Volunteers build, refurbish homes for veterans and neighborhood in Indio

A local veteran’s family will soon have a new place to call home, and it’s all thanks to volunteers working with Habitat for Humanity Wednesday morning. Volunteers were flexing their muscles and hammering away, constructing a brand new home in Indio.

“It is such an amazing. I can’t even describe my feelings to be hoenst with you. It’s just so many…”

A loss for words, Amber Hichcock and her family were the lucky recipients of that home. Habitat for Humanity chose her husband’s application after his two tours in Afghanistan serving in the Army and Marines. She said having a new home is a big deal taking care of two sons.

“I know that they’re not going to have to change schools,” she said. “They’re going to be able to grow up in this home.”

Making that a reality were over 400 hundred volunteers from the Home Depot Foundation. Not only were they building Hichcock’s new home, but also helping restore about 10 neighboring properties.

“They’re bringing their skill set, they’re bringing Home Depot tools and supplies from the local stores and putting them into work,” Gabe Sneller, Home Depot Foundation spokesman, said. “Everything is at no cost to the home owners or any of the recipients which is amazing.”

One volunteer was a fellow veteran who also received a home from Habitat for Humanity last December. He said it comes full circle helping out.

“For us to get our hands dirty is the least we can do for what we received and the opportunities we have and to see another veteran do that or receive that is an amazing as well to just witness it,” Adrian Robles, said.

Regular houses weren’t the only thing being worked on as volunteers also built play houses to give to various families. Staff with Habitat for Humanity say the volunteers with Home Depot are making time during their retreat.

“They come out here for four or five days and talk about all kinds of business and they take one day out,” Patrick Swarthout, President of Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley, said. “They could be sitting by a pool and in a luxury hotel, and they’re not.”

For Hichcock, she’s just waiting to settle in her new home.

“We’re looking forward to getting to know all of our neighbors and I hope we all get along, which I’m sure we will,” she said.

Staff said the home for Hichcock is expected to be finished in about 2 months. Anyone interested in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity locally can go to their website here.