Meet our Volunteers
The heart of our organization is our volunteers.
Arden and Ray Schoen have been residents of Bartlett since 1976. From 1976 – 1999, the Schoen’s managed a campground and general store on Route 302 in Bartlett. Their first introduction to Habitat was in 2002 when they participated in a Caravan Build while traveling. Soon they became regular volunteer builders. Ray has worked on most every aspect of our builds. Each year they head south or southwest in late autumn or spring in their RV to volunteer at a Habitat build site and visit other locations.
They volunteer because they enjoy the fellowship of similar minded people who want to make a difference in helping others. They find it rewarding to work with Habitat homeowners who are putting in their “sweat equity” hours. Arden is also a regular volunteer in the gift shop at Memorial Hospital in Conway. Both enjoy hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing and the ambience of their home in the woods along the Saco River.
Brent Morin has been a consistent and dedicated volunteer at the Habitat building sites for the last 9 years. Brent and his wife Anne moved to Albany, NH in 2000 from South Berwick, Maine. With a history of volunteerism based on his involvement with the Knights of Columbus, Brent wanted to give back to his new community. Partial retired but still active with his business of locksmith supplies, Brent shows up every Thursday to build. Anne has also helped by volunteering at the Yard Sales Habitat holds each summer. The work provides a sense of fulfillment in addition to the fun and enjoyment of working with the others who volunteer each week. Brent is an avid skier and keeps in shape to get ready for the winter by kayaking, hiking, and cycling. We appreciate the work both Anne and Brent donate to help provide a chance for families to own their own home.
Bruce Curtis-McLane has been a Jackson resident since 2006. He and his wife Kate have been married 38 years and have two grown children. Their son also lives in Jackson where he runs a tree service and their daughter resides in Alaska and works in Denali National Park. Bruce retired from teaching in Hanover, NH where he taught social studies for 10 years at the middle school and 20 years at the high school. Prior to volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Bruce was the shop teacher for one year. When he learned about MWV Habitat for Humanity, he saw this as an opportunity to apply the building skills he acquired building his own house, and renovating others. He very much enjoys the camaraderie in working with fellow Habitat volunteers and views the experience as an opportunity to give back to others. His hobbies and interests include: wood turning; gardening; hiking and travelling.
Steve Pirello moved to Intervale in 2007 with Eleanor “Chickie” his wife of nearly 49 years. He and Chickie have 3 grown children and are also blessed with 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He retired from BC Electric of Norwell, MA where he was an electrician for 40 plus years, including a foreman for the last 20 years. Steve began to volunteer with Habitat in 2008. He has been a regular volunteer since, often arriving to the work-site on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He regularly applies his electrical expertise to our home building process and is on the HFH Building Committee.
Steve volunteers because he enjoys the camaraderie of working with his fellow volunteers. He is an active member of the local Harley Davidson club, and he relishes his 3-season motorcycle touring throughout New England. They spend several weeks each winter in Florida. Steve is also an active member of the Our Lady of the Mountains Knights of Columbus.
Ralph Lutjen, Master Gardener and Community Champion – When you drive into Robert Morrell Drive in Conway it is readily apparent that the properties are well cared for, the lawns green and tended, and the tree lined street looks appealing thanks to Ralph Lutjen and the Mountain Garden Club. Over the years, Ralph has worked with our local Habitat affiliate and homeowners to select and plant trees, landscape, and create lawns. He has conducted lawn care seminars on how and when to seed and fertilize. One afternoon, he was surrounded by virtually every homeowner as he provided instruction on lawn mower maintenance and care. Ralph and the Mountain Garden Club have been instrumental in achieving a desirable neighborhood.
When asked about his involvement, Ralph explained that he is Chairman of the Mountain Garden Club’s Environmental Committee and the Habitat Committee because of his interest in improving community awareness of the environment. Ralph likes the “spirit and the whole idea of Habitat”. Thank you to Ralph and the Mountain Garden Club who funded multiple projects!
Meet Mt. Washington Valley Habitat’s newest volunteer, Andy Trowbridge. For some time, Andy had been thinking about joining Habitat. He knew about it, what great work the organization does but just never knew how to get involved until he was talking with Pete Tracy recently. Pete has put together volunteer work groups in the last year or two from the home owner’s association where he lives, Hale Estates. He allowed not only what fun it was working with a great bunch of people, but how rewarding it is to work next to the family whose home this house will become. Pete suggested to Andy, “why don’t you send Anthony Ruddy, Habitat Construction Chairman, an email and tell him you’re interested?”
At Anthony’s invitation Andy showed up Thursday morning bright and early at the Grison Rd. site and immediately fit in. No stranger to the basics of wiring, plumbing, framing, etc. as well as indulging in woodworking as a hobby, he immediately fit right in. When asked about his first day, he replied: “I had a blast yesterday! It was very rewarding.and I enjoyed meeting the future homeowner as well.” Andy has lived in the Valley for over 10 years and is currently employed as an insurance agent for Chalmer’s Insurance. He and his wife Brienne live in Madison.
Fryeburg Academy Students – in 2012, students spent several weeks of class time with their teacher, Mark Strange, building a shed for the Habitat home in Fryeburg. Over the last several years, a shed has been built to act as essential storage for each new home built through the program. This provides room for the homeowner to store lawn mowers, tools, garden equipment and other items. Mark offered the students a chance to gain “hands-on” skills in carpentry by building this 12 foot by 8 foot structure complete with a window and double doors. The project was completed with additional assistance from Dee Barker and Tom Ackley.
On June 7, 2012, the day before their last school day, the teacher and students delivered the shed to the Habitat work site and took the opportunity to pose for a picture in front of their proud accomplishment.
