Oh Yes, Wyoming

I mentioned in a previous post that I am heading to Wyoming very soon (tomorrow!), but I realized I haven't told you yet what I will be doing there! From Nov. 18 through Dec. 16, my team will be working with Habitat For Humanity of of the Eastern Bighorns (HFHEB), which works to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from Sheridan and Johnson Counties and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. The organization targets households that lie between 25 and 60 percent of the state's median income. Since its inception in 1995, this Wyoming chapter has successfully built 18 homes. HFHEB hopes to have five more homes constructed by the end of 2009, four of which our teams will actively help finish before Nov. 31.

In past years, HFHEB’s Family Selection Committee has found that a specific segment of the population was in need of affordable housing, such as single mothers, handicap individuals or the elderly. However, the trend has been shifting recently so that there is not one particular demographic showing a greater need than another. In other words, all types of people and families are now are in need of affordable housing, demonstrating the urgency required to address this issue.

In addition to working construction, we're expected to help engage and recruit volunteers from the community. A local community college is starting up a Habitat chapter at their campus, so we also hope to assist their efforts to organize and possibly recruit for the NCCC as well. Furthermore, we will lend a hand at the ReStore, Habitat’s warehouse that sells new and used quality construction materials that help raise funds for projects. Helping out at ReStore involves picking up donations, organizing volunteers, creating workshops and recruiting volunteers.

The city of Sheridan bills itself as "The West at its Best!" It is a quaint and charming town of about 16,000, making it the sixth-largest city in Wyoming. The main industry here is tourism, spurred on by the breathtakingly gorgeous Eastern Bighorn mountains and National Forest nearby that make for great camping, hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, fishing, biking, and other outdoor activities.

The city has rich and storied history as a hub of western ranching, mining, logging, and railroading. Buffalo Bill of the famed Wild West Show, which featured legends like Annie Oakley and Sitting Bull, allegedly auditioned acts off the front porch of the historic Sheridan Inn, which he built and leased.

Even today, Sheridan retains much of its old school charm, and it also hosts a full roster of rodeos, parades, and festivals, including a lovely Christmas stroll on Main Street that we will get to enjoy during our stay. In 2006 and 2006, True West Magazine ranked Sheridan as one of the country's top Western towns.

During our project, my team will be staying in the basement are of a large house donated by a partner of Habitat for Humanity. The walls are framed, but there is no drywall, so we'll basically be sharing one large room and a single bathroom. It is, thankfully, heated, and we will also get to use the kitchen and common living spaces. We'll be cooking most of our meals and shop at the local Safeway and Wal-Mart. They also have a pretty nice YMCA, which provides memberships for just $5 a month and includes use of their indoor swimming pool and running track. I'll post pictures of our new home for the next month once we arrive.

One of my legitimate concerns is the snow, which is already reportedly more than 10 inches thick. Temperature highs top out in the 40's and plunge down to the teens for the lows. While I've seen snow and have been on a skiing trip before, this is my first time to actually live in the stuff for the long-term. I will definitely need a crash course in driving in snow (in a 15-passenger van, no less), and a quick tutorial on how to dress for the weather (apparently they make special "snow pants"?).

That's a quick overview of what I'll be doing and where I am going for this first project, but I'll be able to give more specific information and impressions once I actually arrive and start the work. We leave tomorrow for the two and a half day road trip, which means plenty of team bonding, hopefully. If not, I have books and crossword puzzles to keep me occupied. Today I'll be plenty busy packing for next month, especially since we can only bring two small bags with us, and much of it will be taken up by our official uniforms and gear. Until then, in honor of my impending project, I'll leave you with this little ditty. Feel free to sing along!