BURRILLVILLE – Two local veterans who have been building their own duplex at 57-59 Oakland School St. for more than a year through Habitat for Humanity are about one month away from completing their project, said Linda Plays, executive director of Habitat For Humanity of West Bay/Northern Rhode Island.
Scott Glaude, 50, and David Collins, 59, both veterans of the Army National Guard who both have disabilities, have spent every Saturday for more than a year working on their future home with volunteers and earning the 300 hours of “sweat equity” required by Habitat for Humanity, Plays said.
Glaude has well over the 300 hours, he said.
“I doubled it. I have over 700 hours. And my nephew Dave is here with me too,” Glaude said.
Family members can contribute to sweat equity hours, and Glaude’s nephew, David Johnston, 18, of Burrillville, has put 140 hours into the project so far, Glaude said.
What started as a way to complete the required 20 hours of community service for his senior project at Burrillville High School has blossomed into a regular Saturday routine, Johnston said.
“I just like helping out. It’s something I enjoy doing,” he said. “Keeps me out of trouble.”
Last Saturday, Glaude and volunteers were working on a shed behind the duplex, and Robert Savastano, president and owner of Custom Drywall Inc. of East Providence, dropped by with his crew to see the progress on the house. Savastano’s company donated all of the sheetrock for the project, as well as the labor, a donation valued at about $30,000, Plays said.
“It’s one of the biggest donations we’ve gotten,” she said. “Any kind donation like that is an absolute godsend. We got donations of crushed stone, paving for the driveway. Many companies who donate support vets or are veteran-owned.”
Savastano has also donated to several other Habitat projects in the past, he said.
“I’m just that type of person who likes to help out in the community,” he said.
Glaude has enjoyed his time working on the duplex so much that he intends to continue working on other Habitat projects on Saturdays well into the future, he said.
“I just love watching the process from start to finish,” he said. “I’m going help with the next house, too. I made some really good friendships with the guys.”
His relationship with Collins, the veteran who will share the duplex with him, is “great,” he said. Collins has also fulfilled his sweat equity hours, Plays said.
“I can’t wait to move in. I’m anxious,” Glaude said. “I don’t think it will really hit me until I’m in here.”
As for his favorite room in his new house, Glaude said it will be the kitchen, since he loves to cook.
“I’m going to spend most of my time there. My favorite thing to cook is dynamites. I use my mom’s recipe,” he said.
“I wish she was here to see this,” he added. “She’d be jumping in here to help out.”
Plays said Habitat is in the process of finding a new location for the next project.
“Every year in order for us to defray costs, we have fundraisers and our biggest is our golf tournament on August 22 at Crystal Lake,” she said. “That’s a great way for people to help out and have fun doing it.”
More information on the Habitat FORE Humanity golf tournament can be found at HTTP://app.eventcaddy.com/events/habitat-fore-humanity
Can’t wait until I can move into my new home!!
Great job Guys!