Tom Ellsworth
Since Tom Ellsworth began volunteering with Habitat East Bay in September 2007, he has volunteered just about every Wednesday on the construction site. Tom is a dependable and faithful member of the volunteer team at the Edes Avenue development in Oakland, and recently completed his 250th volunteer hour.
Chrissy Thomas, site superintendent, recalls handing Tom a drill and asking him to drill bolts into the concrete foundations in anticipation of raising walls. Soon after, Chrissy asked AmeriCorps crew leader Alyssa Thunberg to check on Tom’s progress and offer any help needed. Alyssa returned, explaining “I can’t possibly offer Tom any assistance… He knows far more than I do, and besides, he’s already finished!” As a retired engineer, Tom handles all new tasks on the construction staff with deftness and dexterity, always performing solid work.
Alyssa enjoys bonding with Tom over their shared enjoyment of cooking and trying new recipes. Tom once brought a homemade vichyssoise soup to share with the construction staff for lunch.
When not building Habitat homes, Tom enjoys his involvement with Boy Scouts of America and taking hiking and camping trips.
"On my first day at Habitat, I learned some things, met some great people, and left with the feeling that something positive had been accomplished. Each time I return, I feel the same way at the end of the day, so I keep coming back for more.
The icing on the cake is that the end product is an energy efficient home, built with eco-friendly materials. I know that the new owners have a sense of ownership, because they helped in some way to build homes, or to support the construction effort, and that they made a financial commitment to affordable payments.
I am a retired Engineer, and I enjoy the physical activity that I never got while working in an office. I also enjoy the minor problem solving when something unexpected is encountered, and the cooperative effort that spontaneously occurs when more than one person is needed for a task (but I have yet to find a volunteer to hold a nail for me while I take aim with my hammer).
Something that will always stick with me, is the selfless contribution made by so many AmeriCorps participants. They have been well trained to keep a watchful eye on volunteers with skill sets which don't always match the task at hand. But, with their patient assistance, we succeed, and we appear to do it well. Truly Amazing."
