Volunteer Appreciation Week | New Volunteer Profile

Guest Blog by Anne Elliott-Thul, 
Twin Cities Habitat Staff 

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity offers up a wide range of volunteer opportunities and involves individuals and groups from all over the metro area.  Some volunteers have been around for over 15 years and keep coming back, while new volunteers join the Habitat family each day. What inspires people to volunteer with habitat can vary as much as our volunteers do, but most agree that it allows them to do something meaningful, and gives them a sense of satisfaction. 

Andy Manaen is one of our new volunteers and was inspired to be a part of Habitat because he “enjoy(s) working with people who have such a passion and energy for helping others.”  Andy responded to an email call out for Youth Workshop Volunteers to lead and help plan hands-on activities for youth who are too young to build onsite, but are eager to help build community with Habitat.  He has jumped right in to his volunteer role and is helping us with a new and exciting way to get youth groups involved. 

The hands-on workshops give youth the opportunity to build Adirondack chairs or storage boxes to be given to our homebuyers or to be sold at the ReStore where all the proceeds go back into the mission of Habitat.  Andy’s enthusiasm and energy really showed through last month when he worked alongside other volunteers to help youth build chairs. 

“Education coupled together with the opportunity to take action is something that really makes and impression on people and it's awesome to be able to provide that experience to a younger generation,” said Andy when asked about his experience so far.  Andy is a mechanical engineer and has put those skills to work creating instructions for the Adirondack chairs that are easy to read and helpful for all volunteers interested in doing the hands-on activities.  Although he hasn’t been involved very long, Andy is making an impact with new ideas and excitement for our future and inspiring the next generation of Habitat leaders!

If you’re interested in becoming a Youth Workshop volunteer or would like to learn about the many ways volunteers engage with Habitat, please go to tchabitat.org/volunteer.