NA N T U C K E T Life & Style

U nless you have volunteered your time for a worthy cause, you have no idea how rewarding it is. Even hard work feels great when you feel you've made a difference in the world, or in your own little community. It all adds up. Many wonderful things would never get accomplished without volunteers.

This summer I have spent two mornings per week working on the Nantucket Habitat for Humanity house. I have long been an advocate of creating housing for yearround Nantucket residents. I have also been an advocate for renewable energy initiatives. To my delight, these two issues have come together in the Habitat for Humanity house being built on Okorwaw Avenue, near the airport.

With fewer than 20 percent of Nantucket's year-round residents owning homes, we have a serious housing crisis. In fact, the recently updated Housing Production Plan required by the state every five years, indicates Nantucket's housing crisis now affects year-round residents of all income levels. There are some strides being made with the Town and not-for-profit organizations all working toward creating a variety of affordable housing, but it requires support from the community.

Housing Nantucket and Habitat for Humanity Nantucket have put their resources together on a piece of property that was originally owned by the Town. As part of the agreement with Housing Nantucket, the Habitat home will be subject to an affordability covenant to insure that the property will always remain affordable.

Going green in the construction of this home makes it possible for Habitat to provide a home that is affordable not only to purchase, but also affordable for the new homeowner to maintain. Using solar panels for heat and domestic hot water, insulated concrete forms for the basement, energy star-rated appliances and other materials and techniques designed to help make the home sustainable. Relying on volunteers to build this single family home dramatically reduces the cost of construction.

Having never done any kind of construction work in my life, I have learned many new skills working on the Habitat house. I've done things I never dreamed I could and I've met great people I probably never would have met. Many of the volunteers this summer have been summer residents and island visitors. I've seen co-workers, friends and even young adults working side-by-side with their grandfather. This is truly a community effort. Please lend a hand.

Through the fall and winter, Habitat volunteers are needed three days per week. Shifts are usually 9a.m.- noon on two weekday mornings, and 8a.m.-2p.m. on Saturdays. To volunteer on this project, e-mail Craig Spery at craigspery@aol.com or call 508-228-7892. I