Todd

As the Habitat ministry leader of his church for the past eight years, Todd doesn’t have just one favorite part of volunteering on the construction site. For him, it’s about the entire experience.

“Some of our folks who volunteer,” he explains, “they really enjoy the aspect of measuring, cutting, and constructing. I like to do that, but I also just like to see the folks that are there involved.” Todd has helped mobilize and organize his fellow congregants, as well as helped build five Greater Matthews Habitat homes.

One of the reasons he was first drawn to Habitat was the fact that after a day of serving, you could see the tangible result of your efforts. “It’s the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day,” he says. “You get there, and it’s great camaraderie. It’s part of something physical that you get to see completed – and it makes such a big difference in somebody’s life.” He can see the impact of the work on his fellow congregants as well. “A lot of our volunteers say they get more than they give. It’s tough getting up on Saturday, but once they get there and they do it at the end of the day – I love seeing the reaction that people have. Or seeing them the following week – they really appreciate the opportunity to volunteer. They’re thanking me that they had that opportunity and to be a part of that.”

He also appreciates how volunteering on the construction site is a great way to learn new skills. In particular, he remembers one time when he was volunteering with his daughter and how the building committee took extra time to show her how to work on-site. “She can hear it from us, how to use a hammer or this and that, but to hear it from one of the building committee…not your parents, and have them take her aside and say let’s do this together, and I’ll show you, and then let her do it, was cool.”

Another of his favorite memories was a particular dedication for one of the homes he worked on and how it really felt like the community was coming together. “It kind of reminded me why we do it. Because sometimes you think about it in terms of how much money that is, and how it could help lots of people,

and then you realize that helping the family with these kids and the ripple effect it has on everybody long term.”.