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Home » Volunteer » Featured Volunteer » Larry Beans

Larry Beans

The only complaint we have about Larry is how difficult is to only briefly summarize his contributions to Habitat. He has been volunteering with Habitat since 1990, participated in various Build-a-Thons, been a passionate advocate for our mission of providing affordable home ownership opportunities to our neighbors, participated in numerous Global Village trips  – the list goes on and on. Both on the worksite and behind the scenes, Larry is a fixture in our Habitat family.
 
Simply looking at Larry’s years of service, serious dedication to Habitat’s mission, and time spent digging foundations in tropical nations in Habitat’s name is enough to impart exhaustion on most of us mere mortals. Yet some light sleuthing has revealed that “exhaustion” is not a word one thinks of in association with Larry. During his last Global Village trip to El Salvador, his energy and enthusiasm were so prevalent that they oozed from the worksite and into after-hours. Global Village trip leader Jen Golike disclosed: “he is a card shark and wanted to play games every night after dinner. And, despite being the oldest on the team, he was always one of the last to head to bed.” He was also noted to be an exceptionally hard worker and an admirable travel companion – particularly when it came to roughing it through the jungle mud! The key to Larry’s seemingly endless energy seems to lie in his devotion to the people behind our mission; that is, the motivation to serve the humanity behind the homes, the same which drives our organization. It is because of this devotion that we are honored to have him as our Featured Volunteer for December 2010.
 
How did you originally get involved with Habitat for Humanity?
In the early 1990’s Ellen and I were planning a trip to New England for 6 weeks. This was Habitat’s 15 or 25 year anniversary. They had an opening in Hartford, CT. We spent one of our 6 weeks here building a home with 3 separate units in one week. When we returned home I continued to work on Habitat homes in Oakland and Richmond, usually one day per week. Ellen worked in the Habitat Office as a volunteer. I did this for several years.
 
I worked a little in Contra Costa County on Habitat homes. We donated some money to Mt. Diablo Habitat. It wasn’t until the Build-A-Thon of 2009 that I got reconnected with Habitat.
 I had a productive time raising money for this 2009 Build-A-Thon. I even was one of the top 10 fundraisers. I try to work one day per week and again worked 3 of the 4 days on the 2010 Build-A-Thon. 
 Instead of raising money for the 2010 Build-A-Thon, I raised money to build in El Salvador.
 
What keeps you coming back on a regular basis? 
It keeps me in shape. The regularity of the work makes a difference in my body. I enjoy working with the AmeriCorps workers and the other volunteers. I like the sense of accomplishment. 
 
Why are you so passionate about the Habitat for Humanity mission?
Everyone deserves to have a home. I have been fortunate in my life, so why not help others? This has been a guiding principle in my life.   I have led about 30 teams of volunteers to other countries to help with construction, teach English, or work in an orphanage for Global Volunteers from 1989 to 2008.
 
Can you describe a memorable interaction with a partner family that sticks with you? 
No one situation sticks out. I enjoyed working with a married couple on the 2010 Build-A-Thon for 3 days.
 
What is your favorite job when you are out on the construction site volunteering?
In my first years it was anchoring the trusses in place. I enjoyed making the wooden overhangs for the windows at Edes Avenue with Seth and installing them.  I like the variety of work and learning new skills.
 
Please finish this sentence: Both volunteering and financial support are essential to Habitat East Bay because… 
Without them there would be a lot of people who couldn’t afford a decent home. 

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Adairis
Posts: 2
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Reply #2 on : Sun March 11, 2012, 22:24:59
I am going to orientation this week. I use free time pensretly to offer to find dogs for ppl on Craigslist and ref shelter pic to them. Have gotten some adopted. Recently family went to adopt one in NYC but no one in shelter knew where dog was and after hr looking/waiting were told cldnt b found. I do hv to say as someone who has adopted several times frm staten isl. I only had to come back once bcz being spayed that day. Never had to wait more than an hr and although I hv never met mngr there the volunteers do what is right. I wld think rabbies wld be given as soon as a doc walks in but at my vet techs give shots too. There shld be many changes though and I hope getting my foot in the door will get some thought put into some as many don't. Ost anything but time of volunteers.
Anna
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Reply #1 on : Thu April 14, 2011, 13:59:11
LALALALALAL! I liked your site.It is very thoughtful and well done.LALALALALALALALAL! I agree everyone needs a home. I was origanaly looking up how to grow beans, but I found your site and began to read some of it. I didn' read a lot but I love it. GOOD JOB!!!! LALALALALALAALALAALALALALAL.

 
Date : 2010-12-17 19:22:14

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