Caryn – Volunteer Spotlight!
For 15 years, Caryn (pictured right) dedicates her Saturdays to Knoxville Habitat for Humanity as a Paint Crew Leader. It is an understatement to say that she has become an invaluable member of the Habitat family. As she leads volunteers and homeowners on the paint workday, she is contributing to the overall Habitat experience. Her passion and enthusiasm are infectious to everyone who works alongside her. Throughout the day, she “enjoys getting to work with the people who volunteer” and learn all the different reasons that they have decided to donate their time to build homes, communities and hope.
The main reason that Caryn enjoys leading these workdays for Knoxville Habitat is because of the joy she sees in the homeowners as their dreams become reality. By the time paint day rolls around, the house is finally starting to look more like a home. Caryn believes that the experience starts to feel “real for [the homeowners] and there’s a lot more excitement.” As construction comes to an end, these homeowners “can actually see light at the end of the tunnel,” and she deeply enjoys seeing their hard work pay off.
To better recognize the homeowners for their dedication, Caryn also works to educate the public on her favorite parts of the program. She loves that Knoxville Habitat works to help future homeowners “accomplish something in their life that they can’t do on their own, but … they aren’t just being given something.”
Caryn believes that her work with Habitat “is a way that people can see God’s light through me.” He blesses everyone with different talents and painting happens to be hers. She “desperately” likes using her talents to give back to the community in such an impactful way. Her goal is to one day retire so that she can volunteer for Knoxville Habitat with the weekday paint crew.
For Caryn, volunteering with Habitat “is a lot of fun.” She wants potential volunteers everywhere to know that “it is not work” and helping someone is worth every single one of her Saturdays. She leaves the build site every week with a sense of accomplishment that she was able to help people, but also help them help themselves.