By Dr. Dieter Schonwetter
On a day that threatened rain but delivered camaraderie, faculty and students from the School of Dental Hygiene, Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, and the Max Rady College of Medicine’s department of medical microbiology and infectious diseases rolled up their sleeves and got down to some serious work. The location? A Habitat for Humanity build at 900 Pandora Avenue in Winnipeg.
Over a seven-hour volunteer shift, our team managed to sheath a 100-foot wall with Styrofoam, caulking and sealing tape, and frame over 20 internal 2 x 6 walls. But this wasn’t just about construction. It was about collaboration, connection and community.
New friendships were forged amidst the sound of hammers striking nails – some of which, we must admit, became as crooked as a politician’s promise due to stubborn knots in the wood. The looming dark clouds only added to the anticipation and excitement, serving as a dramatic backdrop to our day of hard work.
Our team included Dr. Paul Sandstrom (medical microbiology and infectious diseases), Dr. Chris Cottick (dentistry), Navnoor Randhawa (third-year DMD student), soon-to-be Dr. Mary Bertone (director of the School of Dental Hygiene), Dr. Laura MacDonald (School of Dental Hygiene), professor Kathy Yerex (School of Dental Hygiene), professor Kaleigh Warden (School of Dental Hygiene), Dieter Schonwetter (College’s psychologist), and a volunteer named Leslie. Each brought their unique skills and spirit to the project, contributing to a day filled with laughter, learning and a lot of sweat!
We discovered muscles we didn’t know existed (and are still feeling it days later!), but more importantly, we discovered the joy of working together outside of our usual academic environment. The reward of bonding over shared effort and the honour of contributing to a build site that will one day hold more than 55 family units was immeasurable.
This experience reminded us of the importance of community and the rewards of working together to help others who are not as fortunate as us. We left the site with a sense of gratitude for the opportunity and a renewed appreciation for the power of collective effort.
So, if you’re looking for a workout that strengthens more than just your muscles, consider volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. You’ll leave with aching arms, a warm heart and maybe even a few new friends. After all, they say it takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home.
