
Volunteer
Volunteers
Building a home requires approximately $50,000-$60,000 of materials and 1200+ hours of labor. Families from the states donate or raise needed funds and, working alongside the prospective homeowners, provide the labor to construct each home. Thirty-plus volunteers spend five days working full-time constructing each home during their Christmas holiday. Volunteers are involved from start to finish with tasks ranging from laying cinderblock and framing walls to applying roofing materials.
To Sign Up as a Volunteer, Please Click Here
The final details of each home are completed in the months following the initial holiday work period. Most homes are completed and ready for the families to move in by Memorial Day weekend.
Families are Changed
FHF volunteers report that their sacrifice of time and money is worth every minute and every dollar given. By nature, the service rendered is satisfying: giving a life of independence to families who couldn’t attain it on their own. FHF volunteers not only experience the satisfaction of giving in a tangible way but also benefit from creating lasting friendships and experiencing the true meaning of the holiday season.
Rick Finlayson summed it up best, after supervising the construction of one of the homes:
“I have been reflecting on the experience my family had working with (FHF) in Mexico this past Christmas for quite some time. We have decided to make this a family tradition. This past Christmas was the most memorable on so many fronts. The great feelings of service and gratitude felt for the abilities we have been give to help those in need along with new friendships developed with so many wonderful people. Thank you for including us and affording us such a wonderful experience.”
Become Involved
Get involved and make a difference that will forever influence the lives of not just one family but generations. For those participating in the Christmas building project, we suggest a donation of $1000 per individual. However, any donation of time, money, or accommodations is greatly appreciated, even if you are unable to physically join us in Puerto Penasco.
Important Details/Information
WHAT TO WEAR
The weather during Christmastime is typically cool and can be windy. We recommend bringing layers of clothing, as it will be cool in the morning, mild to warm during the day, and cool again after sunset.
The three days of work will be messy, as we will be handling concrete and blocks, which create a lot of dust. Please bring gloves; fabric gloves with plastic dots are the most effective. It’s a good idea to have multiple pairs, as you might go through a pair each day, or even more if you don’t keep track of them. They are relatively inexpensive.
Additionally, please make sure to bring and wear safety glasses. Stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Harbor Freight, and Ace offer affordable “stylish” working sunglasses with protective lenses. Dust and sand can be quite irritating to the eyes, but using safety glasses can help prevent this.
Wearing hats is also highly recommended, as the weather may be cool but the sun can be strong and lead to sunburn.
MEDICAL
Over the years of building houses, we have had a few minor medical issues arise, but nothing very serious. We have also been fortunate to have MDs, Nurses and EMTs on the work crew each year. We are sorry to impose on the MDs, Nurses, and EMTs, but if you have these skills, we ask you to please notify us so we can assign you to the appropriate project. Please bring a bag with your favorite first aid paraphernalia and let us know if you can help in an emergency. If possible, we would prefer to have a medical professional on each of the job sites. At our organizational meeting, we will inform all volunteers of the location and availability of emergency medical care and local hospital.
SAFETY
Due to news reports about violence in Mexico, we receive inquiries each year regarding the safety of traveling to and spending time in Rocky Point for our project. Over the past 15 years of this Christmas endeavor, our volunteers have not encountered any violence or threats to their safety. Many of us travel to Rocky Point multiple times a year without any issues. While random acts of violence can occur anywhere in the United States or Mexico, we take safety seriously.
To enhance safety, many volunteers coordinate their travel schedules to go in groups from Lukeville, Arizona, to Rocky Point. We will do our best to facilitate this coordination once we receive confirmations about travel dates. It is always wise to use common sense, be aware of your surroundings, and travel during daylight hours.
If you would like to travel with others from Lukeville to Rocky Point, please let us know your travel dates and approximate arrival time in Lukeville. We will make an effort to arrange group crossings at the border.
TOOLS
It would be very helpful if each family could bring the following small tools/equipment and be willing to leave these items for use on future projects:
Two hammers
Two inexpensive aluminum or plastic 24-inch levels.
One roofing wacker-tacker with three boxes of staples
Two (2 or 2 ½ gallon) plastic buckets with metal handles
One 5-gallon plastic bucket
One large and one medium diamond shaped mortar trowel
2-3 inexpensive tape measures
Several construction crayons/pencils
ACCOMMODATIONS
We have arranged for discounted rates at the Las Palomas Golf and Beach Resort. If you have not already made your housing arrangements, please contact Maria Garcia in reservations at Las Palomas Golf and Beach Resort (866-360-2324). Tell her you are with the Service Trip with Families Helping Families, and that you want to book your room at the “owners rates”. Ocean view rooms are less expensive than ocean front rooms.
PASSPORTS, ID OR PASSPORT CARDS
Passports work the best for re-entering the United States from Mexico. A passport card is also an option. Please check cbp.gov for additional information, and get your documentation soon! Do not wait on this one. Passports are easy and relatively inexpensive to obtain. If you start now, you will have your passport in time for the project.
RELEASE FORM
Please have all adults 18 years and over in your group sign the relevant form and return it to us via e-mail transmission to ralph.pew@azbar.org or U.S. mail in care of Ralph Pew, 1744 South Val Vista Drive, Suite 217, Mesa, AZ 85204. Parents should also sign one Consent and Release form listing all minor children.
FOOD AND WATER
Each family is responsible for their own food and water. There are plenty of taco stands and other places to eat and snacks for lunch each day. The work sites are about 15 minutes from the Las Palomas Resort on Sandy Beach. Three grocery stores are close by. Families can make their dinners or many families enjoy going out to dinner and experiencing the quaint, authentic Mexican restaurants in Rocky Point. You will want to bring drinks, water, and snacks to the job site for your family each day. Please don’t worry about getting water across the border. There is a Sam’s Club, Walmart, and grocery store nearby that sells bottled water.
BATHROOMS
For the convenience of all volunteers, there are gas stations/convenience stores within short driving distances from the job sites that have bathrooms. We will also have a couple of porta-potty on the site.
MEXICAN FIESTA
The Fiesta includes food, live music, dancing, and lots of fun. It is always the highlight of the week, providing a chance to mingle with fellow volunteers and enjoy good food and music.
SAFETY MEETING
Prior to commencing work, we will all meet together for a short safety instructions and work crew assignments.