Habitat MidOhio volunteers often start as a part of a group. This was the case for Vicki Nichols. She started with the Hilliard Adopt-A-House when she retired about 10 years ago. She chose to volunteer with Habitat because “The Habitat mission embodies what I think a mission’s work should be about.  I don’t like giving things to people because it doesn’t have a long term effect.  The Habitat view of working and learning how to maintain a home and be a good neighbor is an essential part of making the world a better place.” She has mostly worked on new build construction projects and a little bit on deconstruction projects and with our ReStores. “I liked Habitat from day one. I like the construction and I liked the group of people I was working with.” Since beginning as a volunteer, Vicki has shifted to be a part of our Women Build crew. Initially Vicki liked being involved in all aspects of the construction process. She has gravitated more towards teaching other, giving new volunteers tips, and making sure others have a task that they want to do. The best advice she can give volunteering is that “volunteering with Habitat is not just about the work, it is about the opportunity to share with other volunteers and build relationships with them.  Take the time to talk and relate to them, you never know what you might learn.” 

Outside of Habitat, Vicki is a part of an Early Response Team through the United Methodist Church. This team goes into disaster areas soon after a disaster to help with clean up and stabilization of houses. She also participates in the Disaster Recovery Team by going in to help rebuild homes affected by a disaster. Vicki enjoys sports and being active as well. She is a frequent biker, hiker, and walker. She and her husband travel often as he is a background actor for TV and movies. They recently returned from a trip to Atlanta where her husband was a background actor for the TV show Ozark. 

We are grateful for the past 10 years Vicki has volunteered with Habitat MidOhio and are looking forward to many more!

Don spent 35 years as a pharmaceutical sales team member at Pfizer Inc. and got to see improvements on quality of life and, in some cases, lifesaving procedures. He knew that upon retirement he wanted to continue in that same spirit: improving quality of life. After attending an event to learn about volunteer opportunities at Habitat, Don was surprised to see just how many volunteer opportunities there were and the scope of the mission, which goes beyond just building houses. He was impressed and signed up to volunteer twice a week that day. During his professional career, he didn’t have a lot of time to use his hands to make things happen.  As a construction volunteer, that changes.  Don, over the past 17 years, has been able to see the results of his, and others’, labors; and the eventual smiles on the faces of the new homeowner family. His time at Habitat has also allowed him to grow to accept change because “with change comes patience and understanding.”

Despite having limited free time in his career, Don found time to volunteer as a little league baseball coach, baseball umpire, and in later years, President of his Home Owners Association and President of the Westerville North Athletic Booster Club. Don reflected on his time volunteering in his youth and how it relates to his time now at Habitat. “My experiences as a volunteer taught me a lot about life beyond the environment I lived in.  In the 1950’s when I was 13 or 14 years old, I volunteered at a weekly Church Bingo in Louisville, Kentucky.  Unfortunately, at that time segregation still existed and I volunteered in the gym where the people of color had to sit.  That experience taught me to treat everyone the same.  That is the same experience I have witnessed with Habitat for Humanity.  As Habitat’s mission statement begins, ‘Seeking to put God’s Love in Action HFHMO…’ has no room for discrimination whether a volunteer or a future homeowner.”

Another key part of Don’s volunteer experience at Habitat MidOhio has been his work on a Critical Home Repair Project for a military veteran. “I have never forgotten what a Veteran sacrifices for all of us. Volunteering with HFH to help repair this Veteran’s home was the ‘feel good’ feeling that had me wanting to do more.” This project is a way for him to continue his service 52 years after his time with the US Army Reserves, which included 6 months of active duty in a medical clinic pharmacy in Ft. Lewis, WA where Don witnessed the suffering of those returning from duty in Vietnam.

Outside of his time at Habitat, Don shares his time, talent, and treasure with the Homeless Families Foundation, Smokey Row, and Dublin Food Pantries. He also enjoys following Buckeye football and basketball as a season ticketholder, travelling, attempting projects in his beginner’s basement workshop, and playing Scrabble and other word games with his family. He and his wife, Betty, have 5 grandchildren, who are ages 13 to 21.

Don encourages others to volunteer. His words of advice are to “enjoy it, value it, and share the spirit of it with others.” Whether it is a big and memorable accomplishment like Don’s two-week Habitat build in Awaso, Ghana, West Africa in 2005 or the day to day enjoyment of “comradery, new friends, shared values, and an appreciation for Wendy’s and Subway at lunch to share adventures, family life and stories from the past,” Don has enjoyed his time volunteering at Habitat MidOhio and we greatly appreciate him sharing his time and talents with us!

Kirk began volunteering with Habitat MidOhio through his employer’s, American Electric Power, community volunteer program thirteen years ago. In that time, Kirk has been able to invest his time and energy into a mission he is proud of, providing affordable housing. He especially appreciates the emphasis on the “hand up, not a handout” approach. He sees it as a holistic way to ensure partner families can be successful homeowners. Kirk enjoys working with his hands, helping others, and working as part of a team. As a construction volunteer, he gets to do all three. He also has been able to improve his construction skills, “or at least I’d like to think my constructions skills have improved” he joked. He is particularly grateful for the comradery he has developed with other volunteers over the years, as well as the opportunity to be a part of building affordable, energy efficient and quality homes for homeowners to call their own. Kirk is currently working on a home for his thirteenth family.
 
Outside of Habitat, Kirk spends most of his time with family, at work, or at church. Kirk encourages others to “just do it” when it comes to volunteering. We hope Kirk continues to enjoy sharing his time with us and are thankful for his continued support.
 

Mary first volunteered at Habitat 20 years ago through Nationwide Insurance. When her job and home life (raising 3 children as a single parent) got too hectic, she stopped volunteering for a while. Prior to her recent retirement, she needed to find useful activities to engage in after she quit working.  She narrowed my various interests to basically three – Habitat, the Columbus Zoo and legal aid.  Habitat was of special interest due to the physical activity which she knew she would need after sitting at a desk for so many years. Another big influence in her interest in Habitat was a mentor of hers that had worked many years at Habitat before moving to a retirement center in Willoughby OH, James (Jim) W. Boyd Sr.  Prior to COVID, she would visit him and she described how his eyes would light up when they discussed Habitat activities.  “I think he appreciated his part in encouraging my involvement” Mary reflected.

After retirement, Mary began her Habitat involvement working mostly on the repair projects.  “I enjoyed those projects because you almost always get to meet the people you are helping and I think I more directly felt the assistance I was providing.”  More recently, at the recommendation of one of the project leads, she has worked with the Women’s Build team.  “This past year’s group of women got along extremely well.  We have maintained our friendship during the separation through e-mails and frequent texts.  These communications have been very supportive during this time of isolation.” Mary feels that volunteering at Habitat has probably given her more than she has given Habitat. She’s learned many helpful skills that she can use around her house.  She also learned things that she later decided she did not want to do for herself, like digging up storm drainage pipes and replacing them. “I hired that done at my house after being up to my shoulders in mud on a repair project!”

Mary has always felt that she and her children have had everything they need and some of what they want.  Through her involvement with Habitat, she has seen how others may not be as fortunate. She also has seen that lack of “things” don’t mean anything when it comes to a person’s character.  “I think I always knew that intuitively but Habitat has reinforced that knowledge.  I wish others in the world could appreciate that.”

Due to COVID, Mary stays at home now most of the time.  Her favorite pastime activity that she has had to give up is going to movies.  Thankfully, Mary has several streaming services on her TV. “Sitting in a dark theater and watching a newly released movie was my pleasure.  (Yes, newly released.  I usually couldn’t/wouldn’t wait more than a week to see a new release.) My motto was “Few movies are worse than no movie at all!”  Now that movie theaters are open I haven’t felt safe enough to venture out.  One day!!” She has ventured out to drive to each of her children’s houses in the past 4 months.  She reminisced on what she considers her scariest trip “through NYC to my daughter’s house on Long Island.  But for wonderful talking GPS no doubt I would still be on the Central Park Expressway.  I certainly could not have read a map and driven at the same time.  When I was doing it I said “never again” but now, well maybe!” Any day now she will be heading to her son’s house Pennsylvania to welcome the upcoming birth of her 6th grandchild to make 3 boys and soon 3 girls. That drive is one Mary is excite to make.

Mary wishes to end with this advice: “The only thing left to say is something that matters more than anything right now – PLEASE VOTE!!!!”

Columbus Gives Back is a local nonprofit organization that partners with different Central Ohio organizations to provide social volunteer opportunities.  They are a completely volunteer-run group that is truly dedicated to giving back to the community, and we have been thrilled to work with them over the past 10 years. 

Columbus Gives Back has been volunteering in the ReStores since soon after their founding in 2009, coming out on the second Saturday of every month to help process donations, assist customers, and work on store projects. CGB started helping out on Habitat build days in 2018 and has recently answered the call to assist with other events like Vintage Market Days, deconstructions, and the Spring ReStore Craft Day. Richard Sanders, Event Leader and former board member for CGB, has been volunteering with Habitat MidOhio for four years now, both in the stores and out on site, and he keeps coming back because “there’s never a boring day!”  He notes that he has met some of his best friends while volunteering with Habitat and has had the chance to learn new skills. 

For future volunteers who might be intimidated to volunteer on a construction site, Columbus Gives Back says, “Don’t be! Even if you have zero experience in building or construction, you’ll be more than welcome to volunteer, and it is always a great time!” Richard says that he still learns something new every time he volunteers with CGB at Habitat! He also notes that it has been meaningful to volunteer with Habitat because whether you’re actually swinging a hammer or working in the ReStores, you’re helping to build a home for someone. 

CGB has collaborated with over 250 organizations throughout Columbus since their founding, and we are so pleased that they have included Habitat MidOhio in that number.  We missed working with them while the ReStores were closed, and we are so glad to have them back! Thank you for all that you do with us at Habitat MidOhio and for the Columbus community at large. Columbus is lucky to have you!

Another volunteer that is relatively new to the Habitat MidOhio team is Steve Weygandt. He first got involved with Habitat for Humanity about 10 years ago while volunteering with his church on a build site. Over the years, Steve would volunteer sporadically as time allowed on weekends or vacation days. Upon retiring in the summer of 2019, he started volunteering regularly during the week. Soon, Steve joined a crew of regular volunteers called the Tuesday and Thursday Crews and has become a consistent member of their team.

Since joining the Tuesday and Thursday Crews, Steve has worked on a variety of projects in North Linden and has contributed over 200 volunteer hours to these homes. During this time, Steve has enjoyed learning from other volunteers, noting, “Having only average skills as a home DIY’er, those on the work crews were very helpful and patient in providing me hints and help on the various tasks of the work. I have enjoyed the work and the camaraderie with the ‘regulars.’ Everyone works very hard to help each other, ensuring a quality job is done while keeping it fun.”

Prior to retirement, Steve worked as a supervisor of a fleet of semi-truck drivers for 25 years. He also spent 17 years as a manager of a building material center, so Habitat gives him a chance to return to the world of building materials. Outside of Habitat, Steve is an active member of his church and enjoys reading, gardening, and spoiling his grandkids. Now that he has joined his wife in retirement, Steve happily reports that they “have not yet driven each other crazy!”

Steve knows first-hand that a willingness to work and learn is all that is needed to get started volunteering with Habitat. From there, “the veterans will help you learn as you go!” We are so glad that Steve has found his place on the Tuesday and Thursday Crews. Thank you for all that you do!

Although Craig is relatively new to the Habitat MidOhio team, he has already made a great impact, especially with our home repair program. Craig recently retired as the Fire Marshal of the Genoa Township Fire Department and was looking for something to “keep him out of trouble.” He chose to volunteer his time with Habitat because it brings two of his loves together: serving people and construction.

After volunteering at a few different work sites, Craig found his niche volunteering on repair projects with HFHMO project lead Tom. In less than a year, Craig has put in over 300 hours at various repair sites around Columbus. One of the first repair projects that Craig worked on started out as a siding replacement job. They soon discovered, however, that much of the underlying wall structure had rotted away, and the project became much more in-depth. Craig explains, “Much of what I have learned in repair is that you just never know what you are going find when you start the repair.  Lots of damage is often hidden.”

By working on owner-occupied repair projects, Habitat volunteers get a glimpse into the everyday lives of the families being served by the program. Craig reflects, “My eyes have been opened to ‘how the other half lives’ and the importance of what Habitat does.  I was unaware of some of the challenges that our clientele have to overcome; things like theft, lack of follow-through of contractors, lack of knowledge about home maintenance, and general economic hardship.”

Outside of Habitat, Craig volunteers with Preservation Parks of Delaware County and is an active member of his church, where he plays guitar on the praise team. He also hosts a monthly music night in his barn, providing a space for musicians to gather to sing and play together. His hobbies include music (guitar, banjo, and violin), IT (desktops, servers, and networking), electronics, and photography—which he sometimes puts to use on Habitat sites!

When asked to provide words of wisdom for future volunteers, Craig responded, “Get in there and get your hands dirty.  The leads are good at finding tasks for all abilities.  Moreover, if you are not careful, you just might learn something.” We are very grateful to have Craig as a part of our home repair team and look forward to many more projects in the future!

Scott and his wife have been volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for over 15 years, starting in Des Moines and continuing with MidOhio when they moved to Columbus. Their employer, Nationwide, is a strong supporter of Habitat and community service. Scott was impressed by the passion and dedication of the MidOhio staff and loves the philosophy of the homes and repairs being “a hand up, not a hand out.”

Scott found it easy to volunteer with many different opportunities with MidOhio such as helping on new builds, Rock the Block events, and various committee work. He is a framer by trade, so he especially enjoys opportunities to work with wood. His day-job at Nationwide is as a Project Manager, so when The Playhouse Project was being launched, he knew designing and building the kits while also leading the Construction Pros would be a perfect fit for his skills and passions. He has taken the role head-on and has lead his crew in building over 50 kits in the past 6 months!

One of his favorite memories from volunteering with Habitat was the first Playhouse that was built by MidOhio as a pilot. The MidOhio Board members served as the volunteers, so they too could have a hands-on experience. That first playhouse was designed with a princess theme for a little girl named Joelle. Scott recalls, “It was a very special moment for all of us when we unveiled her new playhouse for her. The look on her face was priceless - she was delighted with her new ‘castle’!” Another memorable accomplishment was going a whole session without Deb having to remind him to put on his safety glasses!!    

In reflecting on his growth as a volunteer, Scott mentioned his appreciation of the various skill sets that need to come together to make an effort like The Playhouse Project successful. He stated, “I would like to thank the following team members for making this possible: EJ for his leadership and support of this fabulous staff and the future ride in the Stearman; Brian for his vision, enthusiasm and words of inspiration; Erik for his guidance and support; Deb for making sure the volunteers are complying with health and safety guidelines; Jeff for the ordering and the delivery of materials; Phil for his assistance on the assembly instructions, by adding images; and of course Maggie and Lauren, who keep me focused on our deliverables, schedules, and assistance in making this possible. I would also like to thank my team members, Adam Thompson, Bryan Tamulonis, Matt Hayes, George Kalec and Keith Dufrane. I couldn’t have met our timelines without their help.”

Outside of work and volunteering with MidOhio, Scott has many talents and passions. He is working on remodeling a 100+ year old home in Marble Cliff and likes the challenge of working with vaulted ceilings and plastered walls. He also enjoys downhill skiing, boating, motorcycling and snowmobiling. He loves working on classic cars, and is a private pilot. He recently took welding classes at a local vocational school and plans to apply his new skills to replace the  floorboards on the 1970 VW Bug he’s restoring. Another hidden talent of his is baking. A first generation Greek, he enjoys making some of his mother’s fabulous recipes including baklava and other pastries for the holidays. He even has friends who start calling in October to make sure they’re still on the list to receive his holiday treats! 

To future volunteers, Scott says, “Do not be intimidated by the idea of working on a construction site, or with tools that you may have never used before.  Habitat’s utmost concern is your safety, and they do a fabulous job to ensure you are assigned to a role that suits your skills and comfort level.”  

We are thrilled to have Scott as a leader on our Playhouse team and we can’t wait to bless more families through the work he has done. He reflected on his service saying, “I am blessed to have a roof over my head, a warm place to rest, and a safe place to play. It makes me feel good to share my talents and time to help others achieve their dream of having their very own home, and a sense of safety and security.” Thank you, Scott!

Deb and Jeff Matthaes first became involved with Habitat for Humanity by volunteering with our neighbors at the Delaware and Union County affiliate. After a friend invited them to help out in 2015, they volunteered at the Delaware ReStore for 3.5 years before joining us here at MidOhio in the spring of 2019.  Since then, the Matthaeses have been a wonderful and steady presence at the ReStores and have even jumped in to help out a deconstruction and at Vintage Market Days.

From June 2019 through January 2020, many of the ReStore volunteer opportunities revolved around the opening of our newest store on Bethel Road, and Deb and Jeff were both extremely helpful throughout that whole process. They note that one of their most memorable accomplishments with Habitat so far has been being a part of that opening, helping both with interior demolition at the very beginning as well as with finishing touches at the end. From clearing debris to assembling racking and stocking shelves, these two were there for it. Prior to ReStore Bethel Road opening, Deb and Jeff helped out regularly on Saturdays at ReStore Westerville Road where they enjoyed assembling furniture, stocking shelves, assisting customers with purchases and donations, and organizing store sections. They have since transitioned their regular Saturday shifts from Westerville Road to Bethel Road, lending their time and talents to the new store.

The Matthaeses note that they enjoy volunteering with Habitat MidOhio and the ReStores because it helps hardworking people in need and promotes the reuse and recycling of goods. They also note that “volunteering with Habitat has made us realize that there is a great need for affordable housing in Columbus” and that “our volunteer hours helps Habitat to efficiently use their resources to offer affordable housing to families in need.” They are absolutely right, and it means so much to us that they are willing to help contribute toward this mission.

Away from Habitat, Deb and Jeff are both still working full time and enjoy spending spare time with family. They like to travel and especially love to visit Disney World.  Deb and Jeff plan to continue volunteering for many years to come, and we couldn’t be more glad to hear it. Thank you for all of your help!

As an AEP employee, Bill first heard about Habitat at work back in 2006, when AEP was sponsoring a wall build at the Ohio State Fair. He signed up to help, and since then, he has done a little bit of everything! For the past 13 years, he has helped build the AEP-sponsored home every year and has recently begun helping on other projects in the off-season.

Over the years, Bill has learned a lot while volunteering on site, although he’s too modest to call himself an expert! He enjoys working with and learning from the other volunteers, particularly the AEP House Lead, Jim Rosing. He also values the time spent working alongside the future homeowners and the opportunity to work in some of the same neighborhoods year after year.

In addition to working with fellow AEP employees and retirees on site, Bill has also gotten to work with many other wonderful volunteers who represent various companies and organizations in Central Ohio as well as students from the Ohio State University.

In his spare time, Bill enjoys reading and journaling. On site, Bill can often be found doing some of the thankless jobs that are nevertheless essential to keeping a site running smoothly, like cleaning up debris and using a magnet to keep the area clear of loose nails and screws. Many of us have Bill to thank for preventing flat tires or injuries!

Bill’s words of wisdom to future volunteers? “Remember that the work we do today means that the world is better than yesterday.” We are so grateful to have Bill’s positivity and work ethic as part of the Habitat team!

Jordan first got involved with Habitat about 6 years ago while in college at the University of Kentucky, through one of his fraternity brothers who organized builds for the local Habitat affiliate. During his time in college, Jordan participated in about 7 or 8 Habitat build days in Lexington and also went on a week-long Habitat trip to Deland, FL during spring break. During that trip, his group was able to transform a concrete slab into a fully framed house, all while working alongside the partner family. Jordan credits this experience as the moment that he first fell in love with Habitat’s mission, noting, “It is a process that brings diverse people together, creates thankful hearts all around, and empowers human potential.”

After moving to Columbus, Jordan attended an interest meeting about our Habitat Young Professionals chapter, and it wasn’t long before he took on the role of HYP Chair! When he isn’t busy attending HYP build days or organizing happy hours, Jordan enjoys fly fishing, being outdoors, exercising, and reading. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and dog and finding opportunities to build relationships. Outside of Habitat, Jordan is also a member of the Columbus Rotary, Columbus Young Professionals Club, and the US Bank Development Network (although he has managed to get these groups involved with Habitat too!).

One of Jordan’s favorite memories as a Habitat volunteer centers around a home dedication for a Muslim family, where the primary house sponsor was Thrivent Financial, a Christian organization. He explains, “About 40 people were in attendance and everyone was holding hands, praying, and shedding tears… one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed.” Jordan is also proud to have built a gazebo at his house, a feat he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish without the skills he’s picked up by volunteering with Habitat.

Thank you, Jordan, for your commitment to engaging more young professionals in Habitat’s mission!

Tom has been involved with Habitat for Humanity on and off for about 11 years. He first caught the “Habitat bug” while living in Wilmington, Delaware, and was a regular volunteer for the New Castle County Delaware affiliate for two years. Since becoming a regular here at the MidOhio affiliate, Tom has put in over 700 volunteer hours, mainly on new home construction and deconstruction projects for the ReStore. Most recently, he has been a regular presence on Minnesota Ave, working alongside project lead Mattias and other volunteers to build two new homes.

Tom enjoys the “hands on” experience of volunteering with Habitat. Some of his favorite memories include hearing the stories of each partner family and seeing how those families’ lives are bettered though Habitat’s efforts. He also finds it interesting to see the whole process come together— “how the different project leads, support staff and administration make it all happen with the number of volunteers involved.”

Prior to retirement, Tom worked at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for over 30 years and spent several years as a consultant. Outside of Habitat, he is a member of several professional organizations related to his past work. He also enjoys tending to his garden, feeding humming birds, visiting family, and trying to stay in shape.

Tom’s words of wisdom for future volunteers are simple: “Give it a try, you will enjoy it.” He notes that all skill levels are needed for the various projects, and that volunteering with Habitat is also a great workout!

A huge thank you to Tom for choosing to share his time and talents with Habitat for Humanity!

Keith Gatewood first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio about 10 years ago on a few builds in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood, and he’s enjoyed volunteering Habitat on occasion ever since. After recently taking a more reduced role at work, Keith has found the ReStore to be a good option, and we’re glad that he’s found it fulfilling so far.  When asked what he likes best about volunteering, Keith says, “It’s the small things. It’s having the feeling of getting something done so that the staff doesn’t have to worry about it. What I like best is that it’s a little different each time I come in.”

Keith was a huge help this past summer at the annual Flower Sale, and remembers how the rain made things interesting… “It was a monsoon out there. I will never forget that day, carrying plants out to people’s cars…” We’re glad he didn’t let that scare him away! In addition to ReStore, we can always rely on him to fill in at other events, including the Dispatch Home and Garden Show, the Home and Remodeling Show, and Vintage Market Days. If you have even one doubt about whether you should volunteer or not, just listen to Keith: “It’s for everyone! Anybody can do it—[the staff] will find something for you. Come in and give it a try!”

Away from Habitat, Keith is a Hospice volunteer and an active member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church where he helps prepare and serve monthly meals at the YWCA and Faith Mission.  He is also an incredibly talented woodworker, having started in high school building furniture and bookcases. He has since moved on mostly to decorative sports logos and American flags and has made hundreds of them to give away to friends and family. Keith has been in the business of software sales for 30 years now, and he is working toward retirement at the end of the year.  We are so thankful for his continued support, and we’re hoping that ReStore and Habitat can continue to be part of his life as he heads into retirement!

Chaz got involved with Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio just over a year ago when he came out to volunteer with Nationwide. For that day, he participated on a build site during Winter Warriors season, and he’s been steadily acquiring more and more Winter Warriors swag ever since.  It’s been wonderful to see him grow from a quiet to active participant and then to a knowledgeable and confident lead on our deconstruction projects.  He’s seen the Habitat process from new build site to dedication and has seen what a difference a new home makes to a family and to a neighborhood.

In more recent months, we have come to rely on Chaz as a volunteer lead for ReStore deconstruction projects. Chaz fondly remembers his first solo deconstruction as a lead when he had a group of OSU students volunteering with him. He noted, “When they arrived, they did not seem very motivated or into it. But I got them working in teams as a learning project on how to remove and repair doors, cabinets, light fixtures, faucets, etc. It was really rewarding to see how excited and eager they got.” Chaz says his first volunteer experience was fun and very educational, and as a deconstruction lead, he’s been able to give other volunteers that same positive impression.  As a frequent “Winter Warrior,” Chaz wants to let other volunteers know that the cold shouldn’t get in their way of giving back. Just grab your sturdy, comfortable shoes and plenty of layers! “If you don’t know how to do something just ask. Site leads are always willing to help.”

When he’s not helping us lead deconstructions or swinging a hammer to help a partner family, Chaz is putting his construction skills to use personally as well, as he is on the final stretch of a full remodel of his home. He also works full time at Nationwide, volunteers at Shadowbox Theater and United Way, and is a member of Nationwide’s Pride ARG and the Stonewall Columbus Pride Committee. With all of these great commitments, we’re thrilled that Chaz has also chosen to join our Habitat family!

Howard first got involved with Habitat for Humanity 18 years ago, when he was newly retired and looking to do some construction-related mission work in the Columbus area. Soon after, Howard’s church was asked to join the Hilliard-Adopt-A-House (HAAH) group, and he’s been volunteering ever since!

Over the years, Howard has worked on 22 Habitat projects and counting. Howard credits his three mentors, Harold Rausch, Bob Radcliffe, and Ron Danals, for teaching him all that he could absorb about construction, noting that they each showed him “the patience of Job”! Beyond construction, Howard has also taken on numerous leadership roles within Hilliard-Adopt-A-House, including currently serving as its President, Volunteer Coordinator, and Webmaster. One of his proudest accomplishments over the years has been formally registering HAAH as a 501(c)3 public charity, allowing the group to increase its impact on affordable housing.

Outside of Habitat, Howard is involved with a variety of other service activities. He has spent many years volunteering with Appalachia Service Project, a home repair ministry, and leading his church’s United Methodist Volunteers in Mission teams. Collectively, he has spent over a year in mission in Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Appalachia and the Gulf Coast—wow! Howard’s hobbies include grandparenting, tennis, and family history. He has also sung in adult church choirs for 56 years, beginning at the age of 9.

Howard’s advice to future volunteers? “One of my favorite Bible passages is 1 John 3:17-18: ‘If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.’ Take these words to heart and serve willingly! You will develop friendships with other volunteers and homeowner families that will last a lifetime!”

Thank you, Howard, for many years of putting faith into action through your volunteer work! We can’t thank you enough for building both homes and relationships in Central Ohio.