COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, reached out to the community to help Habitat for Humanity May 7.
"We are here to let the community know we are eager to help," said Sgt. Damien Bray, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist assigned to HHC.
Bray was in charge of 10 Soldiers who came out to a Habitat for Humanity site in Colorado Springs to help put up siding, install a fence and sweep out the home.
Their day started at 7:30 a.m. when they received a safety brief from Tim McAteer, an employee of Habitat for Humanity.
"We push, push, push safety," McAteer said.
He described the safety brief as a crash course in what the job was for the day and how to properly use the power tools needed.
Habitat for Humanity uses all-volunteer labor to make the homes affordable to low-income families.
"It's not a free ride either," McAteer said.
He explained the homeowner also has to volunteer their time to the construction of the home.
Spc. Terrika Houston, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist assigned to HHC, has not only volunteered her time helping Habitat for Humanity as part of HHC, but also as a volunteer back home in Austin, Texas.
"It's wonderful to know that people will have a home and that I was actually was part of that," she said. "It's great that our command allows us this time to come out into the community and help out."
McAteer said Habitat for Humanity depends strongly upon their volunteers.
"Military volunteers are especially great," McAteer said. "They are so safety conscious, which is an important part of this job."
McAteer said he has been an employee of Habitat for Humanity for more than 10 years.
He said in his experience Soldiers are great because they have a lot more energy than other groups, he said.
Bray said Soldiers from HHC enjoy helping out and giving back to the community.
"It allows us to build a relationship with the public and strengthens their support of the Army," he added.
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