As a volunteer, advocate, and ambassador for the work of Habitat for Humanity, President Jimmy Carter leaves a legacy of community service and humanitarianism that has forever shaped this organization. With his passing on Sunday, Dec. 29, we reflect on the extraordinary impact he and his wife Rosalynn had in inspiring people to share their hands and hearts to help heal a world in need.  

Habitat for Humanity was just a local organization when the Carters began volunteering in 1984 near their hometown of Plains, Georgia. Later that year, the Carters joined volunteers in New York City to renovate an abandoned building in the Lower East Side. Those 19 new homes would become the first of more than 4,400 the Carters helped build or repair in their nearly 40 years volunteering with Habitat.  

Carter’s involvement, notably through the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, helped elevate Habitat into an international movement, attracting more than 108,000 volunteers across the U.S. and in 14 countries – all inspired by the Carter’s example. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has served over 62 million people worldwide.  

The Carters understood the global need for safe, affordable housing, and how it was key for thriving children, stronger communities, and long-term stability. 

“I think every human being has within himself or herself a desire to reach out to others and to share some of our blessings with those who are in need,” President Carter has said. “What’s opened up that avenue for me and my wife and hundreds and thousands of others is Habitat for Humanity. It makes it easy for us to reach out and work side by side with the homeowner who’s never had a decent house, perhaps. I haven’t been on a Habitat project that I wasn’t thrilled and inspired and wept.” 

Habitat Portland CEO and President Steve Messinetti started his career with Habitat at its headquarters in Americus, Georgia, near Carter’s hometown of Plains. Messinetti worked there between 1994 and 2004, and remembered Carter as a regular presence, taking part in community events, attending Habitat home dedications, and talking with staff at the office.

Messinetti also worked on many of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Projects, and said the former president was always among the hardest workers on site. 

“For President Carter, Habitat for Humanity wasn’t just about the homes that were getting built, but how people from all walks of life came together around a common cause to build them,” Messinetti said. “It was peace-building work as a result of building relationships starting from that shared experience and purpose. I think that is what kept them coming back, and what has inspired me to dedicate the past 30 years of my life to this work.”  

Messinetti and his wife once had the opportunity to tour the former president’s boyhood home, led by Jimmy and Rosalynn themselves. Messinetti said it was inspiring to hear about how Carter’s upbringing impacted his beliefs and goals in life. 

“Everything President Carter did was driven by principles that he deeply believed in, and one of those was that housing was a basic human right. He often talked about how someone cannot enjoy any other rights without a stable home as a basis for life. That is Habitat’s vision as well and has played a significant role in how we have developed as both one of the largest homebuilders in the world and a strong advocate for public policy that advances housing opportunities for everyone on terms they can afford to pay.” 

– Steve Messinetti

Erika Kennel, Vice President of Resource Development with Habitat Portland Region, will never forget the first time she met President Carter and Rosalyn at the 2003 Habitat for Humanity build in Alabama.  

“Hundreds of volunteers were working tirelessly on a neighborhood of homes, braving the relentless rain that soaked us through as we pushed ahead. By lunchtime, I was tired, wet, and ready for a break, so I grabbed a plate of food and found an open seat in the big tent. When I looked up, I was stunned to realize I had sat directly across from the Carters, quietly eating their lunch like any other volunteer.” 

There was no fanfare, no entourage, Kennel recalls. Just two humble people chatting with strangers over sandwiches and iced tea.  

“What struck me was how natural and genuine they were, asking about my build, the future homeowner of our house, and swapping stories about the day’s muddy challenges with insulation and framing. Their warmth and curiosity weren’t just small talk; they embodied the spirit of Habitat for Humanity — humility, connection, and shared purpose,” Kennel reflected. “In those few moments, I learned a lesson I’ll carry forever: true leadership isn’t about standing above others; it’s about sitting with them, listening, and working shoulder to shoulder. That rainy day reminded me that life’s most extraordinary impact often comes through ordinary moments, and sometimes, the most meaningful conversations happen over a soggy sandwich in a tent full of strangers.” 
 

For many years, Carter regularly conducted a Sunday school class at the Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Matina Kaufmann, Habitat Portland’s Vice President of Homeownership and Neighborhood Programs, had the privilege to attend one of those classes.  

“What I remember most is that he came by and greeted everyone before the service and shook hands. We were in a little overflow room and thought we might not get to meet him but, of course, he didn’t skip the overflow room! He was so gracious and humble, that really struck me. In the sermon he talked about loving and caring for those who are difficult to love. It helped me to remember that often those who are the most difficult to reach or connect with are the ones who need help the most. I am not a Christian, but I was very moved by his message, and I’ll never forget the experience.” 

In 2016, Habitat International named President and Mrs. Carter as the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians for their extraordinary dedication to service in alignment with Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Both Jimmy and Rosalynn remained involved with helping buildings well into their senior years. Rosalynn passed away Nov. 19, 2023. 
 
Nathaniel Clevenger is Habitat Portland’s Director of Land Acquisition and Project Development. Clevenger had met President and Mrs. Carter while he lived in Washington D.C. and worked as a lobbyist and Democratic political strategist.  

“On each occasion, the Carters appeared to me an inseparable single being of perfect grace and kindness,” Clevenger recalled. “They were always thoughtful. They looked you in the eye and they asked questions. I have tried to mirror that behavior over the years choosing first to be curious versus right. I know of few married couples who ever “showed up” how they did — consistently. That is what impressed me the most: their apparent mutual respect and love for each other.” 

We invite you to join us in remembering President Carter’s remarkable legacy. Share how President Carter has impacted you in Habitat for Humanity’s memory book. 

Habitat Portland Region will host an informal gathering to remember President Jimmy Carter, 2-3 p.m., Jan. 11, at Habitat’s Century Commons community, 825 SE Century Blvd., Hillsboro. All are welcome. This event will be outdoors, so please dress appropriately. 
Click here to RSVP.