Chris Head is our Volunteer of the Month for November. Recently retired as a corporate lawyer, Chris found himself visiting the shop more and more as he focused on more hands-on work around the house. He decided to become a volunteer to join this group of folks of all different ages and from different backgrounds. A veteran DIY-er, Chris has tons of experience that allows him to help you find the right tool for your project. You can usually find him checking tools in and out as soon as the shop opens at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, so come say hi.
How and when did you first get involved with the Tool Library? What led you to become one of our volunteers?
I retired about a year and a half ago. As a result, I had more time for handyman and DIY work around the house, which led me to join The Tool Library as a member. Six months ago, I started volunteering. I live near The Tool Library’s shop, I know a fair amount about tools, and I thought volunteering was a way to give back and be involved with helping folks.
How has volunteering impacted your life and your sense of community?
The Tool Library is a great concept and a win for everyone involved. For me, it’s fun to learn about all the great tools that The Tool Library has available and to be a part of sharing these tools with others. It’s uplifting to interact with staff and other volunteers that fundamentally just want to help neighbors and make where we live a better place. Also, it’s great to be around and working with people of all ages and varying backgrounds. My working life was spent as a corporate lawyer, so I know about not-for-profit organizations from a business perspective, but not so much from the actual workings in the community.
What is your favorite thing to do as a volunteer? Are you happier in the shop or at community events?
In the shop, I enjoy helping members pick the right tool to help with their project. As every veteran DIYer knows, having the right tool makes all the difference. My least favorite thing to do, on the other hand, is trying to restring a weed wacker.
Outside the shop, working at the Annual Garden Party beer and wine table was evocative of my–very long ago–bartending days in college.
When you’re volunteering, what typically keeps you the busiest?
Typically, I am helping people check-in / check-out tools. I volunteer on Wednesdays, and there is often a crush of members wanting to return or borrow something right at 2 PM when we open since the shop is closed from Saturday until Wednesday.
What is your favorite tool to work with?
I particularly like the battery operated tools because they give you complete freedom of movement. The 3-gallon portable shop vacuum is just great for cleaning up sawdust and shavings without having to plug in a bigger vacuum and lug it around. The battery-operated leaf blower and lawn mower are far better than their gas counterparts in terms of air and noise pollution.
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Check out all the different ways to get involved here.