Habitat for Humanity East Bay

Steve Eales

While it is not uncommon for our staff to volunteer for Habitat East Bay when they’re "off the clock," Stephen Eales demonstrates this best of all. Steve served an AmeriCorps year with the National Civilian Conservation Corps (NCCC) before joining our 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 AmeriCorps teams, becoming our first and only AmeriCorps member to selflessly serve three terms of national service. Steve currently holds a part-time job at our ReStore, but you can find him back on our construction site a couple days each week to lead other volunteers. When Steve charges onto the construction site, bringing his energy, enthusiasm, and good humor with him, you know it will be a great day.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm from Stockton, Ca and I studied English Literature at Fresno State University. I have a Steinbeck-like appreciation of the San Joaquin Valley. In Stockton my mother is a teacher and my father transports heavy equipment and grows walnuts. I completed three years of AmeriCorps. After each year I celebrate my accomplishment. Two years ago, I rode my bike from Southern Oregon to Sacramento. Along the way, I attended the Shakespeare Festival in Oregon and then climbed Mt. Shasta. This year, I used my education awards to pay for Outdoor School (NOLS). I spent three months in the backcountry hiking through the Gila National Forest, rock climbing throughout Cochise Stronghold, exploring caves throughout southern Arizona, and canoeing down the Rio Grande. I recently bought a house in Oakland with Chrissy (Site Supervisor). My most recent goal is to get her out of this house. Lol.

How did you first get involved with Habitat East Bay?
I started as an AmeriCorps member at the Livermore development. I chose Habitat East Bay because it was closest Habitat affiliate to my hometown of Stockton.

What is your current role and level of involvement with us?
I come out each Saturday to lead volunteer crews and occasionally on Thursdays to fix all of my errors from the previous week.

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"The minute Steve walks onto site the day changes. He's super cheerful and works ridiculously hard. He is beloved by a number of volunteers; certain volunteers are always asking for Steve, and we have to fend them off with a stick! Steve cares a lot about Habitat's mission, and he believes deeply in what we're doing. While others might be intimidated by partner families, he enjoys working with them very much. I wish I can clone him!"
- Ben Grubb, Site Supervisor

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What motivates you to continue volunteering with Habitat East Bay?
Obviously, the partner families. I also continue to volunteer because of the “regular” volunteers. During my two AmeriCorps years the "regulars" became a part of my life. I volunteer and make visits because when I don't see these people I feel like something is missing.

Why do you make volunteering for Habitat for Humanity East Bay a priority?
Because Chrissy, Ben, and Chris (our construction site supervisors) need help. The 54-home Edes Avenue development is ambitious. When volunteering, I believe that I am alleviating some of the hardships that they may encounter during their days.

What have been your most memorable experiences?
I remember working really hard to install exterior siding on two houses at the first phase of the Edes Avenue development. I was leaving for a month and I believed that if I could finish the siding then someone would paint the houses during the month that I was gone. I am not a painting fan. I returned to Oakland on BART. While riding I saw the development from the tracks and noticed that all of the houses were painted except two! Sure enough, when I returned, Chrissy told me with a laugh that she purposely had people go out of their way NOT to paint my houses because she knew how much I disliked painting. I spent the next month painting.

If you could be a tool what would you be and why?
I would be a Skilsaw. It is adaptable to any job and makes fast cuts.

What is your favorite job on the construction site?
Siding. My dream is to lead a group of volunteers and compete against a crew of professionals and see who would win. (Speed and quality would be judged.)

What is it like working with AmeriCorps members and partner families?
The AmeriCorps members are great, and this might be the most enjoyable AmeriCorps team ever. I think the partner families are strong people. I can't imagine working a full-time job and then having to do 500 sweat equity hours all while raising a family. As much as they appreciate volunteers for building their houses, they should be appreciated for their commitment to the program.