RV Hometown

Books On Volunteering

Vehicles of Hope: Serving Others on the Road to Satisfaction, by Carol Tebo with Larry Tebo    

Carol and Larry Tebo began full-time RVing in 1996 knowing they wanted to be involved in service of some type. As they began traveling they were encouraged to find many RVers were bringing hope and a helping hand to others. As Carol notes, “RVers are in a unique position to render service. Their flexible schedules allow them to respond quickly if need be and give them the option to stay somewhere for an extended time. Housing is not an issue, because their houses are with them.”

Having been involved briefly with Habitat for Humanity before leaving, Carol and Larry knew they wanted to work with this organization. After traveling for a while, helping out at some Habitat builds, they headed to Americus, Georgia, Habitat’s headquarters. After volunteering there they traveled  to their first blitz build in Newfoundland. Seven houses would be constructed in five days. More than 300 people were involved daily with150 helping when they could. Carol and Larry found the people and the land enchanting and special rewards from participating.

Their next major project turned out to be disaster relief when a F-5 tornado (the strongest) hit the Birmingham, Alabama area on April 8, 1998, devastating several small communities. Carol and Larry offered their services if they could park their RV somewhere. Arrangements made, they arrived to unbelievable damage. Carol takes us through the steps relief workers took beginning with moving and sorting through debris, salvaging whatever possible. Many residents lost everything but the clothes they were wearing. Helping victims replace possessions, work through the needed paperwork to file claims and replace lost documents, obtain aid and eventually rebuild, as well as deal with the emotional effects, are part of the process.

Vehicles of Hope chronicles Carol and Larry’s journeys to several Habitat builds and disasters, helping where they could. Besides recounting their activities Carol provides an insider’s guide into what happens. For example, hundreds of hours of sweat equity and planning are involved before a blitz build even starts. And a tornado’s effects last long after relief workers have helped clean up. Carol relates how the government, churches and relief organizations respond to a disaster like the Birmingham tornado. Many groups cooperate to meet the stricken communities’ needs.

One section quote says, “The real beauty of nature and persons is often revealed within the ugliness of pain and suffering.” (Thomas Moore in Voices From the Heart). Carol shares stories of individuals so we can see beyond the physical devastation of a natural disaster to the lives impacted. We share the joy and pride of new homeowners, lifted out of despair by owning their own home. We experience embarrassment and reluctance to accept help after extensive damage caused by severe winter blizzards in northwest South Dakota. We relive the tornado through some of its victims. And we see that builders and relief workers find themselves as rewarded as those they are helping.

One thing I especially enjoyed was Carol’s follow-up bringing readers up-to-date on individuals they had helped in both Habitat builds and disasters. She compares relief and recovery efforts in the Birmingham area and Spencer, South Dakota, another tornado disaster they responded to. Birmingham has been much more successful and Carol provides reasons why.

This book will appeal to RVers wanting to find out ways to serve. Readers get insight into what Habitat builds are like and the many forms of disaster response. For those considering full-timing who are seeking meaningful activities, or, full timers who are ready for a change of pace, this book will give them plenty of ideas.  A number of service groups like Habitat’s RV Care-A-Vanners, are specifically tailored for RVers, or RVers can find ways to help out in their travels like Carol and Larry have done. They too can become vehicles of hope.

Vehicles of Hope can be ordered from Amazon.com.

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