Habitat for Humanity East Bay

Home » Volunteer » Featured Volunteer » Roberta Forsythe

Roberta Forsythe

A regular volunteer at the Edes Avenue development, Roberta Forsythe travels an hour each way from her home to volunteer every week. Roberta was very instrumental in the completion of the Edes Avenue development this month. Site Supervisor Brad Allen shared that Roberta willingly and enthusiastically helped out with a lot of much needed yet less exciting tasks such as marking studs, puttying floor patches, painting, and caulking. She installed a lot of baseboard, particularly the last of the remaining “pick up” boards to finish each house . Roberta’s experience as a regular volunteer was beneficial to leading crews when we were short-staffed this summer after last year’s AmeriCorps members departed and before this year’s team began. Brad Allen also mentioned that Roberta goes out of her way to develop good relationships with our AmeriCorps crew leader team and brings a great positivity to the construction site. We’re grateful that Roberta continues to travel such a far distance to build with us each week.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What’s your day job?
I work full time at Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael as a Program Assistant for the 7,000 plus members of the Cardiac and Diabetes population in our region.

Besides work and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity East Bay, what other things do you do with your time?
I make crystal jewelry and play Bunko (dice) with the girls.

How did you first get involved with Habitat East Bay?
I had always wanted to participate and when I heard of an orientation in Santa Rosa, I went. That was February 2005. I’ve been on new construction projects there and in Sebastopol, and on rehabs in Menlo Park and Napa. Then I just found my way to East Bay.

What is your current role and level of involvement with us?
I’m a “regular” volunteer and come to the jobsite six days a month.

What motivates you to continue with Habitat East Bay?
I seem to love to build. I love what I’ve learned from my mentors and am glad to pass along that knowledge to less experienced volunteers. One of the things I’m most grateful for is that if I don’t finish a project, someone else will pick up where I left off on the next day! And we don’t have to reinvent the wheel everyday; the crew leaders know what they’re doing.

Why do you make volunteering for Habitat East Bay a priority?
I just enjoy the work (play) and the socialization.

What have been your most memorable experiences?
I was very moved by the new AmeriCorps orientation day earlier this month when Ben gathered the long time regulars together and invited us to join in feedback. I was overwhelmed by the wealth of knowledge - of Habitat and of life - of these “elders of the tribe” - and by what a powerful speaker Ben is. I felt elevated to a special place that day.

What are your future projects or goals at Habitat East Bay?
Just to be able to keep on doing what I’m doing.

How does the mission and philosophy of Habitat East Bay fit in your own life values?
It is good to be at a place in life to be able and excited to give back.

If you could be a tool what would you be and why?
I like the idea of a speed square, a plumb line and a level. I like things at right angles, straight up and down and flat. Something you hope to see a lot of when building a house.

What is your favorite job on the construction site?
I seem to have honed in on finish carpentry and specifically baseboards.

How does working on a construction affect you?
I feel an invisible camaraderie with every other home builder I see in the community (and the hardware store); like I’m in an exclusive club.

What is it like working side by side with families who are completing their sweat equity hours?
While I’m here for what I get out of it, I still feel the gratitude of the homeowners; even unspoken.

Habitat for Humanity East Bay

Stay in Touch Online!

Habitat East Bay eNews

Roberta Forsythe

Past VIP Volunteers