Building dreams

  • Published
  • By James C. Dillard
  • Headquarters, Air Force Office of Special Investigations
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Building dreams - especially in the trying economic times we live in, this phrase has become more poignant than possibly ever before. For some families who are struggling to get by, dreams for them might be something many of us take for granted - a safe place for their children to sleep, a healthy environment to raise them in or even a clean place to feed them.

Members from Det. 801, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., recently volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to give back to their community and give a family in need a place to begin living their dreams.

Special Agent Katrina Curry organized theevent and brought with her a small group of special agents including SA Amber Nichols, SA Robert "Chris" Williams, SA Jennifer Murphy, SA Mary Wade, SA Angela Miles, SA Brian Taylor and SA Dexter Tanigue.

Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, has provided low-cost, affordable housing to more than 1.5 million people since 1976. All of the construction is done by volunteers.

This wasn't SA Curry's first experience with Habitat.

"My first experience was a few years ago when I helped my aunt draft her request to receive a home," SA Curry said. "Ultimately, she didn't get the opportunity, but I learned a lot about the organization back then and knew it was one I would eventually want to volunteer with."

The home the agents helped build went to a family who had waited two years for the chance to improve their housing and quality of life. Mr. Djilala Abed and his wife, Soumia, first applied for a Habitat home in 2006. They lived in a two bedroom apartment in an unsafe neighborhood with their two children and Djilala's mother.

In true "pay it forward" spirit, the Abed's are required to volunteer 250 hours each working on the homes of other would-be recipients as well as on their own.

Special Agent Curry said her impression of Habitat was solidified after volunteering with this project, because she had the opportunity to see first hand the goodness in the volunteers.

"In our jobs as agents, we see the bad of most people, so this experience was a welcomed emotion," she
said. "In general, we know people need safer, livable conditions, but we don't fully understand the need for volunteers and material until you get on site and see exactly the amount of work required."

Special Agent Nichols had somewhat more experience than SA Curry prior to this project with Habitat.

"I have helped build several homes with Habitat for Humanity over the years," she said. "This one in particular was special, because it was the first home where the soon-to-be new owners were on site. Having them there and being able to meet them and work alongside them gave me a renewed sense of what the program is all about."

The new, four-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom home was dedicated to the family during a ribbon cutting ceremony December 3. The home will be sold at cost to the Abed's for around $85,000, with a monthly mortgage based on what the family can afford.

Special Agents Nichols and Curry both said they'd love to participate in another Habitat project in the future.

"I will most definitely participate in building another home," SA Curry said. "I would try to arrange another group event like this one for even more volunteers, but even beyond that, I would like to participate with my family, because I believe it extremely important to instill in our loved ones the importance of helping others and appreciating what they've already been blessed with."

SA Curry said she wanted to thank her coworkers for coming out to help and encourages other detachments to consider volunteering with Habitat.

"Throughout the Air Force, it is important that each Airman emulate the 'whole person' concept, so we, as Airmen, try to fill each of those blocks on our performance reports and do what is necessary to get in some volunteer time," she said. "But with this group, it didn't seem to matter whether or not it would affect their performance reports. Everyone wanted to do something to give back to their community, so when the opportunity arose, everyone was on board with no questions asked."

Building dreams is definitely more than hammering nails and sawing wood - it's about spreading hope and creating a better tomorrow. "We've appreciated everyone coming out and helping," Mr. Abed said. "We're very excited to finally move into this house."