Mike Fritz has been a dedicated volunteer with Habitat for Humanity for nearly 19 years, first getting involved through his former firm, Deloitte, during Deloitte’s annual Impact Day. His commitment deepened when his church partnered with the Northwest Adopt-A-House partnership to sponsor a home. Mike recalls, “I learned many new skills that I had never done before. It gave me a sense of making a difference in the community and helping families with affordable housing options.” His early impressions of Habitat were shaped by the supportive leadership and camaraderie among fellow volunteers. 

Before immersing himself in Habitat work, Mike enjoyed a 40-year career as an audit partner at Deloitte. While at Deloitte, he took on leadership roles, including a term with the Accountancy Board of Ohio and contributions to local organizations like the Gahanna Rotary and the Gahanna Jefferson Education Foundation, which he co-founded. Mike aims to work with organizations that resonate with his values, stating, “I look for missions that benefit children, students, or families.” 

A memorable experience for Mike was last year when he helped a future homeowner and her family with the construction of their new home. He found it rewarding to see them take pride in their work, and he cherishes participating in home dedications, celebrating families receiving the keys to their new homes. Volunteering has allowed him to grow personally and professionally: “I learned something new that I could then use with my own home and other properties.” 

Beyond Habitat, Mike serves as Vice Chair of the NASBA Center for Public Trust, fostering ethics-based leadership among college students. He enjoys traveling, hiking, and reading with his wife, along with cherishing moments with their two grandsons. Reflecting on his Habitat experiences, he shares, “Even though I would have a 7-hour workday on a Saturday, I was re-charged when I got home after a day of manual labor, hammering nails and raising walls. It was just the type of activity I needed to unwind.”  

Thank you, Mike, for your incredible dedication and the lasting impact you’re making in our community! 

Dan first got involved with Habitat around 15 years ago but had to back away due to work conflicts. Once he retired about a year and a half ago, a friend of his invited him to volunteer on a Habitat repair site, and he was happy to join. Dan’s first impression of Habitat was centered around the other volunteers, as he noticed that they were working with selfless intentions: “There was no accolade to gain, just the satisfaction of helping others improve their lives.” Dan enjoyed being a part of the solution to the housing crisis that the Columbus area is facing, so he stayed on board and is now considered one of our Home Repair Regulars. Before Habitat, Dan worked in various IT and telecommunication roles for the Ohio State University for over 35 years.

In his experience as a volunteer, Dan finds that the good attitudes and organization of Habitat’s staff and other volunteers make the more challenging parts of some repair jobs easier, especially when working in inclement weather. Even with the challenges that come along with volunteering on a Habitat repair site, Dan finds fulfillment in many aspects of the job, one of them being the homeowners’ reactions to him and other volunteers: “[The homeowners say] ‘Wow! There are people here helping us get something fixed and they’re doing it for free.’ I’m glad we can help them. It makes it worthwhile.” Dan feels that he’s grown tremendously as a volunteer in his ability to try new things: “The repair crew gets involved in a lot of different things, some of which I’ve never done before. Their knowhow and encouragement have helped me overcome my hesitancy and fear of failing.” Because of this supportive environment, Dan has also learned the importance of serving on a team. Simply put, Dan feels that volunteering with Habitat is a meaningful use of his time because he gets to help his community: “It’s knowing that by the time we’re done, we’ve helped someone improve their living conditions.”

Outside of Habitat, Dan is actively involved with his church, where he helps with “tech-related things” and the youth group. He is also a co-leader of a Bible study group. Dan’s hobbies include woodworking, computers, and both repairing and riding bicycles. One thing that you might be surprised to learn about Dan is that he has a degree to teach high school biology! In terms of words of wisdom for future volunteers, Dan shares how his volunteer service is rooted in his faith: “We live in a world where many people are in need of help. Habitat is a way to help those in need. As a Christian, I believe it’s important to serve others in need.”   

Thanks for everything you do, Dan!

Steve first got involved with Habitat when he worked for Nationwide over ten years ago. He would volunteer annually with a group of other Nationwide employees— “It was a day away from the office, working outdoors in nice weather, so why not!” Steve’s first impression of Habitat was positive, as he had a lot of fun working with other volunteers and learning new skills. Now, Steve is considered one of our Licking County Regulars, but he helps out wherever is needed. Before Habitat, Steve also volunteered for athletic events in the New Albany school system, at the Columbus Marathon and Columbus Triathlon, with United Way, and at his local church.

In his experience as a volunteer, Steve has found that volunteering on site is a great way to meet new people, as well as build skills that are “useful to [him] as a homeowner.” He also finds a sense of accomplishment in passing along the skills he’s learned on site to first-time volunteers. Although there’s no memory in particular that sticks out to Steve, he finds that overcoming the everyday challenges are the most gratifying part of being a Habitat volunteer: “Some days on Habitat new build job sites present challenges, and although you never have to take on specific tasks or assignments if you’re not comfortable with them, I welcome the challenges and appreciate the chances to build my confidence and skills.” For Steve, the mission of Habitat makes these challenges worth it, as it means a lot to him.

Outside of Habitat, Steve also volunteers with Columbus Outdoor Pursuits and Pelotonia, the latter he has been doing for 15 years. His hobbies revolve around cycling—Steve loves bicycling and riding motorcycles. He’s even a life member of the American Motorcyclist Association! He also loves spending time with grandkids, going to the zoo, local parks, and just generally spending time outside.

Thanks for everything you do, Steve!

Brian was first introduced to Habitat in 2021 through Ohio State University’s Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter. He got to talk to the previous president at an involvement fair in the fall that year, and has attended as many meetings, social events, and volunteer shifts as he could ever since. Brian’s first impression of Habitat was a positive one—in his words, “It was a fun and engaging way to give back to my community while also giving both a social outlet and a break from schoolwork.” Brian has held various positions in OSU’s Habitat Chapter, including Volunteer Coordinator and Vice President/Treasurer, and has worked his way up to now being the acting President. Currently, outside of the Habitat Chapter, Brian is a fourth-year student at OSU, majoring in Civil Engineering.

In his experience as a volunteer, Brian enjoys being on site the most, as having a hand in every stage of the build brings a sense of fulfillment: “I enjoy the ability to do anything from framing, to siding, to random tasks around the site, all while seeing the house being built up more and more as the weeks progress.” His greatest accomplishment in his volunteer service has been seeing the growth of OSU’s Habitat Chapter, especially as he’s played an active role in all the behind-the-scenes duties of many social and fundraising events. In terms of growth, Brian feels that the knowledge he’s acquired about both Habitat as an organization and what it takes to run OSU’s campus chapter has been deeply influential: “My respect for the organization has grown immensely over my time working with Habitat, as I have seen the deep beneficial effects of the organization in the community.” All of these aspects of working with Habitat through OSU’s Habitat Chapter makes volunteering a meaningful use of Brian’s time: “It is something relatively simple that can completely change the lives of a family while also having lasting impacts on the community. Just spending a few hours on some odd weekends allows you to aid in changing the family’s lives.”

Outside of Habitat, Brian is currently interning for an engineering company in Akron. While most of his time is taken up by studying or homework, Brian enjoys hiking, kayaking, and woodworking in his free time. As for some words of wisdom, Brian wants future volunteers to put their worries of inexperience aside, as Habitat is there to help: “Don’t worry about a lack of knowledge or carpentry skills. Habitat MidOhio employees and volunteers are always happy to teach you the skills you need to succeed on builds and fill in any gaps of information you might have about the organization.”

Thanks for everything you do, Brian!  

Diane first got involved with Habitat after she heard about local mission opportunities through her church—specifically, with Hilliard Adopt-A-House: “My heart, and mind, said, ‘You just gotta go and do this!’” So, she did! While Diane had some familiarity with Habitat, as her mother had been involved in the administrative offices of the Mahoning Valley Habitat, she did not have any construction experience or knowledge. This caused her first day to be slightly overwhelming: “Boy, was I in over my head!  I knew what a hammer was and I could learn, but these amazing volunteers were on a level of skill, commitment, talent, and passion that truly made me pause and wonder what I had gotten myself into!  I left at noon!” While her first day may have been intimidating, Diane has been involved with Hilliard Adopt-A-House for seven houses in a row now, and she absolutely loves it—she attributes this love to the kind, patient, knowledgeable, and committed crew that makes up Hilliard Adopt-A-House. 

In her experience as a volunteer, Diane finds that her best memories revolve around the challenges that come with the job. Challenges of note include working through weather extremes, demoing 100-year-old paint in hazmat suits, and using Port-a-Johns. Working through these conditions with the support of her crew lends to a great sense of accomplishment for Diane: “With each of these [challenges] comes a great sense of ‘We just did that!’ The group support in the crazy days always makes me smile. There may not be a ton of chatting during these times, but we all have each other’s back.” Along with overcoming less-than-ideal conditions, Diane finds joy in working alongside the partner families: “Getting to know the homeowners over the months together is such a blessing. Eating with them, working with them, and connecting with them brings me such joy to finally see them holding the keys to their new house.  Words can’t truly reflect all that brings to my heart.”

Outside of Habitat, Diane is very active with the Bible Study Fellowship at her church and works one day a week at an antique mall in Powell. She enjoys gardening, yardwork, vacationing, playing handbells at her church, and spending time with her three children and daughter-in-law. In hopes to inspire others to volunteer on a Habitat construction site, Diane summarizes her journey with Habitat MidOhio: “I was a Dublin soccer mom with pretty limited construction experience. Now, seven years later with Hilliard Adopt-A-House, I can hang drywall, install flooring, use numerous power tools comfortably (who doesn’t love a nail gun?!), hang siding, help with framing, paint just about anything, and sweep like a pro… Everything about Habitat MidOhio makes me smile!”

Habitat is happy to have you, Diane!

Mike first got involved with Habitat in 2020, after he retired from Ohio State as a professor. His church, St. Brendan’s, was a part of our Hilliard Adopt-a-House (HAAH) partnership, and with all this new free time on his hands, Mike decided to give Habitat a try—he’s been a regular on the Hilliard Adopt-a-House crew ever since. Mike’s first impression of Habitat was a positive one, as he enjoyed seeing and being a part of the comradery between HAAH’s volunteers, as well as volunteers from other groups, like our AEP regulars, with whom he got to work for a couple months. Before Habitat, Mike had quite the varied career. He worked his way through college as a truck mechanic, then taught and coached in the Granville school system, then went into manufacturing, then spent eight years teaching at OSU, where he was on the board of the Center for Operational Excellence (COE). 

In his experience as a volunteer, Mike finds that he has learned a “tremendous” amount, which he attributes to the friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable nature of the Hilliard Adopt-a-House crew. He also greatly appreciates the opportunity to get to work alongside our partner families: “Working with the families, having the families work side by side with us on the jobs…You learn so many things about the people and the cultures.” One particular lesson Mike learned early on was that you don’t want to show up late on a Habitat build site! During his first build, Mike showed up two hours late one day due to a dentist appointment, and found himself given the last task anyone wanted to do that day—digging the rainwater conductor lines: “I guess I learned that you want to be there on time, so you can pick your job if you can. That was just a comical thing, because everyone was laughing at me…[but] I’ve done conductor lines on two different houses now.” On a happier note, Mike’s most memorable accomplishments all revolve around seeing our partner families receive the keys to their house. Of note, Mike recalls a particular partner family consisting of a single mom and two young boys, four and six years old, who were “balls of energy” at the home dedication, running around and picking their rooms. Now, he’ll drive by that house sometimes to see a “Student of the Month” sign in their front yard, which makes him smile. 

Outside of Habitat, Mike enjoys scuba diving, exercise, maintaining his home and cars, and trying to keep up with his kids and grandkids. He also enjoys traveling with his wife, which they do often to visit their kids and grandkids on opposite sides of the US, as well as to go on as many vacations as they can now that they are retired. In terms of words of wisdom, Mike wants future volunteers to know that there’s no shame in asking questions: “If you’re not sure about something, ask anyone. If they don’t know, they’ll go get somebody who does…always ask questions.”

Habitat appreciates you, Mike!

Mitch first got involved with Habitat over ten years ago when he lived in New Jersey. His church went down to New Orleans to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where Habitat for Humanity was also lending aid. Mitch’s first impression of Habitat was very positive and he had “a great time” working with Habitat—once he retired in 2019, he began volunteering regularly with his church, Bethel Presbyterian, within our Northside Partnership at Habitat MidOhio. Before retirement, Mitch worked for NBC Sports and ABC Sports for around 40 years. He was also a volunteer policeman when he was living in New Jersey. 

In his experience as a volunteer, Mitch finds that working with a group in a similar stage of life as himself makes volunteering that much better: “The particular group I work with is a lot of retirees…We come from all different parts of life, but we all have a common goal of helping people find a place to live.” His most memorable moments in his volunteer service have been the Home Dedications: “It’s really gratifying to see how much the homeowner loves their new home. They give you hugs and really thank you.” Mitch also appreciates when he’s on a repair project and the homeowner leaves him and his crew baked goods, as a way of showing their thanks. In terms of growth, Mitch feels that volunteering with Habitat has helped him tremendously in growing in his faith: “That’s kind of what it’s all about, we’re supposed to help our neighbors.”

Outside of Habitat, Mitch is heavily involved with his church. Every once in a while, he’ll be asked to go back to work if there’s a big television event, but a lot of his time is spent with his grandkids. Mitch also has an interest in electronics—he has always been into HAM radio, and finds himself doing electronic-related projects from time to time. Something you might be surprised to learn about Mitch is that he is the recipient of three Emmys for his past work with ABC and NBC. He’s also worked on a lot of high-profile TV events, like Super Bowls, White House specials, Olympics and Sunday Night Football.  As for words of wisdom, Mitch wants future volunteers to just get out on site, no matter what reservations they may have: “If you’re thinking about doing it, do it. You’re not tied into it. Habitat doesn’t twist your arm that you need to come out…You can ask a question multiple times and they don’t get mad.”

Habitat appreciates you, Mitch!

Diana first got involved with Habitat through her church, King Avenue United Methodist. In 2016, after her partner passed away, Diana was in need of spiritual support—after finding guidance at King Ave UMC, she saw that the church was displaying different avenues to volunteer service, where she found our Hilliard Adopt-A-House group and promptly signed up to join. Diana has now been a part of this group for five years. Her first impression of Habitat was positive, not only because of the opportunity to help her community, but the support she found within her crew: “[Hilliard Adopt-A-House] welcomed me with open arms and convinced me I could be of some help. Truly this group helped me navigate my grief and retirement from 35 years of teaching at about the same time.” Before Habitat, Diana was a middle school Physical Education teacher in Columbus City Schools. She also served on the Columbus Education Association and Ohio Education Association Board of Directors, and was involved with the National Education Association Resolutions. 

In her experience as a volunteer, Diana appreciates what she has learned from the Hilliard Adopt-A-House crew—she mentions Howard Baulch, Larry Hutchison, Tod Powers, Phil Sawich, Diane Vaughn, and Mike Tanner as examples. In her words, “I did not come to Habitat with experience, so every assignment was a challenge and knowledge-building adventure. Communication and collaboration are essential to completing a task.” The relationships built, both personal and professional, are what stick out the most to Diana throughout her time as a volunteer with Habitat MidOhio, along with working alongside the homeowners, and breaking bread with her crew on site. In terms of accomplishments, Diana simply enjoys seeing the “daily, weekly, and monthly progress” on the homes she works on, as well as witnessing the home dedications.

Outside of Habitat, Diana enjoys golfing, pickleball, church, and spending time with friends and family over a meal. Some of her hobbies include reading, sudoku, walking around Franklin Park and other local parks, and attending Blue Jackets and Clippers games. One thing you might be surprised to learn about Diana is that she’s climbed Mount Katahdin three times, and Mount Washington four times! As for some words of wisdom, Diana wants future volunteers to give construction with Habitat a try, as the service to homeowners and the community is invaluable: “Be open to learning, know your time will be valued.” Overall, Diana feels very grateful for the opportunity to volunteer with Habitat and to have met the Hilliard Adopt-A-House crew: “If it wasn’t for Hilliard Adopt-A-House, I’m not sure where I would be in my life today. Such wonderful folks…I’m learning skills, and knowing I helped do good!"

Thanks for everything you do, Diana!

Jon first got involved with Habitat in the 1980’s when he was living in Lexington, Kentucky, after attending a presentation about the organization. Jon and a friend of his, an older, retired man who liked to work with his hands just like Jon did, would go out on site together often. Jon describes Habitat for Humanity at that point as much less organized than it is today: “They’d hand us a blueprint and say, ‘Go do this.’” From that point on until he left Lexington in 2003, Jon was involved in three or four new builds. Later on, he moved to Canton, Ohio, where he was heavily involved with their Habitat affiliate. Eventually, he made his way to Habitat MidOhio in 2023 and has been a regular with our Tuesday and Thursday Crew ever since. In total, Jon has been involved with Habitat for almost 36 years.

Being involved in community service is not new to Jon, as much of his life has been spent giving back and fighting for a cause: “My life, going back to when I was a teenager, was involved in social action and social justice, whether it was freedom for Soviet Jews, or marching against the war in Vietnam, or resettling Cambodian refugees.” He has also always been involved with programs that include “collecting food and feeding people”. This heavy involvement in his community relates back to his Jewish faith— “One of my missions in life is to do something we call in Hebrew ‘tikkun olam’, which means ‘to repair the world’…I saw [Habitat] as an excellent example of doing that.”

In his experience as a volunteer, Jon has appreciated seeing Habitat become more organized for volunteers. Specifically, he appreciates the house leads and their wealth of knowledge! Along with better organization on site, Jon appreciates the effort Habitat MidOhio puts into volunteer appreciation and recognition, like the “thank you for volunteering” emails and our annual volunteer appreciation dinner—"Little things like that just let you know that you’re appreciated for the things you do.” As for accomplishments in his volunteer service, Jon is proud of the building itself, but also the people he has met—specifically, his crew on Tuesdays and Thursdays: “These guys that I work with on Tuesday and Thursday are just the nicest guys. That’s just been a real blessing for me to have a group of people that I can look forward to seeing a couple times a week.”

Outside of Habitat, Jon likes to golf, woodwork, garden, read, and spend time with family. One thing you might be surprised to learn about Jon is that he used to be a rabbi. In terms of words of wisdom, Jon wants future volunteers to be patient with themselves when it comes to learning on site: “Just be patient, give it some time. Don’t just come once or twice and say, ‘I can’t do this.’ Anybody can do it. You don’t have to have any skill level whatsoever to do this. If you stick with it for a couple months, you’re going to have skill levels that are going to make you dangerous around your own house, because then you’re going to start telling your wife or your partner ‘Yeah, I can do this!’”

Habitat appreciates you, Jon!

Ernie first got involved with Habitat back in 2009 when he was in between jobs—he would volunteer one day a week on one of our new builds. His first impression of Habitat was positive, as he was impressed by the skills and organization that Habitat construction sites practice: “When we got our assignments in the morning, it seemed like organized chaos getting started, but then everyone organized themselves into small teams to accomplish whatever needed to be done, and it got done!” Since his start on our new builds, Ernie has since become involved with the Playhouse Project and is now a Playhouse Project Captain. Before Habitat, Ernie worked at Nationwide Insurance for several years and would participate in their annual United Way campaigns. While working at Nationwide, he also donated over 100 pints of blood to the American Red Cross!

One memory that sticks out to Ernie in his volunteer service with Habitat was a particular group during one of our Blitz Builds, who went above and beyond for a playhouse recipient: “They brought with them several items including furniture, clothing, and stuffed animals for a Frozen themed playhouse. They had learned it was the little girl’s birthday, so they even had a cake that was decorated in the same colors as the playhouse. The little girl was so happy!” In his experience with the Playhouse Project, Ernie has learned to appreciate the creativity volunteer groups bring to each build: “Seeing what a diverse group of people can offer is amazing.” What makes Habitat a meaningful use of Ernie’s time is knowing that he is helping families in some small way: “Providing children a place to play and use their imagination is very gratifying. I hope a playhouse brings them joy and a place to dream.”

Outside of Habitat, Ernie has been a board member for his neighborhood’s HOA for several years. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, playing pickleball, biking, cooking, reading, and traveling. This year, he’s excited about traveling to Europe. One thing that might surprise you about Ernie is that he is quite adventurous—he’s gone skydiving, white water rafting, ziplining over the Royal Gorge in Colorado, and bicycling down the Haleakala Volcano in Hawaii. In terms of words of wisdom, Ernie wants future volunteers to remember the reward of putting in hard work: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions and try something new. The build days can be long, but seeing happy families is very rewarding.”

Thank you for everything you do, Ernie!

Seth first became involved with Habitat after attending a Leader Lessons event hosted by our Habitat Young Professionals group, or HYP. What he thought would just be a networking opportunity “opened [his] eyes to some of the real-world struggles families face with safe and affordable housing.” Seth joined HYP that day! He has now been the HYP Membership Chair for a year. Before Habitat, Seth wasn’t involved with any other organizations, but his experience with HYP inspired him to “be more involved in [the community] and give back.”

One of Seth’s favorite memories of volunteering was helping set up last year’s Playhouse Blitz. Although he wasn’t able to help with the actual builds, he loved “seeing the happiness the playhouses brought to the families.” Seth has always enjoyed working with his hands, so he appreciates getting to do just that with Habitat, as his job is more office-based. In his words, “It’s a rewarding experience, knowing that you are making a difference for someone and their family, all while learning new skills and building new relationships.” Seth’s most memorable accomplishment in his volunteer service was working with HYP and Betsey Goldstein to kick-off the first Grounds for Conversation event to bring awareness to Habitat MidOhio’s mission and raise money for HYP— “We had a great turnout!” All that being said, what makes volunteering with Habitat a meaningful use of Seth’s time is simply the opportunity to give back: “The ability to help others with a basic need like housing is very rewarding.”

Outside of Habitat, Seth is involved with Builders Exchange Young Professionals, Columbus Young Professionals, Lancaster-Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, F3 Lancaster, and the Rotary Club of Lancaster, OH (Club 375). As for hobbies, Seth enjoys traveling, hiking, exercise, golf, and spending time with his wife and their three dogs. Some things you might be surprised to learn about Seth is that he once won a grade school science fair by powering an electric motor with lemons, and he is currently planning on running his first marathon this fall. In terms of words of wisdom, Seth wants future volunteers to remember that every little thing helps: “Do what you can. Any time spent helping others is worth it. Don’t get hung up on how MUCH you can do, just do SOMETHING.”

Habitat appreciates you, Seth!

Brad first became involved with Habitat when he was attending a church in the Akron area in the early 2000s, as his church was part of a coalition that worked with the Summit County Habitat affiliate. He describes his first impression of Habitat as very positive, stating, “It was seeing firsthand the international reputation of Habitat is truly well deserved…the impact they’re making on people’s lives, that was the thing that really stuck with me.” Brad was involved with Habitat of Summit County for eight years—after he retired in January of 2023, he started regularly volunteering with Habitat MidOhio, and has been a member of the Tuesday & Thursday Crew ever since. Before Habitat, Brad was employed with a fiberglass manufacturing company where he was involved in research development, sales, and technical support. He was also a member of many associations and committees that worked with architects and energy codes.

One of Brad’s favorite parts of volunteering with Habitat is getting to participate in residential construction, as his job was mostly involved with industrial, commercial projects—he enjoys getting to see both sides of the construction world! Brad has also always appreciated Habitat’s focus on safety and organization on site. His greatest accomplishment as a volunteer has been the knowledge he’s gained while helping with New Builds: “My development with all the different aspects and requirements of these homes has been really a nice eye opener for me because I’ve been in construction all my life.” A memory that sticks out to Brad while volunteering with Habitat is the first Home Dedication ceremony he attended in Akron, a memory he will always have of “seeing firsthand the joy and the emotions of the homeowner and his family.” What makes volunteering with Habitat a meaningful use of Brad’s time is understanding the current need for affordable housing in our service area, and knowing he has a hand in helping: “Just to realize that I’m involved with an organization that’s truly making a difference in people’s lives, and I’m just a small very small part of that…that’s really what makes it meaningful.”

Outside of Habitat, Brad enjoys spending time with family, golfing, and woodworking—one of his favorite things to make is Adirondack chairs. He also volunteers with Mid-Ohio Food Collective once or twice every week. Something you might be surprised to learn about Brad is that his first job after college was with an aerospace company who produced ejection seats for military aircrafts—he got to help test them out! In terms of some words of wisdom, Brad wants future volunteers to know that our construction sites are welcoming and a space for learning: “Future volunteers will find that it’s a very welcoming environment on these job sites regardless of your experience or skillsets…everyone involved is learning. Whether you’re a new beginner or a skilled craftsman, there’s always something to learn on a job site.”

Thanks for everything you do, Brad!

Julie’s start with Habitat is a unique one. In 1989, she attended a meeting about affordable housing solutions in Waukegan, Illinois, and found herself wanting to help. With a focus on permanent housing solutions, Julie, her husband, and some friends founded Habitat for Humanity Lake County, IL that same year, where Julie was the Executive Director for 30 years. After retiring in 2019, Julie moved to Columbus—and after COVID shut-downs, she got involved with Habitat MidOhio in 2021. Now, she regularly volunteers as a member of the Homeowner Selection Committee and as one of our Habitat Ambassadors. She has also dabbled in photography, faith builds, and our L.I.F.E. Learning Lab. Before Habitat, Julie taught Special Education in five states. She and her husband also played guitar and sang in many Catholic church folk groups, served on church councils and committees, and were local leaders for a peace and justice group called Pax Christi in several states.

In her experience as a volunteer, Julie has nothing but love for every aspect of Habitat—in her words, “The mission is compelling, and the structure makes sense, with families building their own house and receiving education to become effective homeowners…the opportunity for volunteers to serve alongside the Partner Families is a gift!” She also appreciates the welcoming attitudes of Habitat MidOhio’s staff and other volunteers. Julie’s most memorable experience as a volunteer was meeting Jimmy Carter in 1990, when she went down to Habitat’s headquarters in Georgia for training as a volunteer Executive Director—"We had our picture taken, with a few secret service men in the background! I met him a few more times at events. I treasure a book he wrote, with his autograph in it!” In her experience with the Homeowner Selection Committee, Julie is grateful for being able to hear and see other people’s stories: “Having the opportunity to really talk with the many diverse families seeking what we all want – a decent place to live – keeps me humble.” She likes to share those at Ambassador events to recruit more volunteers for Habitat’s mission, which makes her feel that she is doing the right thing. In her plethora of Habitat experiences, Julie finds meaning in sharing her skills for good: “I try not to hide my light under a bushel.  Using my skills for outreach and relating to others makes me feel like I am doing what God wants me to do.”

Outside of Habitat, Julie teaches an English Conversation class and recruits and screens volunteers with the American Red Cross. Her biggest hobby is her family (that’s why she moved to Columbus, to be closer to her 2 daughters and 6 granddaughters!). She also enjoys photography and visiting small art galleries. One thing that might surprise you about Julie is how many homes she built in her time as an Executive Director— “When I say I built almost 300 homes, people look surprised!” In terms of words of wisdom, Julie wants future volunteers to seek to learn more about their community: “Explore Columbus in Habitat neighborhoods!  You’ll see and learn so much about your neighbors and you’ll appreciate people in a different way.”

Habitat is grateful to have you, Julie!

Gracie first got involved with Habitat in 2018, when she heard about the Habitat for Humanity club at her high school. On her first day on site, she had the opportunity to attend a home dedication ceremony, where she got the chance to speak with the homeowner about the impact Habitat had on their life and the lives of their children – “From the beginning, the importance of Habitat’s work and the passion of their volunteers and homeowners was so obvious to me.” Now, Gracie is the president of the Habitat Chapter at Denison University, the school she attends. Denison’s Habitat Chapter volunteers once per month at the Newark Habitat ReStore, in addition to volunteering with other Habitat affiliates during alternative break trips. They have also hosted Playhouse Project builds on campus in recent years!

Throughout her time with Habitat, Gracie has had the opportunity to volunteer with Habitat on our new builds, rehabs, and at our ReStore. In her experience at the ReStore in Newark, Gracie finds appreciation for the character of the other volunteers and employees: “The passion and kindness of folks who work [at the ReStore] is so clear, and they do such great work for Habitat and for the community!” Her most memorable accomplishment comes from her experiences with Habitat in high school, when she and the leadership team of their Habitat club put together a fundraiser for Habitat at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, an event that now happens annually. In Gracie’s words, “It was such a privilege to be a part of the team, and it was such an incredible experience to see our community come together to support Habitat!” As she has gotten older and has grown as a volunteer, Gracie’s mindset has positively shifted going into every volunteer experience: “There is an opportunity to learn from every person you meet, and that is something that has become truly central to the way I approach volunteering.”

Outside of Habitat, Gracie is a dedicated pre-dental chemistry student at Denison University. She is also involved with Denison’s pre-dental club and community service organization, where she helps coordinate direct service opportunities for other Denison students. In terms of other volunteer experiences, Gracie has been involved with multiple outreach programs for folks facing homelessness, such as Newark Homeless Outreach, along with volunteering with food banks and playing sports with children with special needs. Her hobbies include running (she ran two half marathons last year!), cooking, going on walks with friends, and watercolor painting. For some words of wisdom to future volunteers, Gracie shares her outlook on volunteering: “Volunteering is not only a wonderful opportunity to help your community, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn…having an asset-based mindset is so important when doing service!”

Thanks for everything you do, Gracie!

Mike first got involved with Habitat through 24 Hours of Hockey for Habitat in 2020. He appreciated that work that Habitat does for the community and our mission statement, and soon found himself joining our Habitat Young Professionals (HYP) group after attending one of their events. Mike has been a regular on our 24 Hours of Hockey team and HYP’s evening crew ever since. Outside of Habitat, Mike works for Sauer, a Mechanical company, as Division Manager of Sauer's Building Automation Division called SCS - Sauer Control Systems. He is also involved with the Association of Energy Engineers and U.S. Green Building Council.

Mike describes his experience with 24 Hours of Hockey for Habitat as a lot of fun and very rewarding. His favorite part is getting to know all the people that work for and volunteer with Habitat, as well as “trying to increase [the hockey event’s] exposure and raise a little more money each year for veterans”. In his experience with HYP, the most rewarding part is attending the home dedication ceremony. To Mike, that’s what brings it all together and gives meaning to the work he puts in. He also enjoys seeing all the people who worked on the home— “You might be there at seven at night on a Wednesday, but there’s people there during the day that you get to meet at the ceremony—it’s really an amazing experience.” Mike’s favorite part about volunteering on site is that there’s “always a new tool and a new thing you learn about building a house”, as well as meeting new people.

Mike’s hobbies include hockey and traveling—he is the captain of a hockey team, which he plays for a few nights a week. He is also involved with Hockey Players in Business with some of his teammates from the 24 Hours of Hockey event. One thing that might surprise you to learn about Mike is that he works part-time for the NHL during Blue Jackets games. In terms of some words of wisdom, Mike wants future volunteers to know that Habitat’s site leads are always there to help— “[Site leads] will make you feel comfortable if you’re uncomfortable with doing something…There’s always different levels of labor needed on site and different levels of skill. You don’t have to be an expert, they’ll teach you.”

It’s good to have you on the team, Mike!

Ellen first got involved with Habitat through her connection to Church of the Resurrection when she volunteered to provide food to their volunteer crews, as well as take photos of construction volunteers. In 2018, Ellen joined the Church of the Resurrection Habitat Ministry leadership team, which she co-leads with her husband, Leon, and has been an active Habitat volunteer and supporter ever since. Her first impression of Habitat was one of admiration— “I was humbled by the complex network (government, Habitat affiliates, contractors, volunteers, partner families) in place to work cooperatively to achieve Habitat’s vision.” Before Habitat, Ellen worked for Columbia Gas for 20 years in multiple different leadership roles, and retired as the Director of Marketing for MoreSteam.

In her partnership with Habitat, Ellen has helped develop our L.I.F.E. Learning Lab and coordinated the first Wall Build in the Church of the Resurrection parking lot— “We were thrilled to have the opportunity to involve new volunteers and their children by bringing the construction site to them.” Ellen’s most memorable accomplishment was being a part of the development of the L.I.F.E. Learning Lab, as she helped build it from scratch, and it turned out to be a much bigger project than she originally anticipated. In Ellen’s experience as a volunteer, it’s hard to pick out one specific memory of volunteering to highlight, as each one has been equally “inspiring and heartwarming,” in Ellen’s words.  What makes Habitat a meaningful use of Ellen’s time is rooted in her Catholic faith— “We are called to practice corporal works of mercy to help provide basic necessities to those who need a helping hand.”

Outside of Habitat, Ellen and her husband are food rescue volunteers, and they spend a lot of time with family. Ellen’s hobbies include traveling, gardening, boating, and putting puzzles together with her husband in the winter months. Along with her experiences with Habitat, Ellen shared an inspiring story about her and her husband:

“Last year, my husband was diagnosed with gastric lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy. Today, he is cancer-free, but the road has been challenging. It reminded us that we ALL depend on the community to support us in times of need. Instead of being the ones helping, we were the ones who needed help. The experience has deepened our faith and our commitment to sharing the gifts we’ve been blessed with.”

Thank you for everything you do, Ellen!

Katie first got involved with Habitat in college in 2006, where she worked with affiliates in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Louisiana.  After college, she took a break, but seeing the ReStore on Bethel Rd open inspired her to come back! Katie has been volunteering with Habitat MidOhio for three years and has become a regular to the Women Build Crew. Her first impression of Habitat was positive, as the workers she met on her trips in college were always kind— “If you needed help, they would always give you a hand.” Outside of Habitat, Katie is a fourth-grade social studies and math teacher and has been teaching for nine years. She likes to incorporate Habitat into her teaching, like bringing scrap wood pieces from a playhouse kit creation shift and making them into blocks for her students.

One of Katie’s favorite memories from her time with Habitat was when she found a kitten on site during one of her volunteer shifts. She named him after the road she found him on—Innis—and has loved him ever since. Katie’s photo is the two of them together! She also loves framing and will always remember helping raise the walls of Women Build #16. In her volunteer experience, Katie feels that she has grown in her ability to help other volunteers that are new, although she knows that she couldn’t do it without the help of site leads (specifically Alex). Katie has never had the attitude that a woman can’t do construction, since she grew up with two brothers and is by far the “handiest out of both of them”. What makes volunteering a meaningful use of Katie’s time is the fact that she is so hands on— “I love to work with my hands. In addition to that, I’m helping people who need houses and I get to know people, too.” She also enjoys using her math skills on site!

Outside of Habitat, Katie enjoys hiking and traveling in her spare time. Recently, she took a trip out to California and drove through Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon—she enjoys visiting National Parks! As for some Habitat wisdom, Katie wants future volunteers to know that there is always help on site and just how fulfilling volunteering with Habitat can be— “Even if you are unsure of what to do, there will always be someone to help you. It’s a good experience to start from the bones of the house to something that’s totally built!”

Thank you for spending your time with Habitat, Katie!

Maryn regularly began volunteering with Habitat last January on Women Build #16. She has been a supporter of Habitat since her church, twenty years ago, participated in building houses. Her active involvement began a couple summers ago, when she started donating money every year in honor of a family member’s birthday. Her first impression of Habitat was positive because of the partnership between building crews and new homeowners. Maryn worked as a social worker, pastor and hospice chaplain before retiring. 

Maryn would describe her experience as a volunteer as “tremendously meaningful”. She started volunteering with “limited building skills”.  The project lead, Alex, and the Women Build Crew have been encouraging teachers in learning new skills. She describes the women she volunteers with regularly as “amazing, kind, talented, and patient”—Maryn has the utmost respect for them and is “immeasurably thankful” to work alongside them. One of her favorite memories of volunteering with Habitat was putting in the upstairs windows on Women Build #16. This installation required wearing a harness on the porch roof for safety purposes. She described feeling proud when she looked at the windows she helped install. Maryn is learning new things every day: of note, working on pumpjacks, installing siding, and flooring.  Along with the skills she is acquiring, Maryn describes meeting the families of the houses she volunteers on as one of the most memorable and rewarding parts of her volunteer service.  

Outside of Habitat, Maryn runs half marathons and has recently joined Sweet Adeline’s Columbus Women’s Chorus, along with being member of her church choir. She finds joy in music. She also plays guitar and is a songwriter. Her greatest joy is connecting with people.  She encourages people to volunteer with Habitat to contribute to the development of affordable housing for the community.   Maryn wants future volunteers to know that volunteering with Habitat is a rewarding opportunity and a privilege. 

Habitat is privileged to have you, Maryn!

Doyle first heard of Habitat for Humanity back in 1973 while he was in Zaire working with a relief and development organization—a friend of his was working with Millard Fuller and told him about it. Almost a decade later, in 1987, Doyle attended the first organizational meetings for Habitat for Humanity-MidOhio after hearing about it through his church. Doyle’s first impression of Habitat was that he liked the work, and he was impressed by the conscientiousness of the volunteers. About three years ago, after retiring, Doyle decided to finally give Habitat a try, and soon after became a regular with the A-Team. Before Habitat, Doyle was a self-employed civil engineer for more than 25 years and was has also been involved with Samaritans Purse.

In Doyle’s experience as a volunteer, the best part is seeing the effects of the work he and his crew put in—watching the keys of the house being handed off to the homeowner is one of the most rewarding aspects. That, and walking into a lot with just a foundation, then walking out with a finished house. Doyle has learned new construction skills while volunteering and loves that he gets to share life with “a few guys [he] gets along with well”. What makes Habitat a meaningful use of Doyle’s time is hearing the stories of the people who receive the houses that he volunteers on, as well as the fact that providing service for others is rewarding to him.

Outside of Habitat, Doyle is involved with his church, Orange Friends Church, doing building upkeep and being a part of the worship team. He also volunteers with Delaware County Source Point, where he does house repairs for the elderly. One of his biggest hobbies at the moment is helping his son remodel his house in Nashville. Something that you may be surprised to learn about Doyle is that he is leaving to go to Chad soon to teach English for three months with WEC International. Some words of wisdom that Doyle wants future volunteers to remember is to not be afraid to come out and be willing to try new things you’ve never done before— “You’d be surprised what you can learn with the help of crew leads!”

Habitat appreciates you, Doyle!

Dave first got involved with Habitat around 15 years ago after he heard about it at his church. His first impression of Habitat wasn’t the best—so much so, he needed a 15-year break! After Dave retired in 2018, he decided to give us another try, and it was much better this time around. He started out “sporadically doing some Deconstruction, then some new home construction, and a couple of repair jobs”. He now volunteers regularly with the A-Team doing mostly new home construction. Before retirement and Habitat, Dave was a Construction Manager for several environmental services companies. Although the work was rewarding, it kept him away from home far too much.

In his time volunteering, Dave’s most memorable accomplishments are the abundance of new skills he has learned, as well as the fact that he has “made some good friends”. Dave treats volunteering like a job, which he means positively— “I try to be dependable and do the best job I can while I’m there.” A particular memory that sticks out to Dave is the first home dedication he attended, as it “really brought home what this organization is all about. Very moving.”

Outside of Habitat, Dave is involved with his church’s food pantry ministry, which entails getting food from the Mid-Ohio Food Collective in Grove City back to their pantry on Cleveland Ave. He also teaches first-third graders during services at his church. In terms of hobbies and interests, Dave plays the guitar and the harmonica, and he likes football, hockey, and most things automotive. Some things that might surprise you about Dave is that he drives a “really fast Ford Mustang” and he is a Buffalo Bills fan.

Here are some words of wisdom that Dave wants future volunteers to remember: “Habitat for Humanity offers affordable housing to great people who are struggling and who likely would never be able to qualify for conventional home ownership. Helping them is very uplifting. In addition, most of us learn new skills we might never learn otherwise."

Habitat thanks you for all that you do, Dave!