David Muller

Deepa Bharath

David Muller was always into building.

When he was in high school, he worked part-time at a construction

site.

“I always liked to work with my hands,” said the 47-year-old loan

consultant, who lives in Corona del Mar.

Muller decided to combine his hobby with his urge to help the less

fortunate. Two years ago, he became a volunteer for Habitat for

Humanity, a nonprofit organization that builds homes for those cannot

afford to buy. The homes are built entirely by volunteers such as

Muller.

Muller said he had heard about the group from news stories, but

didn’t really get pulled in until he met a group called the Geyser

Gang, a group of retired people who volunteer with Habitat and meet

in Costa Mesa every week.

“They’re just amazing people,” he said. “Each of them has a great

story about how they got involved. They come from different walks of

life and they inspired me to join the group as well.”

Muller now volunteers several hours a month to work on the

organization’s latest project on Pomona Avenue. Volunteers will build

homes where six families are expected to move in before the holidays.

Working for Habitat is a “great learning experience,” Muller said.

“I learned how to use a jackhammer,” he said. “I learned a lot

about plumbing from one of the guys in the Geyser Gang. It’s

inexpensive learning, and it’s all for a good cause.”

Volunteering here also gives him “instant satisfaction,” Muller

said.

“You get a sense of accomplishment right away,” he said. “Once

you’re done, your muscles will tell you about it too.”

Above all, it’s just the overall good feeling and goodwill he gets

from helping people, Muller said.

“In the end of the day you feel like you’ve done something,” he

said. “And you see the results right before your eyes.”