Habitat MidOhio Monthly Musing

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CEO Corner

Anchored in love, reaching for equity  

While Habitat for Humanity is a well-known and beloved brand, not everyone knows the historical origins of Habitat, which was a movement founded in racial and social equity.  The first Habitat home was built for Joseph (Bo) and Emma Johnson, seen below at a “burning ceremony” where they celebrated paying off their mortgage!

A beautiful account of Habitat’s founding can be read here - and – I've pulled some key points that you can find below.  Black History Month is a perfect time to be reminded of the greater purpose that sparked a global movement for racial economic equity; a movement we are part of keeping alive today.

It was 1942, and on the outskirts of the rural South Georgia town of Americus, a radical experiment began. The farm was called Koinonia, and it was to be a first-century version of Christian living in a 20th-century context. It would be a place where everyone — no matter race, gender or wealth — would be welcomed.    

The guiding principle would be the New Testament concept of koinonia: fellowship, sharing communion.  Koinonia Farm was the culmination of the lifelong passions of farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan. 

Coming from humble beginnings in Alabama, Millard Fuller became a self-made millionaire at age 29. Looking for something more and inspired by a visit to Koinonia, he and his wife, Linda, sold their possessions and began searching for a new focus for their lives. This search led them and their children to move to the farm. 

Jordan and Fuller pushed each other to think more deeply and more creatively about the injustices of the world and how they could help tear down those barriers that they agreed were keeping Black families from achieving economic equity. 

Together, they developed the concept of “partnership housing” — whereby those in need of adequate shelter would work alongside volunteers to build affordable houses. The houses would be built at no profit. Homeowners would pay no-interest loans over a 20-year period. 

Joseph “Bo” Johnson, one of the first members of the Koinonia community, moved into the home with his family. He and his wife, Emma, faithfully repaid their home loan each month — $25 at a time — for the next 20 years. 

I’ll close out this month’s message with a quote from Clarence Jordan,  

“Love never quits, even when an enemy has hit you on the right cheek and you have turned the other, and he’s also hit that.” 

May we all be touched and inspired by the unrelenting core value and guiding principle of love.

In Service,
Brandi Braun AL-Issa
President & CEO

Resource Development

Make your next pizza night a win-win with Donatos and Habitat for Humanity!

We are grateful to partner with Donatos and the Donatos Family Foundation on a special round-up campaign that makes it easy to support affordable housing right here in our community. From January 26 through April 19, when you order online at donatos.com, you can choose to round up your total, with every donation directly benefiting your local Habitat for Humanity affiliate - including Habitat MidOhio! 

As part of this same campaign, there’s an even sweeter way to give back. When you add a Buttercream Frosted Cookie to your order, Donatos will donate $1 to your local Habitat for Humanity. It’s a simple (and delicious) way to help hardworking families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through homeownership. 

Make your next pizza night a little more meaningful. Together, every round-up and every cookie helps build more affordable homes and stronger neighborhoods. 

Volunteer Services

Volunteer Spotlight: Aishee

Aishee began volunteering with Habitat in 2022 after discovering the OSU Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter at the Ohio State involvement fair. Now the President of the chapter, Aishee coordinates volunteer shifts, hosts fundraisers to raise money for our affiliate, and organizes service trips with other Habitat Affiliates around the country.  

Aishee has had the opportunity to volunteer at our new builds and at the ReStore, but she shares that one of her favorite parts about volunteering with Habitat is building a sense of community on build sites and with other volunteers from Ohio State. “A subtle aspect of our chapter... [is that] we get to talk to other students and hear about what is going on campus from people with different perspectives.” Aishee appreciates that people may come from different backgrounds and are at different stages in their lives yet still choose to dedicate their time to volunteer with Habitat.   

She fondly recalls working with and learning from our construction site leads, stating, “They’re kind of inspirational to me. Seeing people who do a lot of hard work but are still so positive and optimistic is uplifting. Knowing I’m going to see them makes my week because they’re just great people.” Aishee had the honor of attending a dedication ceremony last year and was given the opportunity to hand over the keys to the partner family and say a few words about her experience working on their house from start to finish.  Reflecting on that moment, she said, “It was so meaningful because our group had spent a long time on that house, and it was wonderful to see the family inside and the kids running around.” 

Aishee feels much more confident on build sites now compared to her early volunteering days, thanks to the knowledge she has gained, and her comfort asking site leads for help. As President of the OSU chapter, she also feels that her confidence can rub off on other volunteers, especially new volunteers who may be nervous during their first few shifts.  

In addition to her Habitat work, Aishee is a fourth-year Neuroscience major interviewing for medical school, volunteers with Reading Buddies at the library, and performs in the OSU Stand-Up Comedy club. She encourages new volunteers to persevere, emphasizing the rewarding experience that comes from pushing through initial challenges. 

We wish her the best in her future endeavors and thank her for all that she has contributed to our affiliate and the OSU Habitat Chapter!

HELP WANTED: Habitat Ambassadors

Are you passionate about Habitat's mission? Are you willing to attend events or engage with your community? Join us for our next Habitat Ambassadors Training! During the training, you will learn about Habitat's history, mission, future plans, and success stories to prepare you to become a liaison and representative of Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio. 

Our Ambassadors represent Habitat at different events including employee giving campaigns, volunteers fairs, and miscellaneous church, company, and organization events.  The goal of the Habitat Ambassador Program is to maintain a group of people willing to be called upon as representatives of Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio when an event arises. If you have a passion for Habitat's mission, and are determined to share that with others, the Habitat Ambassadors program is for you. 

Upcoming trainings: 

March 19th from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm 

March 21st from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm 

Sign up here!

ReStore

Find Deals, Do Good: What’s New at the Habitat MidOhio ReStores

Shop: Our inventory is always changing and now is the time to upgrade and refresh your home as we head into the warmer months! Check out all of our new and donated items, featuring LaZboy furniture, Dahdoul flooring and home décor, Butcher Block countertops and many other great items donated generously by individuals and corporations!

Donate: Spring is always a time to start fresh-out with the old and in with the new! We would love to be a part of your spring-cleaning process. Items donated to Habitat MidOhio go to our ReStores to be sold at an affordable price to the community which in turn helps support us on our mission to end substandard housing in Columbus. Do you have bigger items that won’t fit into your vehicle? No problem, we will come to you and pick up for free! 

Check out more information on what items we accept and how to set up a pick up at our website!  Visit our website for a list of acceptable items and to schedule a pick-up.

Online: Don’t have time to come in? Shop with us online for items at https://www.ebay.com/str/habitatforhumanitymidohio, featuring new donated items. No matter how you choose to shop, we have the items you are looking for!

ReStore Locations & Hours

ReStore Westerville Road
3140 Westerville Rd, Columbus | Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Donations 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

ReStore Roberts Road
5419 Roberts Rd, Hilliard | Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Donations 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

ReStore Newark
1660 N 21st St, Newark | Mon–Wed 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Thu–Sat 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Donations 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Clearing out for Spring Cleaning: Donate & Make a Difference

Looking to make space during your Spring Cleaning? Your donation is tax-deductible! Every gently used appliance, cabinet, sofa, or door you donate helps build affordable homes for families in Central Ohio.

How to Donate:

• Schedule a pickup: Call (614) 364-7028 for larger items
• Drop off smaller donations: Bring them to any ReStore Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• Check what we accept: Visit our donation list

Deconstruction

Did you Know: Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio offers deconstruction services for your home!

The Habitat ReStore Deconstruction Team provides removal of salvageable materials from your home or business. As a locally recognized and respected organization, we offer efficient service and experienced personnel to complete your job on time. 

How the Deconstruction Process Works 

1. Contact us to schedule a walkthrough of your project at jcobbs@habitatmidohio.org or 614-772-5445
2. Our experienced crew removes salvageable materials from your property 
3. Materials go to the Habitat ReStore to help raise funds to build affordable housing 
4. You receive a donation receipt for tax purposes 

Construction

A Hearty Welcome to our Newest Construction Project Lead 

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Thomas Nedolast to the construction team at HFHMO!  Thomas joined the team in the first week of the new year and is quickly becoming an asset to the affiliate.  It has been a pleasure seeing him learn quickly and grow into his site leadership role.  From those of us orienting him to the affiliate, to the fellow construction staff members he has been working alongside, and the volunteers that he has been leading are impressed with his passion for our mission.   

Thomas has an education in architecture from The Ohio State University and has extensive experience in the construction industry that includes utilizing his skills in residential construction, project management, and CAD drafting and design.   He has been a quick study on site and has already had the opportunity to build and lead on multiple projects, including helping to lead the Ft Hayes Career Center students on our current workforce development house.   

Thomas expresses that he is very pleased with how welcoming and helpful everyone has been as he has started his new role.  He looks forward to meeting all of the volunteers and families in the coming weeks as we work together to put God’s love into action!    

When you see Thomas please take the time to welcome him and help us to make him feel at home here amongst the Habitat family!    

Thomas's smiling face as he leads a group of OSU Habitat Campus Chapter volunteers to accomplish some flooring warranty work.

Lead the Way. Build the Future.

Every home we build starts with a strong foundation — and that includes the people who help make it happen.

At Habitat for Humanity–MidOhio, we’ve always believed that when volunteers have the tools, training, and leadership they need, the entire community benefits. As we prepare for a new season of growth — including the addition of multi-family housing units — we’re launching a new initiative to strengthen our volunteer leadership: the Cornerstone Construction Leaders program.

Why This Matters

The demand for affordable housing in Central Ohio continues to rise. Meeting that demand means we must expand how we build — not only in the number of homes, but in how efficiently and safely we manage our construction sites.

For years, Habitat-MidOhio has relied on a dedicated group of Adopt-A-House leaders, longtime volunteers, and staff project leads to guide teams through every phase of construction. But as the number of volunteers grows, so does the need for more leaders ready to share their skills and ensure every volunteer has a meaningful experience.

That’s where Cornerstone Construction Leaders come in.

What Is a Cornerstone Construction Leader?

Cornerstone Construction Leaders are experienced volunteers who step up to guide others, ensure safety and quality, and keep projects on track. Working alongside our Habitat-MidOhio construction staff, they play a vital role in helping us expand our impact and continue building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.

Each Cornerstone Leader will receive hands-on training from our experienced team in specific phases of construction — gaining new skills they can pass along to others.

Cornerstone Leaders:

• Support and lead specific construction phases
• Mentor volunteers of all skill levels
• Promote safety and craftsmanship on-site
• Keep projects moving smoothly and efficiently
• Help build stronger neighborhoods, one home at a time

What’s in It for You

Becoming a Cornerstone Construction Leader is more than a volunteer role — it’s an opportunity to lead with purpose and leave a lasting mark on your community.

Participants will enjoy:

• Custom Habitat-MidOhio hard hats and shirts
• Ongoing skill-building and leadership training
• Invitations to exclusive appreciation events and luncheons
• The satisfaction of knowing you’re helping families achieve their dream of homeownership 

Join Us

We’re looking for people with a passion for service and a willingness to lead. If you can commit to just one day a month, you can help us build the future of affordable housing in Central Ohio.

➡️ Sign up for the Cornerstone Construction Leader Training Interest Survey:
https://forms.office.com/r/nzRu4mVFZe

Together, we can train, lead, and build — one volunteer, one home, and one family at a time.