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Highlands Today

Holiday Volunteers

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: December 17, 2007

SEBRING — How did Roger Schoenstein, a retired Latin teacher from Colorado Springs, wind up volunteering to build new two houses on Shelton Street in DeSoto City?

There's a newsletter that goes out to Habitat volunteers. And there's this group of RVers who picked sunny central Florida.

"We're staying at Camp Cloverleaf," said Schoenstein. That's the 4-H facility on Lake Francis, near Lake Placid.

Habitat for Humanity builds 22 houses a year in Highlands County.

"We may have 700 volunteers involved on each house," said Jane Breylinger, executive director. "It would not work without them. Habitat depends on them totally."

Schoenstein is one of hundreds of volunteers who come to Highlands County over the fall and winter months, or just for a two-week holiday.

Why does he do it?

"I retired nine years ago," Schoenstein said. "After teaching — I thought I was making a difference — but it dawned on me that nothing, nothing, I was doing made a difference to anyone but me."

Now, Schoenstein said, he's building houses for people who can't afford them, and that's how he's making a difference in the world.

Other Agencies

Each January, the Highlands County Coalition for the Homeless conducts its annual point-in-time survey of the homeless population, said Richard Reinhardt, executive director.

"This count usually takes one week to conduct and is instrumental in determining what basic needs this population requires," Reinhardt said. When it's completed, the coalition analyzes the gaps, to decide whether the needs of the homeless are being met in Highlands County.

"Without volunteers stepping forward to help, this count couldn't be accomplished effectively," Reinhardt said.

In the middle of the night, when a house is on fire, and a family is standing on the street, wondering where to go, it's Red Cross volunteers who are standing there beside them, offering a hot drink and a warm blanket.

"We train people to be CPR or first aid instructors, or how to respond to a single-family disaster or a hurricane, said Phil Attinger, public relations director of the Polk and Highlands county chapters of the American Red Cross.

"The service center has one paid staff member, the rest are volunteers," Attinger said. "They do filing, data entry, maintenance of equipment, producing educational materials. All of that stuff is where we need volunteer help as well."

At this time of year, when money becomes short and the weather gets colder, wood burning stoves, space heaters, candles and holiday decorations are causing house fires. So the Red Cross needs trainers to warn families.

For outdoor types, volunteers at Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's Royce Ranch, northeast of Lake Placid, maintain and mark hiking trails, install directional markers, mow grass, prune and remove vegetation to restore the Florida Scrub to its original native habitat.

"We're going to have a new greenhouse at the office, said Lynne Flannery, volunteer coordinator. Volunteers will collect seeds, maintain plants, weed pots, and eventually plant the new seedlings like the Scrub Blazing Star in the pasture.

The Florida Division of Forestry has a variety of volunteer jobs, from riding with airplane pilots to spot fires to bird spotters.

Volunteers also man the forestry booth at fairs to answer questions and offer information.

Highlands Regional Medical Center has 120 volunteers, said Caroline Miller. "They do everything, from sitting at the registration desk to helping in the non-clinical departments."

Volunteers operate the gift shop, deliver mail and newspapers to patients, and staff the information desk.

"We couldn't do without them," Miller said.

At Habitat, volunteers also work in the supply store, said Nadia Hoffman, volunteer coordinator. There are volunteers who make soup and sandwiches for the home builders.

No experience is needed at the home sites, Breylinger said. A skeleton crew of paid supervisors teach volunteers what to do.

Evelyn Young is among the most committed volunteers.

"She's been here longer than I have, and I've been here 17 years," Breylinger said. "She will do anything you ask. She has the volunteer spirit. She cheers up the staff. She brings cookies. She believes in giving back. And she feels guilty because she can't go out and swing a hammer."

Schoenstein is another valuable volunteer. "Roger came one year to work for two week, and he stayed a month. Now he's here for five months. He's like permanent staff."

Suzanne Hunnicutt, an architect with Chastain-Skillman, designs every house, and Mark Breed, a Sebring attorney, has done the legal work for more than five years, Breylinger said.

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