Cause Of Choice: Habitat for Humanity, habitat.org
You’ve been involved with Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for housing-insecure families, for many years. How did that begin? “Early on in my time at GH, maybe the first year I was there, their representative came to the set. They were working with Brandon [Barash, ex-Johnny; Jake, DAYS], and we were in storyline together, and she was the one who proposed the first Habitat build that we did, which was a new thing for the charity to be doing, and we thought it was perfect for soap fans and the soap community because it gave fans the chance to spend quality time with the actors on one given day. Those first few builds were really special and they continue to be amazing. People always have a really great time when they come to the builds.”
What drew you to working with Habitat for Humanity? “With this charity, I just think it’s all upsides. I think it’s great for the people who participate because you’re not just sending in a check, not that there’s anything wrong with sending a check! I think it’s great for the actors because so frequently, what they ask us to do is walk down a red carpet in a dress or whatever, which is also good, but I love the fact that this charity gets your hands dirty and you really get to see the effects of your labor. Providing housing is so vital, putting roofs over people’s heads that wouldn’t have them otherwise. Every time you do a build, at lunchtime there is a speech made by a family who has put in a great deal of sweat equity, and when you hear how their lives have changed, how they’ve been impacted by this group, it’s really incredible. It’s a hand up and not a hand out. They are changing people’s lives while empowering them to be their own boss. I think that’s unusual for a lot of charities. And these houses are beautiful. It’s not, like, slapped together. The finishes are lovely, they’re well-designed and well thought out. They are places anyone could really be proud to call home and where kids can grow up living their best lives. Everybody deserves a safe place to live, especially children.”
I love the immediacy of how dramatically Habitat for Humanity changes people’s lives. “Yes. What could change the quality of your life more than [a safe place to live], especially if you were in a dire situation? One build, the family who spoke, one of them had a severe disability and used a wheelchair and was living in sort of a mold-addled, no handicap access, one- or two-room situation, and they got to move to a home that’s beautiful, that has a ramp for their child’s wheelchair, where you can bathe them properly and you don’t have to carry them up and down stairs. They could breathe without having asbestos in their lungs. What could give you more peace of mind than that?”
Do you look forward to the builds? “Oh, I love them! I look forward to them every year, the various builds I do throughout the year. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: My next goal is to put one together that’s for all of daytime, all three networks together. I think that would be a great draw.”
JPI
