The Three Sisters School provided a spot, complete with electrical and water hookups, for eight motor-home owners to park for two weeks in August 2007 while they volunteered with the Bend Area Habitat for Humanity affiliate.
The 15 people on the team were all members of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) Chapter: Habitat for Humanity. Chapter members sign up to spend two weeks building with a local Habitat affiliate.
Team members may not know each other prior to arriving at a build, since they come from all over the United States and Canada. Typically, most are retired couples or individuals. This team included RVers from as far away as upstate New York and southern Florida, as well as some from California and a few who live full-time in their motor homes.
Team leaders Lynn and Linda Laymon said that everyone on this team—men and women—helped with various tasks on four Habitat homes under construction in Bend, including roofing, drywall and siding, plus setting forms for four new foundations.
"We're thankful for the opportunity to give our time and talents to further the Christian mission of Habitat for Humanity of providing low-income families a decent home that they can afford," stated Lynn. Every hosting Habitat affiliate, like the one in Bend, is asked to provide the Care-A-Vanners a place to park their RVs while volunteering. "The Three Sisters School staff has made it possible for us to build here. We're very appreciative of their generosity."
The FMCA Habitat Chapter is a subgroup of the much larger RV Care-A-Vanners program run by Habitat for Humanity International. The Care-A-Vanners program organizes about 200 building opportunities every year.
