RV Care-A-Vanners build Habitat for Humanity home

It was former President Jimmy Carter who used his celebrity to bring prominence as he helped to build homes for Habitat for Humanity.

Twenty-one years after he served as president, Carter was given the Nobel Peace Prize largely on his work as a senior contributing to homes for the international group.

While Carter has never lifted a hammer to build one of the 10 homes in 20 years of Habitat for Humanity in Lincoln County, his legacy has inspired many throughout the country to step up and do something they never have.

Last Friday a crew of seniors — RV Care-A-Vanners — were in Lincoln County contributing to the Habitat for Humanity home in Libby at 519 First St.

This group of senior volunteers represents a cross-section of society. The only thing they have in common is they are recreational-vehicle traveling seniors who want to help build a home.

“This is our 16th build,” said Lori McHugh, who worked at a grocery store for 30 years. “We’ve been doing this since 2008. After we leave here, we’re going to Belgrade.”

McHugh and her husband Jerry, who is retired from the National Park Service, will wrap up their months-long travels helping at a Habitat home in Tacoma, Wash.

“The best part of this is seeing the homeowners’ face. We’re not building a house, we’re building a home,” Jerry McHugh said. “As long as we have our health, we’ll keep doing this, helping. We travel to do a little building, then we play, then we build and then we play. We don’t build all the time. We go at a leisurely pace.”

Sue and Dan Dimpfl of Geneseo, N.Y., also were working on the Libby home Saturday.

“We do Habitat because we can,” said Dan Dimpfl, a retired high school chemistry teacher. “We meet some great people, and we get to see different parts of the country.”

A third couple helping Saturday was Bob and Sandy Fresh of West Linn, Ore.

“We’re doing this because we wanted to,” said Bob Fresh, 77, the eldest carpenter at Friday’s work session. “It’s something we enjoy. It’s a lot of fun.”

Mick Shea is the construction manager for the Kootenai Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity project, and he said these volunteers play an integral role in the process.

“They mean a great deal because they give us a great head start to be able to complete parts before the local volunteers come to help with the electrical and the plumbing,” Shea said. “I’m just tickled to have this kind of help. They’re a fantastic group.”

To date, more than 20 volunteers have helped with construction.

Shea said plans are to complete the home by the end of August.

The board has selected Justin and Shannon Hopfinger to be the recipients. The Hopfingers have three sons.