Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

About 80 members of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s Builder’s Circle donned hardhats and tool belts in early June for their work on the initial construction phase of a five-unit townhome near Dinkytown in Minneapolis. A week of heavy lifting and crummy weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crew.

Builder’s Circle member Norman Baer said he had a great experience on the site. “It feels good to go home physically worn out but knowing that you have improved someone's life, and thus society in general, in some small amount,” he said.

Builder's Circle, launched by Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH) this past November, is a giving program for supporters who contribute leadership gifts of $1,000 or more during a fiscal year. Members receive special recognition and benefits, including the opportunity to sponsor a home and participate in a site build.

"The on-site work provides a reward that writing a check cannot match," said Baer. "However, we contribute to Habitat because we understand that the work cannot be done without financial support."

About 400 families currently belong to Builder's Circle. According to Anne Weber-Smith, Major Gifts Officer at TCHFH, donors were so generous they were able to be the Development Sponsor for the Van Cleve townhome project - a commitment of $150,000.  Additional contributions spilled over into many other TCHFH homebuilding projects.

There's no question Builder's Circle members lead the way in their commitment to the mission and vision of Habitat. But those who also took the time to work on the site and help build the homes were able to experience the mission in deeper, hands-on way, said Weber-Smith. "It was a tangible demonstration of what their gift has made possible."

"I found the activities very well organized and challenging," said member Mike Jadrich. "We kept moving, getting our small projects completed and finding more stuff to do. I truly enjoyed my experience and look forward to future opportunities to work with Habitat."

Norm Baer and his wife Kathy are long-time supporters of TCHFH. "We think that safe, affordable housing is a basic need that must be met if people are going to become or remain contributing members in our society," he said. "Housing is the type of ‘bootstrap' by which people can pull themselves up; those of us who can afford to help have an obligation to provide the bootstraps."

Build, Think, Act is an activity facilitated on site to engage volunteers in thinking and talking with each other about community solutions to housing challenges. Weber-Smith said it was a big hit with Builder's Circle members.  "It really made them think about affordable housing in a new way," she said. "And these are people who are already supporting us. So our hope is that they will take what they've learned and share their experiences with others." Build, Think, Act is a component of Housing Matters! an educational program  recently launched by TCHFH that is designed to engage volunteers, supporters and the general public in exploring issues of affordable housing.

The Builder's Circle members worked alongside volunteers from Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church under the direction of TCHFH site supervisors David Michaelson and Eric Weatherman. AmeriCorps field assistants Abby Rouster and Aaron Helt were also on hand.  "Aaron, bless his soul, has the perfect demeanor for leading a group of misfits like us," said Jadrich. "He had the patience of a saint."

"I learned a lot and felt useful," said Builder's Circle member Nancy Darnall, "even though I needed a lot of direction!" She said the site supervisors were "fantastic," and she appreciated the "awesome" lunch provided by volunteers.

The 5 townhomes are part of the Van Cleve Redevelopment project located in the Southeast Como neighborhood, in Minneapolis, adjacent to Van Cleve Park where the landmark Bunge Midway grain elevator is located. The development will transform the historic grain elevator and surrounding industrial site into a residential addition to this thriving community. The development includes a mixture of market-rate and affordable homeownership and rental options and is built in partnership with Project for Pride in Living (PPL) and Cabrini Partnership.

TCHFH will host a reception this fall to express appreciation for the leadership gifts of our Builder's Circle members.

For more information about Builder's Circle, call Anne Weber-Smith at 612-331-4090, ext. 608 or visit our website at http://www.tchabitat.org/.

Contributed by Amy Furan