and received lots of advice and help from more seasoned RVers in our group.

We plan to do more Care-a-Vanning soon.

[NW Cat Owner]

Originally Posted by D&R_MA

In Sebring, we started out with 5 couples and 2 single women.

How many did you end with? Sorry, that was my first thought when reading that.

Great idea! Thanks for sharing and something to think about.

[yardsale]

We have considered this option. We built our own home some years ago and could see how this could be satisfying. The 12 hour days gives me pause however.

[kands]

Thanks so much for sharing this! What a wonderful opportunity to help.

[D&R_SC]

Originally Posted by NW Cat Owner

How many did you end with? Sorry, that was my first thought when reading that.

After the first week, a couple and a single man joined us in Sebring.

[D&R_SC]

Originally Posted by yardsale

We have considered this option. We built our own home some years ago and could see how this could be satisfying. The 12 hour days gives me pause however.

Excuse my poor editing. We worked SIX-HOUR DAYS.

[LeonW]

Originally Posted by D&R_MA

Excuse my poor editing. We worked SIX-HOUR DAYS.

That is good to hear. I would like to do this, but my back would object to a 12 hour day!

[ddeg]

Thanks for sharing this. This is something that Bonnie and I would enjoy. And an inspiration for spending more time out on the road.
David

[yardsale]

Originally Posted by D&R_MA

Excuse my poor editing. We worked SIX-HOUR DAYS.

Thats better. What was it like being around folks with rigs two and three times the size of yours?

[D&R_SC]

Originally Posted by yardsale

Thats better. What was it like being around folks with rigs two and three times the size of yours?

I didn't think it bothered me, but we attended the first CaV build in a Scamp 19 and before attending the second build we had bought an Escape 5.0TA (2' longer) and sold the Scamp. Maybe size-envy was caused by being among the big guys.

Actually all of the big RV owners were very friendly and most were curious about our little trailers. The 35-40' rigs did work better for group get-togethers in wet weather.