Airmen measure, saw, hammer for community

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
  • I.G. Brown Training and Education Center
About a dozen military volunteers took part in a Habitat for Humanity project here August 18-19 to pre-fabricate utility sheds as well as door and window frames.

The I.G. Brown Training and Education Center's instructors and staff from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base spent several hours in Habitat's wood shop in North Knoxville each day cutting wood and nailing together shed, window and door sections for assembly during home construction projects. 

"It's outstanding to have the help," said Ken Cruikshank, a volunteer crew leader for Habitat.

Cruikshank said that fabricating the shed sections at their Washington Avenue office cuts the time building them on site by about 50 hours.

The Knoxville Habitat builds and donates an average 25 homes each year, he said. There's no garages built, but each home gets a shed for storage. Habitat's web site calls their homes decent and affordable for people in need.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kalon Pang, an enlisted professional military education instructor, said that he hopes to expand his assistance with the organization. He contacted them initially and organized the effort because of his own interest to volunteer.  

"Being from Oklahoma, I see these projects a lot because of the tornados, so I always wanted to do this," he said. "It's a good feeling to see people who need these houses get them."

Pang said that the volunteers also strengthened their camaraderie from building together.