Rebuilding America, One Home at a Time: Lisa’s Volunteer Spotlight
Driven by a love of travel and heart for service, Lisa has set an ambitious goal for herself: to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in all 50 states. Since 2015, she’s already helped build homes in nine states, spanning from Maine to Oregon. She said it’s like a vacation, only better – she gets to […]
Read MoreMeet Steven Phan: New Ambassador Council Chair
Born and raised in Southeast Portland, Steven represents all that is good in our city: he’s exceptionally friendly, a robust advocate for community organizations, and loves dogs. It may be his desire to be of service that speaks the loudest. Any day of the week, you can find him volunteering locally – from sorting produce […]
Read MoreWith Love from Comforting Quilters
What began as a small chapter of Northwest Quilters in 1974 has grown into a devoted coalition of members driven by a love of fabric and the desire to give back to their community. In their first year, they donated 600 blankets; last year: 2,473. Among their recipient list of community organizations is Habitat for […]
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Bob
“Throughout my life, I’ve seen the difference that volunteering efforts can make in people’s lives. I know the personal value of service as a local volunteer.” – Jimmy Carter For many, volunteerism is a way to give back to the community; a contribution of time to benefit others. For some, volunteerism is a means […]
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Jake Jacobs
Jake Jacobs, a regular volunteer at our Brooklyn Pines community, moves at an inspiring pace. His gentle, friendly demeanor may be the first thing noticed about him, but it’s his many stories and adventures that stand out. Jake is a welcome reminder of the contagious goodwill that blossoms when one enriches their life through learning […]
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Marcia McKean
Lending a voice to affordable housing When Marcia McKean moved back to Portland after living in Italy, she discovered a different city than the one she left nine years before. Rent and home prices had seen some of the highest increases in the country, wages remained stagnant, and a population boom put pressure on the […]
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Jean Rychlik
After moving to Portland from Denmark, like many newcomers, Jean Rychlik was struck by the number of people she saw living on the streets. After all, as a licensed Realtor® and residential real estate investor, her career has been dedicated to finding housing. Instead of turning a blind eye, she sought solutions. While attending a […]
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: Jessica Hewitt
Look within any business, big or small, and you’ll find it’s comprised of people who live in and care about their community. Inspired by this idea, Jessica Hewitt, Vice President Community Relations Manager at Bank of America in Portland, creates volunteer opportunities for employees that allow them to explore their passions while giving back to […]
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight: James Burnham
The Pacific Crest Trail spans from the US-Mexico border to British Columbia, winding its way through the rugged peaks and valleys of California, Oregon and Washington. James Burnham—a Habitat volunteer, avid hiker, and Auto Litigation Unit Manager at Travelers Insurance—has plans to walk all 2,659 miles of that famous trail. It’s these kind of […]
Read MoreA Retirement that is Anything But Boring
Some folks look forward to retirement because they can finally take a break from work, kick off their shoes and relax. Others prefer to find work even after retirement and choose to spend some of their time volunteering. Last year, over 1,800 volunteers donated their time and energy to Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East. Habitat is lucky to have many retirees […]
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