RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS; HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: BUILDING HOMES AND HOPE

When Bill Benefield gets up on Saturday mornings, he has no doubt where he will spend most of his day.

For the past year, Benefield has volunteered to help build Habitat for Humanity houses in Cape Girardeau. He is working on the house his daughter and grandchildren will soon move into.

"When you're in a position like she was in and somebody turns around and opens their arms to you -- there's no words to express it," Benefield said. "We've got some good people out there who are willing to help. That's a blessing."

Benefield is one of many volunteers who work each weekend to construct low-cost housing for people who need homes that are livable and affordable. The Cape Area Habitat for Humanity is part of a national ecumenical housing ministry that builds and finances homes and charges no interest to the families while they pay back the costs to build the home.

Volunteer labor, donations of money and materials, fund-raising efforts and a lot of "sweat equity" by the new owner are used to build two houses each year locally, said Dr. Janet Ruopp, treasurer for the local Habitat for Humanity board of directors. "Sweat equity," which acts as a down payment on the house, amounts to time spent constructing a family's home and the homes of others.

"We require them to put in 350 hours working in Habitat homes," she said. "They don't have to be contractors, but they do have to help work on the homes."

Benefield said he has been impressed by the number of volunteers who come out each Saturday and "put in eight hours for a perfect stranger." Equally impressive are the independent contractors and business owners who donate building supplies, equipment and services to help complete Habitat for Humanity homes.

"It blows me away when they tell me to just take equipment and bring it back when I'm done," said Benefield. "People need to know you've got good companies out there like that."

The volunteers are a combination of individuals from the community and Southeast Missouri State University students. Sister Cynthia Hruby at the Catholic Campus Ministries has been active with the student group since last fall. The Campus Habitat group has been meeting for more than two years, but has grown in numbers since an information fair in April.

"Habitat is neat," said Samuel Birk, a Southeast student from Jackson. "I'm not only helping people but learning a new skill that may help out when I get my own place."

The student group volunteers four times each semester, usually the first Saturday of the month.

If people from the community are interested in volunteering, they can contact a board member or come out any Saturday at the home under construction at 65 Centennial. It's located one block south of Green Acres in north Cape Girardeau.

Hruby enjoys the satisfaction of doing something concrete with people from the local community. She also enjoys watching the students learn skills from professional people or retired professionals that volunteer their time.

Habitat for Humanity is getting ready to embark on one of its biggest projects yet. They have purchased eight new plots at the corner of College and West End and are planning a building project blitz.

Dedicated volunteers will be all the more important in the months and years ahead.

Habitat for Humanity Board Members

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cheeseman

Martha Hamilton

Dale Humphries

Rev. Roy Jones

Susan Pekios

Cindie Jetes

Dr. Janet Ruopp

David Shell

Mati Stonoe

Bill Nienburg

Rev. James Caughlan

Tom Mueller

Lois Tweedy

Sister Cynthia Hruby

Jill Venezian