FACT FILENames: Don and Diane Barnes.Occupation: Retired.Family: Two daughters, three grandchildren.Recent honor: United Way’s Volunteer of Year Award in Community Service.Volunteer investment: More than 40,000 hours over 15 years.
When Don Barnes retired from DuPont after 36 years, little did he realize he and wife Diane were beginning a second career.
“We needed something we could do together,” Diane Barnes said.
They found it at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga. In the 15 years since they began volunteering their time to build homes, the Barneses have put in 40-hour workweeks for 48 weeks out of each year, according to Habitat officials. That’s more than 40,000 hours of unpaid labor.
Their dedication earned them a Lifetime Achievement Award from Habitat for Humanity International two years ago. Two weeks ago, they were named Community Service Volunteers of the Year during the Volunteer United celebration sponsored by United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s Volunteer Center. The appreciation banquet recognizes top volunteers selected from community nominations.