{"id":2452569,"date":"2019-12-24T23:06:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-25T06:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=318255"},"modified":"2019-12-26T07:56:49","modified_gmt":"2019-12-26T14:56:49","slug":"habitat-for-humanitys-basalt-project-is-melting-pot-for-volunteers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/habitat-for-humanitys-basalt-project-is-melting-pot-for-volunteers\/","title":{"rendered":"Habitat For Humanity\u2019s Basalt project is melting pot for volunteers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.8677325581395\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-318255-116\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-1024x768.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy photo | Sheryl Sabandal and Sean Fick celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary July 27 by volunteering at Basalt Vista. It was a fitting celebration since they met at a Habitat project in Indiana in 2009.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Sheryl Sabandal and Sean Fick celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary July 27 by volunteering at Basalt Vista. It was a fitting celebration since they met at a Habitat project in Indiana in 2009.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-1024x768.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Sheryl Sabandal and Sean Fick celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary July 27 by volunteering at Basalt Vista. It was a fitting celebration since they met at a Habitat project in Indiana in 2009.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-1-1024x768.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy photo | The Greenberg family dedicated a day of a recent vacation in Aspen to volunteer at the Basalt Vista project. From left are Rich, Eileen, Daniel and Rachael along with Rachael's husband Ben Beadle-Rydy.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>The Greenberg family dedicated a day of a recent vacation in Aspen to volunteer at the Basalt Vista project. From left are Rich, Eileen, Daniel and Rachael along with Rachael&#8217;s husband Ben Beadle-Rydy.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-1-1024x768.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"The Greenberg family dedicated a day of a recent vacation in Aspen to volunteer at the Basalt Vista project. From left are Rich, Eileen, Daniel and Rachael along with Rachael's husband Ben Beadle-Rydy.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-2-1024x679.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Habitat for Humanity carpenter Jordan Mathre installs aprons on the newly built windowsills in a home in the Basalt Vista project.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Habitat for Humanity carpenter Jordan Mathre installs aprons on the newly built windowsills in a home in the Basalt Vista project.<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-2-1024x679.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Habitat for Humanity carpenter Jordan Mathre installs aprons on the newly built windowsills in a home in the Basalt Vista project.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-3-1024x730.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Habitat for Humanity build team member Jeff LaBaw cuts wood blocks for the kitchen cabinetry in a home being built for the Basalt Vista project. LaBaw has been employed by Habitat for Humanity for nearly 3 years.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>Habitat for Humanity build team member Jeff LaBaw cuts wood blocks for the kitchen cabinetry in a home being built for the Basalt Vista project. LaBaw has been employed by Habitat for Humanity for nearly 3 years.<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-3-1024x730.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Habitat for Humanity build team member Jeff LaBaw cuts wood blocks for the kitchen cabinetry in a home being built for the Basalt Vista project. LaBaw has been employed by Habitat for Humanity for nearly 3 years.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-4-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Habitat for Humanity build team member Trent Marshall constructs windowsills for the home in the Basalt Vista project.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Habitat for Humanity build team member Trent Marshall constructs windowsills for the home in the Basalt Vista project.<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-4-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Habitat for Humanity build team member Trent Marshall constructs windowsills for the home in the Basalt Vista project.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-5-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A sold sign sits in the yard of a home being built by Habitat for Humanity in the Basalt Vista project.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>A sold sign sits in the yard of a home being built by Habitat for Humanity in the Basalt Vista project.<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-5-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A sold sign sits in the yard of a home being built by Habitat for Humanity in the Basalt Vista project.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-6-1024x700.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Jeremy Duncan, left, and Felipe Gomez caulk the trim in a home being built for the Habitat for Humanity Basalt Vista project. Duncan is a Basalt Vista homeowner and has a planned move-in date of 2021.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Jeremy Duncan, left, and Felipe Gomez caulk the trim in a home being built for the Habitat for Humanity Basalt Vista project. Duncan is a Basalt Vista homeowner and has a planned move-in date of 2021.<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/habitatvolunteers-atd-122519-6-6-1024x700.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Jeremy Duncan, left, and Felipe Gomez caulk the trim in a home being built for the Habitat for Humanity Basalt Vista project. Duncan is a Basalt Vista homeowner and has a planned move-in date of 2021.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/habitat-for-humanitys-basalt-project-is-melting-pot-for-volunteers\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/habitat-for-humanitys-basalt-project-is-melting-pot-for-volunteers\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">Volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork project in Basalt didn\u2019t have to wait until Christmas to learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Basalt Vista project has been a melting pot for volunteers. Among others, in recent months it has attracted a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary, a family who adds a twist to their Aspen vacations, a longtime valley resident donating his time in retirement, people recovering from addictions at a local treatment center and numerous business staffs engaging in team building.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe always get volunteers but we\u2019ve never had these numbers,\u201d said Scott Gilbert, president of Habitat\u2019s Roaring Fork chapter. \u201cHabitat has been building homes for 20 years in the valley and this is by far the most robust engagement we have had from the community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As of mid-December, 1,456 volunteers had donated 13,579 hours at the housing project since construction started in November 2018, according to Habitat\u2019s records. Gilbert attributes the surge in volunteerism on several factors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWho it is for and where it is has changed the paradigm,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Basalt Vista is a highly visible project on the hillside behind Basalt High School. It has high appeal because teachers and other employees of the Roaring Fork School District have a priority for 15 of the units. The other 12 units are reserved for employees of businesses in Pitkin County.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The project also is a <a id=\"N0x1d53fd0N0x1dc21d0:N0x1d53fd0N0x1e42260\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/habitat-for-humanity-heads-effort-to-build-27-unit-basalt-vista-affordable-housing\/\">model of collaboration<\/a>. The school district contributed the land. Pitkin County covered much of the infrastructure cost. Basalt helped cover other expenses. Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork is the developer and is facilitating access to mortgages and raising funds to cover a financial gap.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The project will be a model for <a id=\"N0x1d53fd0N0x1dc2230:N0x1d53fd0N0x1e42380\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/basalt-affordable-housing-project-will-be-net-zero-on-energy\/\">net-zero energy use<\/a>. There is no gas line running to the 27-unit project. It will be all-electric power and through high-efficiency construction and appliances plus solar photovoltaic power, it will produce as much energy as it consumes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Sometimes, volunteering has special meaning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Sean Fick and Sheryl Sabandal celebrated their first wedding anniversary by working at Basalt Vista. It was symbolic because they met on a Habitat building project in 2009 while they were seniors at Indiana University. They eventually started dating, moved to the Roaring Fork Valley and got married in 2018.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Fick, 33, is a chairlift mechanic for Aspen Skiing Co. Sabandal, 32, is development director at Roaring Fork Conservancy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The couple, who live in Snowmass Village, and five friends put in a workday at Basalt Vista on July 27.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt just seemed right in terms of celebrating the first year,\u201d Fick said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt just made sense. It\u2019s such a great cause,\u201d Sabandal added. \u201cThere\u2019s no better way to get our friends to volunteer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">They spent their anniversary applying a house wrap weather-resistant barrier and insulation at Basalt Vista, and they wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat was sort of the idea, to share with our friends the thing that brought us together,\u201d Fick said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For Richard Greenberg and his family, volunteering at Habitat for Humanity became a way to give back to a special valley. Richard, a Denver resident, said Aspen is where he was courting the woman who became his wife 39 years ago. His family keeps a close connection to the valley with a second home in Aspen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">His son Daniel Greenberg works as a financial analyst at the University of Colorado Boulder, where employees are encouraged to volunteer for public service. Daniel volunteered at Basalt Vista during a trip to the Roaring Fork Valley in October and asked his dad to join him. They enjoyed the experience so much they made volunteerism a family project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Richard, his wife, Eileen, their daughter Rachel Greenberg and her husband Ben Beadle-Rydy, along with Daniel spent a day recently volunteering at Basalt Vista. They converged in the Roaring Fork Valley from Colorado\u2019s Front Range and the San Francisco area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Richard said they like how the project will provide housing for teachers as well as Pitkin County employees. It also attracted their attention that it is in a great location and the project is net-zero.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt just hits all the marks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The family spent their day painting and installing flooring. They plan on volunteering on other trips to the valley. Their commitment to the project extends beyond the sweat off their brows.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Richard said he reported on the experience during a meeting of his family foundation. The board members of the Bender West Foundation voted to make a financial commitment to Habitat for Humanity Roaring Fork for 2019, 2020 and 2021.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">NO EXPERIENCE, NO PROBLEM<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For some volunteers, regular labor at a Habitat for Humanity project has evolved into part of their routine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Carrington Brown, 65, retired from Pitkin County government three years ago and volunteered with Habitat before Basalt Vista was underway.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat was the first thing I did,\u201d he said. He acknowledged that the reason he was inspired almost sounds like a cliche.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI really believe in giving back to the community and (helping) people who are struggling to get a home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Brown has worked at a previous Habitat project in Basalt, three residences in Carbondale and now Basalt Vista. He typically volunteers two or three times per week. It is convenient, he said, because Basalt Vista is only five minutes from his home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Helping build housing provides a sense of purpose, he said, but he also enjoys meeting other volunteers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cYou meet such interesting people,\u201d he said. \u201cYou meet people from all walks of life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He recalled performing some grunt work in the rafters of a house with another guy and delving into conversation. His co-worker turned out to be an oil and gas businessman who owned drilling rigs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Brown\u2019s work in the Roaring Fork Valley has inspired him to apply for volunteer stints with Habitat for Humanity worldwide. He has traveled to work on projects in Vietnam, Jordan and Europe in the past and intends to volunteer for additional projects overseas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">No matter where you go, he said, the reward is the same \u2014 the future homeowners are thrilled not only about receiving a home, but that strangers are willing to help build it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Brown encouraged anyone to volunteer at a Habitat project, regardless of his or her skill level. The Habitat staff on site provides all the guidance necessary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot from them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">There are plenty of opportunities to help out. Basalt Vista is in its second phase, with 23 units to fully or partially construct.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Sabandal agreed that lack of experience shouldn\u2019t be a barrier to volunteering with Habitat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI think I have more enthusiasm than I have technical skills,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s a good enthusiasm, though,\u201d her husband added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Sabandal said she\u2019s learned to be brave on the work sites and turn to the staff for guidance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI\u2019ll be scared at first,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I will try it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She recommended everyone to give it a try.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s really fun. Everybody should do it,\u201d Sabandal said. \u201cAnd you might meet your future spouse.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:scondon@aspentimes.com\">scondon@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/habitat-for-humanitys-basalt-project-is-melting-pot-for-volunteers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sheryl Sabandal and Sean Fick celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary July 27 by volunteering at Basalt Vista. It was a fitting celebration since they met at a Habitat project in Indiana in 2009.Courtesy photo The Greenberg family dedicated a day of a recent vacation in Aspen to volunteer at the Basalt Vista project. From left [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2452569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-19 00:42:02","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2452569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2452569"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2452569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2452610,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2452569\/revisions\/2452610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2452569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2452569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2452569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}