Volunteer Spotlights

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?
I was looking for a way to get involved in my community, and I valued the opportunity to be part of something that creates a lasting impact for homeowners and the Alexandria area.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
What I have enjoyed most about volunteering is meeting with applicants and hearing about their current living situations and how a Habitat home would impact their lives.

What does your home mean to you?
My home is important to me because it’s where my family is and where I feel the most comfortable and supported in my daily life.

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?
God has blessed us and our family over our lifetime, and we are always looking at ways to "give back".  We have 3 adult children that no longer need our advice, and are glad we can be there for Hannah and her boys as they move through his exciting adventure of becoming new homeowners.   

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
We are looking forward to working with Hannah to actually get dirty and help out for a day of working with her on the house build.  We enjoy being there for her and her boys when she has questions, or things that we can give her advice on. She knows she can reach out to us with any questions or needs.   

What does your home mean to you?
Our home in Alexandria is our 5th and final home.  Having a home to raise our kids and have our own space, has been a blessing.  Our 3 adult children and 2 granddaughters live in the Twin Cities.  Our home here in Alex is now a "fun place" for them to come up and visit, and enjoy the lake and nature.  It is a special place for our family and friends.  We are excited to see Hannah get her own "special place".

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?
I wanted to support a great organization that enables families to get into their first home. I also wanted to learn building construction skills.   

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
Working with and getting to know so many talented folks on the construction crew and all the volunteers as well.  Everybody on the crew is so willing to teach the building process.   It has been a great and fun way to stay active outdoors.   

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?
I believe that prioritizing safe, accessible housing in our community will have many positive ripple effects for families, our schools, and our overall quality of life. 

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I enjoy serving on the board with good people committed to Habitat's mission. I'm also excited to participate in my first "board build" at a Habitat home in June!

What does your home mean to you?
Home is my sanctuary. It's where memories are made with my husband and two young kids. We also love opening our house to friends and family so we can enjoy time together. 

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?
I decided to volunteer because a former co-worker started working here and he thought I would enjoy the work and the people.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
I love staging the furniture and making the ReStore look homey -- putting things together to show people how great it can look in their homes.

What does your home mean to you?
My home means everything to me. It is where we gather with friends and family. I love creating a comfortable and creative atmosphere where people feel welcome.

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?
Working with friends and giving back to my community.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
Getting to help customers with their homes.

What does your home mean to you?
My home is my security blanket, warm and inviting.

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?
We were both searching for something meaningful — something that would make us feel like we were truly making a difference. Then one day, I learned that a very dear friend of mine was actually a past Habitat Homeowner. I was shocked — I had no idea about the long struggle she went through to find a safe place for her children.

It all came out one day when I started talking about Habitat for Humanity at work. As she opened up about her story — the challenges, the uncertainty, the hope — I could feel how deeply it had shaped her life. And then, hearing how everything changed once she had a safe and secure home for her family... that moment stayed with me.

I shared her story with my mother, and it was like something clicked inside. We realized that having a safe place to live isn’t just about having a roof over your head — it’s about stability, dignity, and a chance to breathe again. From that day on, we knew for certain that everyone, no matter their situation, deserves that same sense of safety and security and we wanted to help change the life of another deserving person.  We just didn't know where to begin!  We were asked if we would be interested in being Mentors and we immediately said "yes!" even though we didn't even know what we would be doing.  We have never regretted that life-changing decision.

What do you enjoy the most about volunteering with Habitat?
We enjoy the true sense of purpose that comes from helping our Mentee as she works toward creating a safe home for her children to grow up in. Seeing how genuinely excited and grateful she is for each step of the process reminds us why what we do matters.  Every moment, whether it be building a picnic table, sending a "thinking of you" text, or holding her hand at the blessing of her home, reminds us that we are making an impact. 

What does your home mean to you?
My home is my heart’s safe place.  It is where I feel loved and supported and where I can surround myself with the people who matter most to me.  A home isn't just a structure, but a place for hope.  It is truly a foundation from which memories are made and dreams can thrive.

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?
Prior to work at Douglas Machine, I worked for 3M and participated in several Habitat build days. It was always so much fun and such rewarding work. Affordable housing is a concern so when I was given the opportunity to join the Habitat Board in July 2024, I jumped at the chance.

What do you enjoy the most about volunteering with Habitat?
In my capacity as Board member, I have had the opportunity to participate on the Construction committee to help identify ways to increase build capacity. Finding and implementing ways to make processes more efficient is a passion of mine so getting to use that skill set for such a great cause is awesome.

What does your home mean to you?
My home is where I raise my family and grow roots. It is a place to belong and feel safe. It gives us a place to relax, unwind, connect and be ourselves at the end of the day. It is a place for us to host parties and have friends over. Our home reflects who we are and contributes to our identity. We are the family that lives in the bright yellow house. 

Why volunteer with Habitat?  Being part of the ReStore pick-up crew is a fun way to help keep things out of the landfill and contribute to building more affordable housing in Alexandria while helping people.  Call 320-759-1989 to schedule!

What do I enjoy about volunteering at Habitat?  The camaraderie with this group is awesome!  We have fun, we enjoy the time together...and...we help Habitat's mission!

What does a home mean to me?  Home is comfort, peace, time with family.

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?

A few bits of inspiration include the purpose of Habitat to provide affordable housing and the ability to live out my faith in action -- either as a board member or as a volunteer on a build.

What do you enjoy the most about volunteering with Habitat?

Interacting with future homeowners, Habitat staff and co-workers around a common purpose is an awesome feeling.  On the build site - you get to see the results at the end of the shift. 

What does your home mean to you?

Home is a place where we get to be safely be a family - have meals together, play games, be present with each other in a safe place.  Home = family 

What inspired you to volunteer with Habitat?

KRISTI: Living and working in a small community in North Dakota, I never had any exposure to Habitat for Humanity.  After moving to Alexandria a few years ago, I signed up to work at a Habitat home in Osakis through my participation with the Alexandria Area Newcomers organization.  I am so happy that friends encouraged me to seek out this volunteer opportunity!  I helped put siding on this house, which I never ever thought I would do!

DONN: I appreciate Habitat’s mission, which is to place people into a home of their own and provide the necessary support to accomplish this. We never had an organization like Habitat for Humanity in the communities we resided in North Dakota although a strong need existed for many people. With the high economic cost of housing, organizations like Habitat are essential, and I want to be a part of that.

What do you enjoy the most about volunteering with Habitat?

KRISTI: I love the comradery that takes place with everyone at the work site!  The construction manager Aaron and the other carpenters are so willing to show the volunteers what needs to be done throughout the day.  The crew is patient, kind, and very forgiving if a mistake is made by the volunteers!  They simply correct the error and move on!  Donn and I are now in a mentoring role for Brittany and her family, and we are thrilled to help them in a variety of ways as they look forward to living in their brand new home!

DONN: I have just begun volunteering with Habitat and enjoy the positive and sincere attitudes present with employees and other volunteers. It is fun working together with people who are truly committed to their mission of helping others. I also appreciate Aaron and his ability, patience, and cheerful attitude in teaching volunteers about the tasks of building. Habitat has many special people like Aaron.

What does your home mean to you?

KRISTI: Donn and I love to entertain, so we strive to make our home inviting and comfortable for our guests, whether they are family members, friends, or people we are just beginning to know.  Our home is a place where we can find peace and security, but we also love it when it is full of movement and noise!  This happens especially when our young grandchildren come to see us!

DONN: Our home is our sanctuary-a place where we can relax, entertain, have overnight guests, and appreciate the security and safety we have in ownership. Owning a home is a source of pride for us, and we take satisfaction in keeping it maintained and current in safety and construction aspects.  Setting a goal of paying off one’s home prior to transitioning out of the work force allows a homeowner to enjoy a much more secure and less stressful retirement financially.

Why volunteer with Habitat?  There are many volunteer opportunities is most communities and most offer meaningful contributions to our community. I chose Habitat because it helps people who can use help moving ahead to gain solid footing with a home while gaining equity, pride, and hopefully stability and security not just for today, but for years to come.

What do I enjoy about volunteering at Habitat?  Coming from a farm as a boy but working in an office atmosphere all my career, I have missed at times working with my hands. Habitat affords that opportunity along with knowing we are recycling useful household products, furniture, tools and other furnishings while saving tons of materials going to landfills. Volunteering at Habitat rewards me with a feeling reward of service, warmth and camaraderie.

What does a home mean to me?  Home is a place of reward, pride, security, a safe base for family for years to come and a place a person can change to their liking. Though it is nice to go on trips, see distant relatives and the like, it’s always good to get “home” again.