Petty Officer Justin Faison is part of the United States Naval Construction Force known as the Seabees. Justin grew up in Tennessee and joined the U.S. Navy upon completion of high school. He choose the Seabees because he had a strong background in construction work having worked with his dad on many a project. Justin has served in many countries such as Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand as part of a humanitarian detachment.  He completed one tour in Iraq in 2003 and one tour in Afghanistan in early 2010.

Currently Justin is stationed at NIOC Sugar Grove, WV which is just down the road from the Habitat for Humanity main office in Franklin.  He is the lead Petty Officer and lead electrician of the Public Works Department.  Justin took on the role as the Navy base coordinator for Habitat for Humanity in March of this year.  He gets the word out about volunteer opportunities with Habitat for Humanity as well as volunteering himself.  Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity’s Volunteer Coordinator says, “Justin has not only been instrumental in recruiting volunteers from the base to help out on many of the projects in Pendleton County, but also a reliable volunteer that I count on for any job.”  Justin is an active person and would rather be outside on a weekend rather than sitting at home.  He enjoys working alongside the Habitat for Humanity construction staff, but more importantly he enjoys helping those in need and making a difference in his community.

Kelsey is a Pendleton County, WV resident from Circleville. She is currently a senior at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV and she owns her own photography business. Kelsey has a long relationship with Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity. Her family owns a farm about 5 minutes away from the Volunteer Center in Cherry Grove, and they used to host volunteers for horseback riding.  Kelsey committed four long, hot days the last week of July to volunteer at The Greenbrier Classic golf tournament in White Sulphur Springs.  For 3 of those 4 days she worked double shifts — the morning shift on the green and the evening shift at the concert.  Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity supported the golf tournament by providing volunteers to work the concessions tent at Green #1 and the 3 nights of concerts provided as part of the week long event.  In return the Greenbrier Classic provided part of the proceeds from the concessions to Habitat.  What she enjoyed most about her experience was knowing that she was helping her community and the wonderful people that make up her community.  She know they would do the same for her if she ever found herself in need.

Evan is from Huntington, WV. He went out of state to attend college, but was drawn back to West Virginia to pursue his masters in Political Science and to coach debate at Marshall University. He came to volunteer this summer at Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity through the Affordable Housing Internship program, sponsored by Community Works in West Virginia. Evan did not have any previous experience with any Habitat affiliate so the whole program was rather new to him.  Despite having a large learning curve, Evan was a jack of all trades this summer and an invaluable set of hands to many projects we have in progress. Among coordinating our summer internship program, he worked on a Capacity Building grant, coordinated volunteers for The Greenbrier Classic, helped to implement our 5-year Strategic plan and every now and then you would find him out on the construction sites.

What Evan enjoyed most about the experience was the gratification of knowing that regardless the task, he was helping to provide affordable housing to who most undoubtedly need and deserve it.

Jamie is a 2011 graduate of Pendleton County High School in Franklin, WV. She was born in Africa and after a brief stay in Texas, she moved to Franlin at the age of 12. Her father is a local Presbyterian minister and she has 2 sisters. Some of her talents include dance and playing the violin. Jamie has been accepted to Middlebury College where she will study international relations, but has deferred enrollment for a year so she can study in Sao Luis, Brazil through Rotary International’s youth exchange program. 

Jamie first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity four years ago with her church.  The group helped to build a handicap ramp for a local homeowner.  Since then, she volunteered on and off as part of her church group.  This past year she became more involved with Habitat by way of the Habitat for Humanity Club at her high school.   She learned all her construction skills on site.  What she enjoys most about volunteering with Habitat is the fellowship of working with other people toward the benefit of others and of the whole community.

Jocelyn Hanna is a proud West Virginian with family ties to Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties. She works full-time for the Greenbrier County Schools as a cook. Jocelyn had no experience volunteering with Habitat for Humanity but had told her friends she’d like to be involved in a Habitat build. Her friends passed on the information about the Women Build project in White Sulphur Springs after reading about it in the newspaper.  Jocelyn showed up on site in February to help with the foundation work and has been a regular fixture since.

Jocelyn has been described not only as a “do-er” but also a giver.  She has been involved all aspects of the build including fundraising.  She is true team player and is very representative of the people that are brought together through the work of Habitat.  What she enjoys most about volunteering with Habitat is meeting folks from all over the county, state and even country.  “We all come together to accomplish a common goal, and that is an awesome feeling,” she says.  She was very impressed with the college group that came out to volunteer during their Spring Break. To her, that speaks volumes of the human spirit.

Leslie Weddle moved to Caldwell, WV which is in Greenbrier County in 2009 from Charlottesville, VA. She is retired from State Farm Insurance Co. as a Claims and Procedural Specialist. Leslie’s introduction to Habitat for Humanity was through one of Millard Fuller’s– founder of Habitat for Humanity — books. His ideals and concepts for giving people who need it a helping hand made such an impression on her she wanted to be part of building a house for a family who otherwise would not have a home. 

Leslie has volunteered on several houses in the Charlottesville/Albemarle County area, Green County and Madison County in Virginia.  She doesn’t quite remember how she heard about Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity or the Women Build project in White Sulphur Springs.  She began volunteering with the Women Build project on February 9 and has been a regular since.  She has learned much and chalks that up to helpful and patient supervisors on site.  “Meeting the folks I have met, working side by side with fellow volunteers, seeing children that will soon be moving into the home along with their mom having such big smiles on their faces.  It’s just been a joy to be out there — such a sense of accomplishment and community,” is what Leslie enjoys most about being on site.

Do you know someone who has dedicated time to volunteering with Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity? 

Nominate a volunteer for Volunteer of the Month.

Monica Foos is a small business owner in White Sulphur Springs, WV. She runs her own Bed & Breakfast — The James Wylie House right off Main Street. Most volunteers find us, but Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity found her instead when in search of an affordable place for staff to stay when visiting White Sulphur Springs which is the home of Women Build 2011.  Monica also graciously opened her B & B to Habitat for Humanity, a WVNS-TV News crew and others on the afternoon of October 27, 2010 to surprise Laura Blevins with the news she had been selected to be a Habitat Partner Family and the homeowner of the Women Build house. 

Monica has been a consistent volunteer on the Women Build construction site.  This is her first experience working with Habitat for Humanity.  She had wanted to be involved for some time, but with running her own business she found it hard to get away.  Because this build is in White Sulphur Springs, it makes it easy for her to get out to the job site.  She is pretty handy on the job site as she used to manage some hardware stores.  In fact, she does all the repairs at the B & B herself.  What she enjoys most about volunteering is meeting great folks and the gratification of helping others.  She says, “It is all good for the soul!”

Do you know someone who has dedicated time to volunteering with Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity? 

Nominate a volunteer for Volunteer of the Month.

C.J. Malcolm is a Senior at Pendleton County High School in Franklin, WV. He is a member of the high school Habitat for Humanity Club and has been regularly volunteering during Saturday Workdays. Not only is C.J. Malcolm a volunteer, he is also a member of a Partner Family. C.J., his mom and sister moved into their new Habitat for Humanity home at River Bend Gardens last summer.  After completeing his sweat equity requirements as a Parnter Family, C.J. continued working on job sites because he realized he was building more than just a house.  

C.J. has a history of service in the community working with the volunteer fire department.  He has used his current skills in First Aid to man First Aid stations during our Blitz Build weeks and other build days.  He has also acquired new skills such as learning how and when to use different tools.  Also, volunteering regularly has helped him grow personally teaching him to break out of his comfort zone by reaching out to get to know new people — volunteers and Partner Families.  He feels a sense of accomplishment and pride knowing he worked on a home for a family in need.

Jason Farber is originally from Fair Lawn, New Jersey. He has been volunteering with Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity for 3 years. Jason learned about the opportunity after joining the Habitat for Humanity Club at James Madison University where he is currently a student studying Integrated Science and Technology and Computer Science. The University is about an hour away from Habitat’s Franklin, WV office, and Jason has been instrumental in coordinating volunteers from the campus chapter for the affiliate.

Jason has also volunteered at other Habitat for Humanity affiliates  in the surrounding area of the University as well as spending a week in New Orleans to assist with reconstruction efforts.  He calls Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity a home away from home.  He feels a sense of comfort when being on the various job sites.  Last year, Jason was an active member on the Board of Directors which gave him a unique perspective on his volunteer experience — he was building a person’s life up, not just a house.

Dan Otahal has a long standing relationship with Habitat for Humanity. Even with a lack of construction skills, he put his hands to work in his home area and in West Virginia. Dan has led a group of high school students to Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity for the last nine years. Dan currently lives in Downers Grove, IL where he teaches Social Studies, coaches the swim team and co-sponsors the Habitat for Humanity campus chapter at Hinsdale Central High School. 

He discovered Almost Heaven when searching for a Habitat affiliate that could host a large group for a summer workcamp.  Each summer Dan has led a group of 60 plus high school students to rural West Virginia to build houses.  In fact Hinsdale Central High School over the last 4 years has raised thousands of dollars to be a Blitz Build House Sponsor each summer.  He enjoys working with the Partner Family and watching the students help build their home.  He adds, “The whole experience is remarkable and an amazing example of why Habitat exists.  The house sponsorships and blitz builds I have participated in are life changing experiences for everyone involved.”