CRESTVIEW — Nearly 240 volunteers came to Crestview in order to give back in helping the Okaloosa County Habitat for Humanity organization build a residential home.
PHOTOS: See 17 photos from the 'Blitz Build' in Crestview >>
While bringing their table saw, North Carolina residents Bob and Dottie Birch visited Crestview for the weekend.
The retired couple regularly travels across the country in order to help Habitat for Humanity affiliates construct homes –from the concrete slab to sheetrock in just three days –as part of the organization’s ‘Road Trip Crazies.’
Melissa Litscher, the organization’s community outreach director estimated that about 40 people came from out of state to volunteer.
The couple said they enjoy traveling, while volunteering for a great cause.
“We enjoy doing this as a way to give back,” Dottie said.
“You get more out of it then you put in,” Bob said.
While many regularly volunteer in building Habitat for Humanity homes, it was a first for others, including Fort Walton Beach resident Cortney Evans.
“It’s something different,” he said. “It’s interesting to see to see how fast they can build a house.”
Evans, who works on Hurlburt Field with the United States Air Force, has never been involved in building a home. However, since building this home was for a good cause, Evans wanted to participate.
“I thought it would be pretty cool to say that I helped out,” he said.
The house is being built for Stephanie Deese and her two sons. Deese was also on hand to help out throughout the weekend.
“I’ve helped put the plywood on the side (of the home) and they had me picking up nails…whatever they tell me to do,” she said.
After meeting all of the volunteers −including the Road Trip Crazies – Deese said she is interested in paying it forward in the future.
“It’s pretty neat to hear (the volunteers) stories about coming and they get all excited (about volunteering),” she said. “Hopefully, I will get to go do it with them someday.”
Litscher estimates that the Deese household will take another six weeks to complete. The Savage Street home is just one of four homes currently under construction in Crestview with the Habitat for Humanity organization.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Volunteers travel to Crestview for ‘Blitz Build’ with Habitat for Humanity (PHOTOS, VIDEO)