The volunteers who came out on Saturday are, from left, Tim Summers, Leanne Summers, Doug Schauer, Ray Dumas, Pat Sloan, Richard Schmaltz, Ted Richardson, Brian Summers, Trudy Winterburn, Debbie Bell, Brian Campbell, Shirley Hill, Kevin O’Gorman, Alejandro Frew, Robert Leblanc, Paul McLenaghan and Sean O’Gorman.
by Connie Tabbert
Editor
FORESTERS FALLS — A fundraising project was completed for the fourth consecutive year during the beautiful spring day this past Saturday when 17 volunteers gathered where a tandem load of logs had been piled.
For several hours, these people shared the duties of sawing, splitting and stacking the logs into firewood. When they finished around 4:30 p.m., there were 24 single cords of wood stacked and ready to be picked up or delivered. A single cord of wood is four feet high and eight feet long.
Ted Richardson, who has property on Government Road near Foresters Falls where the cutting bee was held, said he purchases the logs for the fundraiser and once sold, the cost of the logs is removed and the profit goes to the Guatemala project. Each person helping on Saturday has been to Guatemala at least once. Tim Summers, who was there on Saturday with his chainsaw, and Mr. Richardson have been at least 10 times.
Alejandro Frew, another volunteer, said he’s a rarity when he goes to Guatemala because he has facial hair, which is rarely seen in Guatemala.
“They think I’m Santa Claus,” he said with a chuckle.
He has been going to Guatemala since 2004. Many people within Whitewater Region are familiar with the Guatemala project, which began with Susan and Richard Schmaltz, who lived in La Passe. Ten years ago, the couple gave a presentation about Oneness at a United Church Women’s meeting and Bea Richardson went home and told her husband, Ted, about the project and the need for volunteers.
“I phoned the Schmaltzes the next day,” he recalled.
While Oneness continues to operate, it’s not by the Schmaltzes, but under the director of the Guatemalan volunteers through Houses to Homes, he said
Each year in November, area volunteers go down to Guatemala and volunteer for two to three weeks, he said. They built furniture during the first years; then homes were added; and now just homes are built. The homes are made of cement blocks and are about 15 feet by 10 feet, Mr. Richardson said.
They also purchase bunk beds and linens, a cook-stove with a chimney and food for a year for the family who gets the home, he added. Other items such as clothes and shoes are brought and given to the many children who keep the builders happy as they work.
Each person pays their own expenses to get to and back from Guatemala, as well as living expenses while there, he said.
“It’s an experience of a lifetime,” Mr. Richardson said.
However, fundraisers are held and donations are accepted to raise the money for the items required to build the homes, he said.
It costs about $1,800 US to build a home, he said.
This is the fourth year a log-cutting bee was held, Mr. Richardson said. He said $1,000 is raised from this project and the wood is pre-sold. Proceeds from the Sunday matinee of the Cobden Community Players on-stage production go to this project as well, he added.
“It’s rewarding being able to give somebody a home,” Mr. Richardson said. “But, it’s priceless to be with the people who go down there. It’s a great social time.”
He noted that some people go once while others keep going back year after year.
Due to knee surgery, Mr. Richardson believes this year’s trip will be in January or February of 2017, not November of 2016.
If anyone would like more information about volunteering in Guatemala, call Mr. Richardson, 613-646-2985.
