When River City Habitat for Humanity hands keys to families in need of a home, Kyle Kittrell is often toward the back of the crowd, watching as families cry, smile and hug each other in front of their new home - houses he helped build.
Kittrell has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for 20 years, constructing houses around the world. When the time came for him to construct homes in Jefferson City following the May 2019 tornado, he didn't hesitate to put his skills to good use in his own community.
Kittrell received the inaugural Helen L. Fisher and John G. Fisher Good Samaritan Award - also known as the Fisher Family Good Samaritan Award. Redemption Inside the Walls and News Tribune partnered this year to select five "good Samaritans" who have gone above and beyond to help the Mid-Missouri area.
"It was an honor, but it's like when we have a dedication - I like to stand in the background and watch what's going on," Kittrell said. "I'm not up front getting my picture taken. So it's nice to be recognized, but it didn't have to happen."
Kittrell volunteered at Habitat for Humanity while working for the Missouri Department of Transportation. After retiring from MoDOT, Kittrell worked as River City Habitat for Humanity's construction manager for six years before retiring from that job.
Less than a year after retiring from River City Habitat for Humanity, the Jefferson City tornado struck, displacing many locals.
The local Habitat organization launched its Road to Recovery Blitz Build, in which it plans to build four houses in addition to the four to five it normally builds each year.
When River City Habitat for Humanity asked Kittrell to lead the Road to Recovery construction, he quickly accepted the offer.
The Road to Recovery homes are at 415 E. Ashley St. and 904, 914 and 916 Jackson St.
Standing inside 916 Jackson St. last Thursday, Kittrell's hands were smudged with white paint. He was in the process of painting one of the Road to Recovery homes.
While he enjoys building the houses, Kittrell said, his favorite part is watching the families receive their keys.
"I'm thankful for them (because) most of them wouldn't be able to do anything like that," he said. "It's a different experience seeing someone get a set of keys like that and knowing they're going to be living in their own house."
Along with volunteering at the local Habitat, Kittrell also leads teams through Habitat for Humanity International, constructing homes around the world - including in Malawi, Nepal, the Philippines, Hungary and Costa Rica.
"You get to see those families that never even dreamed of having a house," he said.
Kittrell isn't sure how many houses he has helped construct over the last 20 years.
Along with Habitat for Humanity, Kittrell also volunteers with the Boy Scouts and at First Presbyterian Church.
Volunteering is something Kittrell grew up around, he said. His mother volunteered at several organizations, while his grandfather, a carpenter, used to take him to different jobs and encourage him to help their church.
Now Kittrell is setting that example for his own grandson.
"In the world today, it's a way to help others," he said. "If you're helping others, you're not fighting others. The fact that when people put hammers in their hands, they're equal - they're not different religions, different politics - they're all hammering the same."
The other four Fisher Family Good Samaritan award recipients are Victor Bell, Jody Delgado, Hannah Frevert and John Schulte.
Also part of this series:
Unsung heroes honored, Michael W. Smith performs at Redemption Inside the Walls
Good Samaritan: Jody Delgado supports military through personalized care packages
Good Samaritan: Hannah Frevert leads through literacy, educational organizations
Good Samaritan: John Schulte impacts community through smoke detectors, natural disaster response
Good Samaritan: Helias coach, teacher Victor Bell leads by example