1. How many years have you been volunteering with Richmond Habitat?
I was involved in two of the first Women Build projects for Richmond Habitat in 1997 and 1998, and the 2000 Blitz Build, followed by several years of intermittent volunteering. In 2017 I met then-CEO Jane Helfrich and was taken on a tour of Habitat homes. At that time I was asked to join the Resource Development Committee, and later joined the Board of Directors in 2020.
2. What types of volunteer roles have you had with the organization?
I’m currently the chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and a member of the Leadership Giving and Resource Development Committees.
3. What have you enjoyed most about your volunteer experiences with Richmond Habitat?
There are many aspects of volunteering for Habitat that I enjoy, but I’ll only highlight two for now.
I never tire of the pride I feel when attending a house dedication because it’s the tangible culmination of work by so many that has often been years in the making. The staff and volunteers have orchestrated and executed on many details to secure the land, design the house and ensure that it’s built to high-quality specifications.
The family who buys the home has invested 350+ hours volunteering at building sites, attending classes on financial management and home maintenance, making thank-you calls to donors, etc. Donors and sponsors have funded the materials and the skilled labor needed to make it possible. Then it all comes together at the house dedication. The joy on the face of the child that shows off their new bedroom, or the mother that expresses her overwhelming gratitude to those in attendance. It’s a joyful, physical manifestation of Habitat’s commitment to provide affordable homes to strengthen families while building strong, stable communities.
Secondly, I continue to be so impressed by the talented, skilled and committed staff who lead Habitat. My role as a board member pales by comparison to the dedication shown by our staff. I learn so much from each of them, and am grateful for their leadership.
