Meet Corey Biechele
You may have seen Corey's friendly face around the Denver Outlet or construction sites during his time spent with AmeriCorps, but we are ecstatic to reintroduce him as Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver's new Deconstruction Supervisor!
Habitat History: Originally from Massachusetts, Corey studied Sports Management at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. Corey volunteered in New Orleans about six months after Hurricane Katrina. After observing the hope and perseverance amidst everything else in New Orleans, he knew he wanted to be a part of the rebuilding effort. This led to him becoming involved with Habitat through AmeriCorps after graduating college in 2008.Favorite part about working with Habitat: "I have met some of the most interesting, generous, smart, and engaging people through my work with Habitat for Humanity. I enjoy working with my co-workers, the volunteers, donors, and partner families to address the need for affordable housing in our community. Habitat provides me the opportunity to use my skills to directly impact deserving families and my community as a whole."
The Deconstruction Program (Q&A with Corey):
What are the size and scope of deconstruction projects you are involved with?
Our deconstruction projects range from small to large. We deconstruct kitchens and baths all the way to entire houses that are scheduled for demolition. We have projects that range from quick and simple to elaborate and extensive.
How many volunteers do you have currently? Do you need more?
We have about 40-50 regular volunteers and we are always looking for more. The deconstruction program is rapidly expanding. To meet the growing demand we are consistently looking for volunteers who are interested in assisting Habitat in a unique way. However, we do ask that our volunteers do have some experience using power tools such as drills and saws.
How does the deconstruction program benefit HFHMD and the Outlets?
The deconstruction program not only benefits HFHMD and the Outlets but it also benefits the community and the environment. Our deconstruction program brings quality building materials to the stores that will be sold at a reduced price. The items in our stores allow individuals and families to make repairs, upgrades or remodels to their homes at an affordable price. The proceeds from the Outlet stores offset the overhead and fundraising costs of HFHMD so that all donations go directly to the building of homes. The Outlet stores are vital to being able to build wonderful new homes for families in our community.
In addition, the deconstruction program gives a second life to building materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Rather than throwing away perfectly good building materials, donors have the opportunity to donate to HFHMD in return for a tax donation receipt.
What opportunities do you see in the future for the deconstruction program?
The sky is the limit for this program. There is large opportunity to partner with individual donors, remodeling companies and other organizations to prevent quality building materials from going to the landfill and to provide the public with an affordable option for repairs, remodels or upgrades.
If you are interested in becoming a deconstruction volunteer, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Alice Goble, for more information – (303) 996-5468.
