I had the opportunity to participate in a very meaningful volunteer project this month with the Young Professionals (YPs) of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce — a Habitat for Humanity project in Newburgh, NY (www.habitatnewburgh.org). I must confess that I’ve always wanted to do a Habitat project so I was thrilled when the YPs decided to take this on as their community service project. And I was not disappointed!

There’s something so satisfying about Habitat’s work; you really get to see the fruits of your labor. Most YPs painted for the day. I hauled materials, loaded up dumpsters, and even got to “organize” in the warehouse a bit! I also had the chance to see their store (aptly named Restore) for the public to purchase used furniture, supplies, and materials.

They require all volunteers to take a mid-morning break and gather in one location for refreshments, food, announcements, and acknowledgements. They recognize groups of volunteers and express their gratitude for all the volunteers’ assistance. They share stories about families that have benefited from Habitat’s assistance, which makes you realize even more the direct impact of the work you are doing.

I may have been sore the next day, but it was a really rewarding experience, and I was very impressed with Habitat. If you are looking for a volunteer project, definitely consider Habitat. I know the YPs plan to volunteer again in 2010, and I very much look forward to it!