Making a Long-term Impact—Jack’s Volunteer Story

Jack has been a Twin Cities Habitat volunteer for a long time—39 years, to be exact. In 1984, a Habitat group from Georgia came to his church to present about affordable housing and Habitat’s work. This was the same year Jack became a homeowner.

“I didn’t know much about affordable housing at the time. I learned how housing affects so many aspects of life, from health to education and equity,” says Jack. “My father was a beneficiary of the GI Bill, which means my family had access to resources others didn’t. When I heard about Habitat’s work, it seemed like an obvious way to be part of the solution. We’re obligated to those around us.”

So, when a church group started volunteering in 1985, he was eager to give back to the community and learn new skills.

“My dad’s expertise was working with people, but he didn’t know much about home repair,” explains Jack. “I didn't learn those skills growing up. On Habitat build sites, I learned from people who really knew what was going on. We have very skilled leaders and volunteers.”

In 1999, Jack helped launch Holy Hammers, a group of volunteers from local churches. They usually build one house from the ground up each year. But Holy Hammers hasn't been the only way Jack brought others into the Habitat community. He worked at an alternative learning center for high school students and started a service-learning project. Jack would bring eight students to build sites for a week. They’d talk about housing, volunteer on site, and write reflection papers for school credit. (Some students even got extra credit for doing the math for cement needed!) This hands-on experience helped Jack’s students discover other career opportunities. It all came full circle when Jack hired a company to install screens and windows on his new porch—the serviceman was one of his former students. He told Jack that including his Habitat experience on his resume helped him get the job.

As the years went by, Jack retired and wanted to join a year-round Regular Crew. He joined Bud’s Bunch in 2013, a group that works on sites and at Twin Cities Habitat’s warehouse. He also serves as a site coordinator for one of Holy Hammer’s build weeks every summer. Jack estimates he’s worked on 50 or more houses and has no plans to stop anytime soon.

“Volunteering is always rewarding, even if you don’t see the immediate impact,” he says. “As long as I can, I’ll be out on the build site.”

Jack on site at the 2024 Carter Work Project.

Jack’s longevity as a volunteer allows him to teach new volunteers, and he welcomes questions and learning. “Watching volunteers, especially younger people considering homeownership, learn skills is rewarding,” Jack adds. “The staff are so helpful. They’re dedicated to the mission—and to helping others join in the work.”

That shared mission is why giving time, talent, and money is easy for Jack. In fact, he  even participated in the 2024 Carter Work Project in St. Paul as a Volunteer Crew Leader! Learn more about how you can join volunteers like Jack and support Twin Cities Habitat’s work—sign up for our monthly Volunteer Newsletter.