For five years, since his move to Orangeburg from Mississippi, Edisto Habitat for Humanity volunteer Joe Hejl has given nearly 30 hours each month to helping place those less fortunate in their own homes.

Hejl and more than a dozen other volunteers with Edisto Habitat for Humanity are honored with exemplifying the July Community of Character trait dependability.

"When I got here (to Orangeburg), I didn't have a job, and this became available," he said. Because Hejl said he enjoys working with his hands and had "a lot of free time" at the time, it was an ideal arrangement.

Now, although he works full-time at a local chemical company, Hejl still gives his time to the organization that aided him in harvesting friendships and helping people.

"I think it's just the fact that we all enjoy each other's company and working with our hands ... and helping our neighbors," Hejl said as to why he and others give so much of their time to Habitat.

In her nomination of the group, Edisto Habitat's Executive Director Jamie Bozardt said each of the volunteers are willing to do whatever it takes to see that the Habitat homes are completed in a timely manner.

"They are just so dependable; I can always count on them," she said. "They don't have to be there — they just come because they want to be there. They are so caring. It's so wonderful that they were honored."

Recognized for their dependability are volunteers Hejl, Michael Salley, Bob Beckett, Eddie Sloop, M.L. "Buddy" Hawkins, Ernie Zellman, Jim Richardson, Betty Stone, Henry Frierson, Michael Davies, Lee Potter, Donald Platt, Arnie Smith, David Jeffcoat and Jack Dudley.

"I've been working with this gang for a couple years, and it's a good gang to work with," Zellman said. Added Stone, who also serves as chairwoman of the volunteer committee, "Our affiliate is just so strong, with a good core of wonderful, dependable volunteers and excellent professionals. There is a comradery in this group that sustains it."

While doctor's appointments or trips out of town may hinder some of the volunteers from being on-site from time to time, planning sessions every Monday morning help the group get organized for the week ahead and plan around volunteers' availability to coordinate projects.

"Carpentry work is just in your blood," Dudley said when asked why he volunteers. Zellman added, "Because we enjoy it, and it's for a good cause, too."

Hawkins said he has been a volunteer with the organization since 1991 and was with the group who built the very first Edisto Habitat for Humanity house. In a few weeks, the group will begin their 34th house in the Orangeburg community on Sellers Avenue, and Salley, who Hawkins said keeps the volunteers in line, said the goal of the group is to complete four houses a year.

"We try to build a house that's easy to maintain and well-insulated," Salley said.

Hawkins said his love for construction and working with his hands made this a great service organization for him to devote his time to.

"I always wanted to help when I could help," he said. "When habitat came along, it was ideal for me." Hawkins said since his retirement in May 1996 from Albermarle, he has devoted as many as 20 to 30 hours a week to building Habitat houses.

Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International, of which Edisto Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate, has built more that 175,000 houses around the world for deserving families through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials.

Families are chosen based on their level of need, willingness to become a partner and provide "sweat equity hours" in the program — helping with their own or other Habitat homes — and their ability to repay the no-interest loan.

Persons or groups interested in giving their time and talents to the Edisto Habitat for Humanity are asked to call Stone at 534-5837 or the Habitat office at 536-2300.

"The Habitat effort is a good effort," Hawkins said. "We retired fellas enjoy it."

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