Jon Gice moved fairly often throughout his career in the insurance industry. And his retirement in 2016 brought one more relocation.
“My daughter, my son-in-law, and two grandkids live here (in Portland). So, it was a magnet to move from Connecticut to Oregon,” Jon said.
Jon and his wife happily helped take care of their grandchildren. But as the kids grew older and more independent, Jon found himself with more free time. About four years ago, he decided to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Portland Region.
“Our church was connected to the Denney Gardens project,” Jon said, referring to Habitat’s community in Beaverton. “So, it was sort of natural to get started there.”
His first experience at the build site was hand-digging trenches for sewer lines. And he returned on several occasions, helping to caulk one of the last units.
He currently volunteers at King City Commons, near Tigard. Jon has witnessed the construction changes since COVID, and describes development now as “rapid fire.”
“To have the trades in this process, to get these places built more quickly, is such a gift,” he said. “More families are getting in their homes more quickly.”
Jon volunteers once a week with Habitat. He says he loves continuously learning and getting to share knowledge with new volunteers. Jon alternates construction with Playhouse Experience and Home Repair. Don’t ask him to choose a favorite! He enjoys each piece of the puzzle, as he puts it. “Playhouse is wonderful because it’s for the kiddos. And Home Repair is keeping people in their home.”
Jon feels his faith helped him find Habitat. He previously did mission work, traveling to areas in Mississippi and New York to repair storm damage. And with the Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, he’s helped build homes in Kenya, Ghana, and Saipan.
Now he’s eager to bring members of his church to volunteer at West Lake Grove, located just few miles down the road. Foundation work is set to begin soon on these 23 family-sized units.
Neighbors helping neighbors and putting God’s love into action is a dream come true for Jon. He hopes engaging with Habitat becomes a permanent part of the church mission. “We support a lot of things in the community,” he said. “This is right up there as far as what I think is a meaningful contribution. To help people find a home, live the American dream and be able to afford it – that’s huge.”
