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Hundreds of hours of volunteerism provide first-time homes to needy families

The modest, three-bedroom house had only been theirs for an hour, but handmade tamales and spicy salsa quickly turned the house into a home for Fidel and Maricela Ordorica and their three children. The food was an offering of thanks to a handful of Valero Volunteers and a host of helpers from Habitat for Humanity who built the Ordorica family’s house from the ground up over nine weeks.

The San Antonio project was just one of dozens of homes touched by the hands of Valero Volunteers nationwide – groups of employees who regularly took time each weekend to put hammer to nail and shelter a family. The recipients of each house must donate at least 300 hours of their own time to qualify for a Habitat for Humanity home.

“Valero is truly a corporate citizen to be commended,” said Stephanie Wiese, Vice President of Development and Communications for Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio. “Their donation of time and talent has been incredible and has resulted in countless families being served.”

Habitat projects in recent years have proudly involved Valero volunteers in at least six states and Canada – California, Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas and Quebec. This commitment to excellence in the community has resulted in dozens of homes for worthy families.

Volunteers at Valero’s St. Charles Refinery, for example, have partnered with Habitat to build a home in hurricane-battered New Orleans, as well as donate funds. In Benicia, Calif., Valero Volunteers contributed nearly 500 hours to help build four homes in 2006-07. And in Paulsboro, N.J., Valero Volunteers participated in a build in 2000 and since then have given money annually to the organization. The refinery soon is expected to present a $20,000 gift to the Gloucester County Habitat for Humanity and assist with the construction of a Habitat home in Woodbury, N.J.

Other refinery sites with a long history of Habitat support include the Valero Port Arthur Refinery, the Valero Memphis Refinery, the Valero Delaware City Refinery, the Valero Wilmington Refinery, the Quebec Refinery in Canada, the Valero Credit Card Center in Amarillo, Texas, and the Valero Houston and Texas City refineries, whose employees recently banded together to build at an orphanage.

“I am so proud of the work Valero Volunteers have done to make a difference through Habitat for Humanity,” CEO Bill Klesse said. “It is a terrific organization, and we are so humbled to be part of their mission. For these families, owning a home is a dream come true.”

At a dedication ceremony May 10 in San Antonio, families thanked volunteers through tears for helping them achieve the American dream. Each family received Habitat for Humanity’s traditional gift of a toolbox and a Bible, in the hope that they would become a resource for someone else in need.

“If there is one word to describe all of our feelings today, it would be ‘Blessed,’ ” one housing recipient said. “This is an organization that helps families who are interested in helping themselves.”

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity and discover ways to partner with the organization in your area, please visit www.habitatforhumanity.org.