Volunteer Opportunities
We Need Everyone's Help
Other links:
Habitat for Humanity International
Student Chapter - UW Whitewater
Lakeland Builders Association
Volunteering
| We
welcome volunteers of all skill levels on our build sites, but we have
great need for skilled-trades people willing to lead a small crew of
other volunteers.
We are especially in need of volunteers to serve on committees such as Church Relations Family Support and Special Events. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer contact our office at 262-949-0542, email us, or fill out our interest survey form and send it in. A committee member will contact you with more information. |
"God's love calls us into service on behalf of those in need." (1 John 3:16-18)
God’s love invites and empowers
each of us to journey to the Father and with the Father, through Jesus
Christ who makes us sisters and brothers in our journey. It is because of
God’s love for each of us that God calls you and I to serve Him.
Habitat for Humanity is first and foremost a “ministry” and by definition
is based on “the act of serving.” Habitat for Humanity in Walworth County
is the “Christ-driven” local affiliate, in “covenant” with Habitat for
Humanity International. founded to serve the people and families of
Walworth county, like Jesus Christ, who came “not to be served, but to
serve.”
- One of the greatest blessings in the United States is our right and responsibility to participate in civic life.
- We are called to be a community of conscience, to consider and respond to issues based on the wisdom found in Scripture and consistent with the best of our nation’s founding ideals — “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.
- The lack of safe, affordable housing is a national crisis.
- Despite record levels in home sales and gains in employment and income levels nationally, in our community of Walworth county, more than 7,000 families live at or below poverty level.
- 23.3% of Walworth county's 34,515 households have incomes below $25,000 (our approximate target income - 25% to 50 % of the county median income).
- The county waiting list for subsidized housing assistance is constantly full at 500 families.
- Together, we have built houses with 9 families, the new homes to 11 adults and 31 children.
- More families are in need of the “hand-up” offered through partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
- Approximately 8,000 households are potential applicants to the Habitat housing program in Walworth county.
- The average home price in Walworth county of $163,300 is far above our potential family's ability to afford.
- Habitat is so much more than building houses. Habitat’s housing program consists of both “building” and “family services”. For every hour on the construction site, it takes three hours serving on the eight operating committees and in the office. “Family Advocates” serving on the Family Support Committee are needed for each of these families to guide and support their “partnership” with Habitat.
- Money is needed to fund the program: to purchase home sites and building materials, pay related building fees, and program expenses and administrative expenses. “Servant-Volunteers” on the Church Relations Committee, Special Events & Fund Raising Committee raise cash donations and recruit more volunteers by presenting the needs and benefits of Habitat to faith-based communities and businesses, organizing fund raising events, and grant writing.
- Public awareness of the mission of Habitat and events including groundbreakings, house dedications, fund raisers. etc. must be raised through media relations, the website, and the newsletter by volunteers on the PR Committee.
- Members of the Site Selection Committee serve the ministry by identifying and recommending desirable properties for acquisition. and identifying and securing financing sources.
- Family Selection Committee “Servant-Volunteers” will conduct application sessions, process the applications, and recommend “Partner Families” to the Board of Directors.
- The Construction Planning Committee is always in need of construction supervisors and project coordinators; skilled trades people, engineers and architects, and in-kind donations of building materials.
- Student-leaders of our Campus Chapter at UW Whitewater bring an energy and enthusiasm for the work of Habitat for Humanity throughout Walworth County.
- Volunteers serve by running the committees and making recommendations to the Board of Directors.
- And finally, “Servant-Leaders” are needed
on our “working” Board of Directors to set goals, to
inspire, and to lead.
Families and supporters of Habitat for
Humanity are members of every race, ethnic background, and faith tradition.
We are retired, students, teachers, union members, health care providers,
housewives, CEOs, factory workers. lawyers, sales people, and business
owners. We are called to a common commitment “...to provide opportunities
for home ownership to limited income families and individuals and to put the
reality of substandard housing in the minds and hearts of Walworth county
residents... Habitat reaches out to the economic, cultural, national, and
religious diversity of the Walworth County Community and blends the
“God-given” talents and gifts offered by members of the community to serve
the mission of Habitat by raising funds, building houses, and empowering
families. Women and men of integrity, courage, determination, faith, and
hope accomplish the work of Habitat for Humanity in Walworth County.
Through God’s love, our Faith is transformed into compassionate action. A
safe affordable house makes a difference in someone’s life. God’s
love transforms the lives of our Families through you, and in
turn your life is transformed by God’s love through our Families. Please
give your prayerful consideration to take the ministry of Habitat into your
heart and make it your own, and join us as we together answer God’s call and
respond to God’s love by serving..
God blesses the ministry of Habitat for Humanity through you.