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A Habitat for Humanity volunteer group called the Care-A-Vanners rolled into Sioux Falls this week.
Monday was the first time the 12 volunteers picked up a hammer and nails to help the community. Bud Dragoo hails from Arizona, and this is his first Care-A-Van volunteer project.
"Doing some caulking, some cutting and some hammering," Dragoo said.
As the rookie of the group, he says he's already learned a thing or two.
"There are some folks out here that have been doing this for 25 and 30 years, and you know who they are right away," Dragoo said.
Care-A-Vanners spent their first day putting up stiffbacks on the side of the house. The stiffbacks will be used to put truses in place, which will help support the structure of the house.
While the trusses are supporting the foundation, these volunteers are supporting each other.
"The beauty of Habitat is that even the people that say, 'Ahh, I don't know what I'm going to do out there.' There's a job for you," Frank Winslow said.
Winslow traveled north from Texas. He's worked on Habitat volunteer projects across North America, in places like New Mexico, Wyoming and most recently Mexico.
"Down there we build with concrete blocks, and here we build with lumber," Winslow said.
Whether it's mixing concrete or sawing lumber, new homeowner Dena Morken is thankful the Care-A-Vanners are helping her build a new life.
"They're just great hearts, great people and I'm really thankful that there's people like that in this world," Morken said.
She's even happier she can help the Care-A-Vanners. Morken spent the day hauling wood and hammering nails on her new home.
"Every day that I get to be here, I have a big smile on my face," Morken said.
While these volunteers hail from coast to coast, New Hampshire to Arizona, Morken's glad the Care-A-Van's motor made a pit stop in Sioux Falls.
Habitat for Humanity has nine housing projects in the Sioux Falls area this summer.
If you'd like to apply to be a Habitat homeowner, please visit the Habitat for Humanity website.
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