Three Decades and Counting—Steve’s Volunteer Experience

Have you ever wondered how you can support Twin Cities Habitat on and off the build site? Steve is an excellent example of the many ways to get involved! To get the full picture, we need to go back to the late 1980s when Steve’s volunteer journey started. First, he heard about Twin Cities Habitat on the radio. Then, Steve’s pastor (who knew he liked to work with his hands) suggested volunteering. Since then, he's added an impressive variety of volunteer roles to his experience: outreach, The House that Beer Built, 3rd Act Regular Crew, local chapter leadership, membership on Twin Cities Habitat and Habitat Minnesota’s boards, the Habitat500 bike ride, Habitat on the Hill, Raise the Roof golf tournament, ReStore, and more. Steve was even a Crew Leader for the 2024 Carter Work Project in East St. Paul!

As Steve got more involved and continued to learn on site, he brought new skills home, much to the delight of his kids. Thanks to his volunteer experience, he designed and built a treehouse at home with his family. That experience inspired his daughter to join AmeriCorps with Habitat for Humanity Seattle—King County and go to architectural school. Steve even visited her to work on projects together. “It was great to watch her know and love Habitat from such a young age,” he adds. 

Building relationships with site staff and other volunteers has been another highlight of his nearly four decades of service. He admires how site supervisors look at the big picture, plan ahead, and provide a welcoming, safe experience for volunteers, whether they’re new or experienced.

“Working with people who have more skills than I do is great,” explains Steve. “But I also volunteer with people who learn things from me. Both learning from and teaching others is humbling. When you get in the zone with your crew and figure things out on site, it’s a joy.”

Steve estimates he’s worked on more than 50 houses since he started volunteering. “In some ways, that’s a huge number. On the other hand, the need for affordable housing is still great,” he reflects. “So, it’s fun to know that some of the houses I worked on have been paid off. I’ve even helped rehab and repair houses I helped build, getting them ready for new families.”

Now that he's enjoying retirement, Steve is focusing on his own “four Hs”—health, hunger, humanity, and housing. “It really comes down to housing. It’s key,” he says. “If you have stable housing, some of that other stuff gets taken care of. Housing is that bedrock.”

As an extrovert, Steve thrives on volunteering at events and telling others about Twin Cities Habitat. “I like learning about what people are interested in or good at and encouraging them to get involved,” he shares. “Most people have heard about Habitat, but they don’t know the depth and breadth of the work. I’m excited about what’s happening.”

Looking to get involved? Here’s Steve’s advice: There’s room for any type of person at any level. If you can’t run a saw, volunteer at ReStore. If you want to work behind the scenes, paint trim. You could share your story, bake cookies, join a committee, or donate financially. “Each role is important. Whatever you do, you’ll be welcomed,” he says. “You’ll feel great at the end of the day knowing you learned something new and made a difference.”