What Habitat for Humanity means to me...

It means seeing the grateful expressions on the faces of the people we've helped.

It's knowing I've personally made a positive impact on a future or current Habitat homeowner's life when they break down in tears of joy and gratitude trying to come up with the words to thank volunteers for coming together to build them a home.

Habitat means giving someone the opportunity to turn a house into a home when they wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to do it themselves.

It's making a difference in my own community. When I can have an impact here at home, I don't feel the need to travel across the world to make a difference.

It's having a sense of belonging to a local community and being able to give back.

It's helping to give others the opportunity to have a roof over their heads and the peace of mind knowing it's affordable and built with love and built well. I've grown up with a roof over my head and I enjoy helping others be able to give that experience to their children.

It's being able to show my faith by helping others. I'd rather be out helping someone than sitting in church.

Who Says You Can't Go Home

This song says so much!! The music video, Who Says You Can't Go Home by Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles, shows and tells the story of Habitat For Humanity and the Soul Foundation working together to build homes for those in need. I listen to this song when I build with Habitat, and it's unofficially the "Habitat Song."

This song will always hold a special place in my heart. They produced it around the time I was building with Habitat for Humanity on the Spring Break Collegiate Challenge in 2006 and 2007. I always seem to tear up when I hear it because it brings back so many good memories and reminders of making a difference in people's lives. This song exemplifies the compassion that still exists in this world. To read more about my work with Habitat for Humanity, visit this page. 

Poem: Habitat for Humanity: Spring Break Collegiate Challenge 2007

One week shared

on a mission under God’s eye

We are his hands in helping others

coming together to change a life

and we change each other’s too
Friendships made—for a lifetime?

Only time will tell,

or maybe just a brief passing

who came to us for a reason

to prove we have a strong connection

we didn’t know existed at first.

We were almost strangers

who chose to spend a week

doing something for a good cause

and we’ve come out with such a

great satisfaction and brand new friendships

                -maybe for a lifetime?

We walk away with so much positive energy

I smile wide, I nod

and I am so genuinely happy

All so happy with being accepted 

Maybe this time…

maybe this time I can take this beautiful chance

this opportunity to run

and begin a new life

Thank you for the inspiration…