Mark Hapka also joined Jay Kenneth Johnson, Eric Martsolf, Shawn Christian and Arianne Zucker in Philadelphia for the Habitat for Humanity build. I sat down with Mark to talk to him about it.
Days Insider: I was hoping you could talk a little bit about the Philadelphia trip?
Mark: Should I tell you EVERYTHING!? (Arianne Zucker was in the background during this question, shaking her head and laughing.) In between eating amazing guacamole and Philly cheesesteaks, we went out to Philadelphia to also help Habitat for Humanity, which was a lot of fun. We framed a lot of walls and doors for this family. The kids helped out, too. We didn't realize how much work we were doing, because we were having such a good time. I can't wait to do this even more. Made us realize we were capable of doing things we didn't think we could really pull off.
Days Insider: What did you take away from this experience as the importance of it all?
Mark: They were giving us the statistics with how many vouchers they have given out for Habitat for Humanity and how many applications they received and it's alarming. I'm aware people need homes, but did not realize it's as bad as it is. But, when you see everybody helping out, you see this is what really matters.
Days Insider: What was the impact of actually meeting the family that this house for?
Mark: It was great, it made me want to do a better job. To really know you're building this family a home so their kids can have warm memories that can remain for the rest of their lives. The little three-year-old girl that will be moving in jumped into my arms and didn't let go. We saw what some of these houses look like after completed and it's cool to think I'm going to be part of this one.
Days Insider: Are you a natural-born handyman?
Mark: I was, but I think I lost it along the way when I found a job that pays without having to do this kind of labor. I always have been. Growing up, I would sit in my room and want to invent things and create things. When I was five years old, we'd always go to my nani's for Thanksgiving and I wanted to bring something. So, I took one of my red blocks and found a hammer and a nail, I hammered holes into the edges of the block, then took the nails out, and placed toothpicks in the holes and took a piece of paper and wrote Happy Thanksgiving (misspelled, of course!) and it was a napkin holder. And my Nani still has it in her china cabinet. And now I build houses, during my weekends.
Days Insider: Do you plan on doing more of these builds?
Mark: I hope so!
I hope you enjoyed my interview with Mark. It's great seeing so many Days actors getting involved with giving back to the community. With the holiday season upon us, I see a lot more of these kinds of interviews taking place.
