Habitat Flathead seeks to engage more volunteers by providing free RV parking spots

Habitat for Humanity of the Flathead Valley’s goal is to increase the number of houses they build from three houses per year to over 10. To achieve this goal, Habitat Flathead needs to substantially increase their number of volunteers. One key source of volunteers for Habitats all over the United States is a group of volunteers called Care-A-Vanners, who are volunteers that travel from one Habitat home build site to the next in their own RVs at their own expense. 

Most Care-A-Vanners are retirees with extensive construction experience. They usually stay for a couple weeks at a time at a local Habitat construction site. They dramatically increase the rate at which the homes are built.

“Volunteers are the backbone of Habitat for Humanity’s model,” says MaryBeth Morand, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley. “The labor they provide is the primary reason our homes are affordable. Habitat Flathead is committed to doing anything we can to enrich the volunteer experience for our local volunteers and Care-A-Vanners alike.” 

While many Care-A-Vanners are interested in building with Habitat Flathead and want to volunteer for longer periods of time here, the increasing cost at local campsites makes it difficult for them to do so. In response to this dilemma, Habitat Flathead is installing RV hook-ups in the yard behind their Kalispell ReStore to accommodate the Care-A-Vanners.

News of this development has already spread throughout the Care-A-Vanner community across the United States. Over half of the Care-A-Vanner spots behind the Kalispell ReStore have already been spoken for this summer.

Habitat Flathead welcomes all volunteers from near and far and hopes readers will consider joining their crews this summer. Monetary gifts can also be donated at https://www.habitatflathead.org/donate or mailed to 2535 Hwy 93 S, Kalispell, MT 59901.