UTG plays in the mud with Habitat for Humanity

On a recent rainy Wednesday morning, UTG got to play in the mud for a few hours to lend a hand with a Habitat for Humanity project in Gwinnett County. They were in the final stages of completing a home for Tiffany, a young mother with two small children. The house looked great, but the yard was a disaster. Nothing but good old Georgia red clay and LOTS of rocks surrounded the newly constructed home.

We arrived around 8:00 AM and huddled in the carport to stay dry, along with bales of hay, pine straw, and some potted bushes, while Lewis and Bill with Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity explained what our group would be doing. Our volunteers, representing every team within UTG, included: Brian Bassham, Bryan Brooks, David Lipscomb, Doug Holloman, Eric Riehm, Gina Thomoff, Jennifer Martin, Suzanne Daymude, and Tamara Lopata.

UTG volunteers Eric, Suzanne, Bash, Doug & Gina are ready to get started!

The rain stopped, so we got busy raking, gathering, and hauling away the rocks and breaking up the red clay so the grass seed could take hold. After the grass seed had been spread, we covered the entire yard with hay to protect the seed and help with erosion. We also planted several bushes along the front of the home.

It was a BIG yard!!

David and Brooks hauling away another pile of rocks and red clay clumps.

No work site is complete without a Porta-John!

Our UTG team worked hard and knocked off the entire job within a few hours. After we cleaned up all the tools and wheelbarrows–and were ready to leave–the rain started again. Good fortune was on our side that morning!

We all had a great time and enjoyed this dirty but fun team-building experience. Tiffany, we hope you and your family enjoy your new home…and your new yard!

Check out our Facebook page to see more photos of all the fun we had.