Martin County Habitat for Humanity volunteers come from various backgrounds

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Martin County Habitat for Humanity volunteers come from various backgrounds

Nancy Prywitowski, For LuminariesPublished 6:05 p.m. ET April 10, 2018 | Updated 10:43 a.m. ET April 16, 2018
  

Volunteer Appreciation Week Profile: April 15 - 21, 2018

LINKEDINCOMMENTMORE

There is no need to be a carpenter to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity of Martin County.  Habitat volunteers come from various backgrounds. There also are many things to be done and not all involve swinging hammers.

On the construction site, Roland Cartier is Habitat's top volunteer. He worked for Pratt & Whitney as an inspector for military jet engines for 36 years. Because he has been volunteering three days a week for 12 years and has donated over 4,000 hours of time and talent, Cartier can now build a Habitat home without even looking at the plans.

Top Habitat for Humanity of Martin County volunteers

Top Habitat for Humanity of Martin County volunteers include Jane Ready, left, who does data entry in the Administrative Office; and John Wharton, a regular behind the counter at Habitat's ReStore. (Photo: Provided by Habitat for Humanity of Martin County/For Luminaries)

RELATED STORY:  American Red Cross can hardly survive without this volunteer

John Wharton is a regular behind the counter at Habitat's ReStore. He worked 38 years for Bell of Pennsylvania, then Bell Atlantic and Verizon before retiring in 2009. The proceeds from the sale of gently used building materials and furnishings helps to fund the agency's mission.  Wharton's donation of over 1,000 hours of volunteer time has helped keep the store running smoothly. Besides cashier, ReStore volunteers help to test appliances, do minor repairs on furniture and place items on the showroom floor.

Data entry is a never ending job in Habitat's Administrative Office and Jane Ready has been volunteering to do it since 2010. She served in the U.S. Navy for five years and retired as a senior buyer for a high tech company in 2001. Ready volunteers twice a week and accurately inputs all volunteer hours and contact information. Because of her dedication to detail, Martin County Habitat can count Ready pulling reports for many different things.