Habitat MidOhio Monthly Musing
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CEO Corner
I’m back from maternity leave and feeling even more inspired about our work of connecting people to opportunity and hope. Before I was back full-time, I brought my son, Mustafa, to a few events, including the Franklin County Playhouse Blitz and several house dedications.
We had a record-setting year at the Franklin County Playhouse Blitz with 25 homes sponsored and built for local families. These playhouse sponsorship dollars help fund Habitat’s work in building and repairing homes; while gifting playhouses and the opportunities they provide for play and dreaming to local families who wouldn’t be able to purchase one.
Mustafa joined me at the dedication of the 15th home sponsored by Alan and Bobbi Weiler; long-time and inspiring Habitat supporters who care deeply about important issues such as housing. At that dedication, we recognized a significant gift made by Bob Weiler in honor of Alan’s 92nd birthday the week prior. Mustafa also joined me at our 18th annual women build home; a home traditionally built by women volunteers and women leads.
I’ll keep bringing my son to our events, and I’m incredibly grateful he will grow up seeing philanthropy, volunteerism, and collaboration in action for the greater good of building community. This “building of community” that we support is deeper than housing or “shelter”, a fundamental need. It’s about connecting people and families to the opportunities and hope associated with having a decent and safe place to live including education, vocational training, and opportunities, and access to health care. This is supported by the recently released Franklin County Health Map. Your support of Habitat does more than build homes or provide shelter; it unlocks greater health and economic mobility.
I also want to welcome Rosa Ocheltree to our team as Chief Financial Officer; a key role for our future. You can read more about Rosa here.
In Service,
Brandi Braun AL-Issa
President & CEO
Homeowner Services
Many families have celebrated incredible milestones over the last couple of months— from home dedications to commencements . Each event marks a new chapter filled with hope, stability, and joy. We’re honored to walk alongside these families as they achieve their dreams of safe, affordable homeownership. Take a look at the beautiful moments we’ve shared together!
Thank you to sponsors: Hexion, Montei Foundation, Harry C Moores Foundation, Women Build regulars, Park National Bank, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, Licking Memorial Health Systems, Energy CoOp, City of Newark AEP, Northwest AAH, Mifflin Presbyterian, GEODIS, State Farm, Wells Fargo, Simpson Strong-Tie, State Farm, Fisher Homes, Bank of America, Hilliard AAH, Bobbie & Alan Weiler, Church of the Resurrection, Bread Financial, Nisource/Columbia Gas, Champion, and the City of Columbus.
Sweat Equity in Action
On June 21, our Licking County families came together for a special sweat equity event at Infirmary Mound Park. They rolled up their sleeves and spent the day cleaning up litter throughout the park.
Through these sweat equity hours, families not only help build their future homes but also strengthen connections with the community they’ll soon call home. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication to making Licking County a cleaner, more welcoming place for everyone.
ReStore
Our Annual Flower Sale is here! Join us at all three locations for one of our favorite events of the year! The sale begins at 9:00 AM on Friday, July 18, and continues through Saturday, July 19. We’re offering special extended hours on Friday — we’ll be open until 6:00 PM to give you extra time to shop!
Come explore a wide variety of beautiful plants and flowers. The plants featured in our sale are generously donated by AmericanHort from Cultivate’25.
We’re so grateful for the many generous sponsors who make this event possible, including AmericanHort, Lettuce Works, Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse, Strader’s Garden Center, and many more.
Interested in helping out? We’d love your support! Check out volunteer opportunities here.
New ReStore Location!
We are excited to announce a new ReStore location coming in Fall 2025! We will be opening our next location in Hilliard, OH, at the intersection of Roberts Rd and Hilliard Rome Rd. It’s a great existing retail space and we are excited to introduce ReStore to a new customer base! We will continue to send out updates on grand opening, be sure to check out our social media pages for store updates.
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
Volunteer Services
Volunteer Spotlight
Each month, we spotlight volunteers who have gone above and beyond to support Habitat’s mission. Check out our website to view all of our recently spotlighted volunteers, including Olivia Repasky and Margie Yatsko!
Equity, Voice & Opportunity
At Habitat for Humanity MidOhio, we believe that everyone deserves a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home and we know that strong, inclusive communities are built when everyone is welcomed and celebrated.
In June, we were proud to participate in our third Pride Festival and Parade. Our enthusiastic team marched through the streets on Saturday, sharing our mission and spreading joy. We also hosted an information table at Goodale Park on both Friday and Saturday, connecting with hundreds of community members.
One of the highlights of the weekend was giving out over 80 mini playhouses, sparking smiles and conversations with families and children about the importance of home and community.
We’re honored to continue building a world where everyone has a place to thrive — during Pride Month and every day of the year.
Resource Development
We kicked off the summer season with two Playhouse Project Blitz Builds - 2025 Franklin County Blitz Presented by Discover and the Faith Blitz.
The 2025 Franklin County Blitz Build Presented by Discover, our largest ever with 25 playhouses built, was an amazing display of the power of community. Over the course of two days, 23 sponsor groups came together to make an impact on our central Ohio neighbors - both the children in need of a safe space to play and the families in need of a decent, affordable place to call home.
Thank you to our 2025 Franklin County Playhouse blitz sponsors: Discover, Installed Building Products, CBRE, Wilcox Communities, Danis, Huntington, Field Fastener, MA Design, Advanced Engineering Consultants, Northwest Bank, Crimson Design Group, Nationwide, Gilbane, Columbia Gas/NiSource Foundation, OCP Contractors, G&J Pepsi, Elford, UA Rotary, First Commonwealth Bank, Habitat Homeowner Selection Committee, Feazel
Special thank you to our event host: Lower.com Field
Our 4th Annual Faith Blitz was held on June 28th , where our generous partners One Church and Thrivent came together to bless 5 local families with custom playhouses for their children. It was a tremendous, energy-filled day at our host, One Church's, newly renovated space. We are grateful to our partners for their commitment to safe, decent, affordable housing.
Meet the Team
Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Michelle, a new team member at the Newark ReStore.
Michelle began as a volunteer in the ReStore and was encouraged to apply for a full-time role. She quickly felt at home and is excited to make a meaningful impact in our community. Her goal is to embody our core values and be a positive presence for both her coworkers and customers.
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, completing craft projects, and participating in dance fitness classes.
Say hello to Ben, a team member at our Newark ReStore! Ben is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys archery, biking, and roller skating. He spends hours each day sharpening his archery skills and knows all the best biking and walking paths. We’re excited to have Ben bring his energy and dedication to the team—be sure to welcome him next time you visit the store!
Meet Luke, one of the newest members of our Newark ReStore team! Luke brings a big heart and a passion for raising awareness about Autism and mental health. He’s also dedicated to keeping our world clean, which perfectly aligns with our mission at the ReStore!
A fun fact: Luke has appeared on Cash Explosion not once, but twice!
Please join us in also welcoming Rob, our new Associate Director of Procurement and Logistics. Rob was drawn to Habitat because he was looking for a company that values people and is actively involved in the community. He’s excited to make a positive impact through his work supporting the ReStores.
Outside of work, Rob stays busy with his two boys, ages 8 and 6. He enjoys fishing, playing golf, and spending time outdoors with his family—whether it's going on nature walks or relaxing at the pool during the summer.
We’re excited to welcome Sean-Nika Floyd as our new Director of People and Culture at Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio!
With over a decade of HR leadership experience, she brings a deep passion for inclusive culture, people development, and strategic engagement. Sean-Nika joins our senior leadership team and will play a key role in shaping how we grow, support, and empower our hardworking team.
Outside the office, she’s a published children’s book author and a DIY enthusiast.
