Global Village Journal

Nepal – Oct / Nov 2011

Sightseers.  We are sightseers – from Knoxville and Chapel Hill and Smyrna, Georgia.  Fourteen sightseers who dreamed of seeing the sights of Nepal halfway round the world.  But also dreamed of a fabulous sight – two Habitat for Humanity homes built by hand onsite in the province of Kavre – not far from Kathmandu.

And sightseers we were as we made our way!  Whether trekking the Himalaya

After several years of struggling, the Habitat for Humanity Chapter at The University of Tennessee is once again actively involved with Knoxville Habitat for Humanity, thanks to new leadership.

David Grueser, president of the University of Tennessee’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, has made a valuable impact on the campus and in the Knoxville community.

Lori Gano is a licensed contractor in Knoxville who has been building houses for more than 16 years. After buying her first home at 18, Lori taught herself construction skills by doing her own home improvements. She is dedicated to helping her community and actively volunteers at Knoxville Habitat for Humanity.

The mothers, daughters, grandmothers, wives, and sisters of the Knoxville community came together October 1 to begin building a Knoxville Habitat for Humanity home constructed solely by women.

Drew Farr is a junior at Webb School of Knoxville. He is 17 years old and has been volunteering with Knoxville Habitat for Humanity to lead shed builds. His family is actively involved in Habitat and his father, Skip Farr (pictured at left with him), is a long-time board member and volunteer.

The board of directors has elected Robyn Ulrich as its chairman, effective July 1, 2011. Ulrich is the senior vice president of new product development for the home category at Scripps Networks Interactive, which includes the lifestyle television brands HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and Great American Country.

In the days leading up to Mother’s Day on May 8, hundreds of female volunteers will  pound nails and raise walls at Habitat for Humanity construction sites in all 50 states in recognition of National Women Build Week, April 30 – May 8.

On May 3, 2011, in Knoxville, female volunteers came together to build a floor system for a new Knoxville Habitat for Humanity home at 2225 Virginia Ave., the future home of Donna Wilson.

Amy Oprea's life story is like one of the novels she loves to read.

Amy is a quiet and unassuming woman who works nearly unnoticed to the public, behind the scenes at our Thrift Store, where she logs 40+ hours a week sorting and racking all of the clothing and accessory donations that come into the store.

But for those people who know her or who spend a few minutes talking with her, you quickly find out that she is a very hard-working mother of 10 who has overcome a lot of adversity in her 48 years.

David Lloyd has the "Habitat Fever."

Lloyd is a regular Tuesday-Thursday volunteer at Knoxville Habitat for Humanity who volunteers his time and skills on the electrical crew, a group of approximately 10 retired gentlemen led by KHFH staff member Danny Mitchell.

Chuck and Elaine Cleland are longtime volunteers at the Knoxville Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store at 2209 Central Avenue.
 
December marked the end of their 12-year run as volunteers with us as they prepare to move to North Carolina to be near their family.
 
Chuck and Elaine have volunteered with the Thrift Store since 1997, when the store was still located on 11th Street. Elaine worked every Wednesday morning, with Chuck joining Elaine every third Wednesday.