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All-Sheppard volunteer force builds Habitat for Humanity home

  • Published
  • By Dan Hawkins
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Members of the 362nd Training Squadron participated in a home dedication celebration on Feb. 12 hosted by the Wichita Falls Habitat for Humanity.

The home, which a little more than two months to build from the foundation up, was dedicated to the Rivers family during a ceremony attended by the family, Habitat for Humanity executives and members of the 362 TRS who worked on the project.

Dubbed the "Freedom Build", it is the first Habitat for Humanity home built in Wichita Falls, Texas, by an all military-manned volunteer crew.

"Sheppard has always been instrumental in helping Habitat build in Wichita Falls," said Dan Gray, executive director for the Wichita Falls Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit home builder who works with families in need. "They are probably our backbone of our volunteer base. I would say probably 60 percent of our volunteers come from Sheppard. This house, 100 percent of the volunteers came from Sheppard."

When Tiffanie Rivers stepped inside her new home, she already knew what the color scheme would be in her new kitchen; she has the tiles to prove it.

"I made one [tile] in memory of [362 TRS], so I'll always remember them," Rivers said. "Our kitchen is going to be red, white and blue because of them; we'll always have them in our memory and our hearts."

Rivers, along with her husband Latravius and three-year-old son Latravius Jr., had a hard time expressing their appreciation for the love and dedication that went into the build.

"I can't explain it...I'm at a loss for words," Rivers said. "Being that it takes awhile for them to build a house and ours is going to be up so fast because of this squadron's help and the Air Force being so willing and open armed to help us."

Tech. Sgt. Michael Corbitt, 362nd Training Squadron Crashed, Damaged and Disabled Recovery Instructor, led the volunteer effort that included approximately 100 people and was happy to be a part of the project.

"The most rewarding part was actually turning the house over to the family and when Trey [Rivers] actually spoke in there [the dedication] and he was at a loss for words," Corbitt said. "It really showed his appreciation for all we've done out here."

The work ethic and dedication to the build by the members of the 362nd TRS was not lost on the Rivers family.

"The effort is phenomenal," said Latravius Rivers. "The guys did a great job. All the guys who worked out here were awesome and I appreciate it."

"I'm really proud to be a part of this," Corbitt said. "I feel like going again right now (to build another house). Will I have my hand in Habitat again helping them with a project? Definitely."