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Volunteer for Habitat not clowning around
Published November 1, 2009
When Leroy Hurta retired in 1997 after putting in 37 years at Dow Chemical, he got serious and he got silly. With his newly acquired free time, he signed up for a class at Brazosport College on clowning, adopted his alter ego, “Tiny” and joined Coastal Confetti Clowns, the local clown alley which is similar to a clown union.
Through his new clown friends, he learned of an elderly woman in his community who lived in the wreckage of a home and began to help rebuild it for her.
“There was no toilet anywhere in the house, and you could see the sky through the ceiling in the bathroom. She’d lost her hot water during Hurricane Carla, and you know that was just a couple of days ago,” Hurta quipped.
While the women in the clown alley raised money for the supplies, the men worked to provide the woman a livable home. Hurta worked for more than six months, often alone, on the structure. Sometimes he just visited with her, knowing she was lonely.
Although Hurta had always wanted to be involved with Habitat for Humanity, the experience helping provide safe and adequate housing for this woman had an impact on him. He became serious about helping those who needed it. Giving his time to Habitat for Humanity was a good fit.
Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976, and has built and rehabilitated more than 300,000 houses worldwide. In an effort to eliminate poverty-level housing and homelessness across the globe, the organization works on “partnership housing,” a concept in which volunteer builders work side by side with those in need of adequate shelter to build simple, decent houses. Since establishing the local Brazosport affiliate in 1991, the organization has built more than 70 houses in this area, providing homes for nearly 300 people with 15 more families currently working to become Habitat homeowners.
Because of donations of money, materials and labor, Habitat is able to sell the homes to partner families with affordable loans and no profit to the organization. The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses. Homeowners must make a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, along with investing hundreds of hours of their own labor — sweat equity — into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.
Corporations, churches and organizations often sponsor the construction of Habitat house through a financial contribution. Additionally, each year the annual BASF/ Wholesale Electric Walk for Habitat raises funds to support Habitat’s efforts in Southern Brazoria County.
This year’s Walk for Habitat, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7 and beginning at 8 a.m., will mark the 11th anniversary of the event which is preceded by a “Penny Drive” for local school children. The “Penny Drive” encourages children to save and donate pennies to an important cause and instills a sense of volunteerism.
Over the past years, children have donated more than $89,500. With community and sponsorship support, the Walk for Habitat has grossed more than $817,600, according to Mary Ellen Thomas, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Southern Brazoria County.
Hurta turns out for three or four Habitat building projects each year, happy to chip in on the heavy work. Although he’s been known to twist up the occasional balloon animal to entertain the ladies making lunches for the volunteers, the clown shtick and red nose usually stay at home.
For this year’s Walk, however, he’s ready for a little clowning around complete with grease-paint and funny shoes. In fact, several clowns will be at the Walk this year, providing entertainment for young and old alike.
“My goal when I retired was to help other people,” Hurta said. “I like helping people, making them happier. This is my opportunity to give back. I wish more people would come out to a Habitat build and see what it’s like.”
The BASF/Wholesale Electric Walk for Habitat will begin at MacLean Park in Lake Jackson at 9 a.m. Saturday, with registration from 8 to 9 a.m. For information about the Penny Drive and Walk for Habitat, call Cindy Suggs, walk chairwoman at BASF, at 979-415-6273.
For information about volunteering or contributing to Habitat for Humanity, visit its Web site at www.habitat.org.
HELPING HANDS
The BASF/Wholesale Electric Walk for Habitat will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at MacLean Park in Lake Jackson, with registration from 8 to 9 a.m. For information about the Walk for Habitat, or the Penny Drive for area schoolchildren that leads up to the event, call Walk chairwoman Cindy Suggs of BASF at 979-415-6273.
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