If you ever get to visit a Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity (GMHFH) build site,
you will probably see regular volunteer Thom Smith working on a variety of tasks.
With a tool in hand and a smile on his face, he has been a volunteer with GMHFH
for almost 10 years and has built multiple homes for families here in Vermont. He
joined us with little to no experience, but never looked back! Read his spotlight
below, where he answers questions about his time on the build sites, how he got
started with the Geezer Crew, and gives us a peek at the light-hearted personality
he brings to the team.
Q: What inspired you to start volunteering with GMHFH
A: I was looking for something worthwhile to work on after I retired in 2016. One of
my nieces mentioned that she had participated in a one-day group event so I
checked out the website for the local Habitat group. I found a current build in Essex
& signed up online.
Q: Did you have any construction or building experience prior to volunteering?
A: Prior to Habitat, I had a bit of DIY experience in routine home maintenance, but
no real construction experience.
Q: Did you join the Geezer Crew right away?
A: As it turns out, signing up with the Geezer team was a fluke. The team was
building a four-plex in Essex & had some volunteer slots open online. Just a lucky
accident
Q: How does it feel to be a part of such a tight-knit volunteer crew?
A: From the start, I found the team to be welcoming & inclusive. It is great working
with a volunteer group like this. Everyone is there because they want to be there,
and all working with the same goal.
Q: What is one of your favorite moments or stories to share about your time on
GMHFH build sites?
A: I don’t think there’s any one specific moment that stands out, however I did find a
pot of gold at the end of a rainbow on one of our Milton builds. (see photo below)
Q: What would you tell someone who is on the fence about volunteering on a
GMHFH build site?
A: If someone is on the fence regarding volunteering, I would suggest they invest
one day. It may turn out that this is not for them, however it could be the start of a
very rewarding endeavor
If you’d like to learn more about volunteering on our build sites, please visit vermonthabitat.org/volunteer or reach out to our Volunteer Manager, Caitlyn Conibear: cconibear@vermonthabitat.org.
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