Elk, WA – Oct 28- Nov 4, 2025

Volunteers this week came from Ohio, Montana, and Washington State. Framing continued on house #1, and by the end of the week, the outside walls were up. Walls were poured on house #3, and forms were removed, cleaned, and oiled in preparation for the next foundation.

Homeowner Bill has been thrilled to see his home take shape after two years of living in a small trailer. To express his thanks, he invited all of us to lunch at his property on Wednesday.

Next week, ten volunteers from PA, CA, ON, MT, KS, and VA will arrive. Trusses were delivered this week in preparation for installation next week. Plans call for beginning the framing on our second house. The framing package was delivered to house #3 in anticipation of framing there as well.

Long-term volunteer transitions were abundant this week. Mary Joyce Wise, a year-long volunteer, will be here until the end of November. Verne and Joyce Geissinger came midweek—Verne becomes project director for November, and Joyce assistant cook. David Zarate from Texas came on Sunday as crew leader for the next two weeks.

Over the weekend, Deana and Corwin Thompson, our cooks for October, left for their California home. Marty Lowen, crew leader, and Audrey, office manager, returned to Arizona. Paul Schambach, construction supervisor, went back to upstate New York, and John Stutzman, crew leader, returned to his home in Montana.