Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Blog

Be a regular and take your volunteering to the next level

Written by Mike Anderson | 9:44 PM on May 21, 2013

To a volunteer, the benefits of joining a regular construction crew are that it’s fun, there’s great camaraderie and you get the chance to help others. For TCHFH the advantages are stability and reliability on the build site. Our regular crews are often the deciding factor in whether partner families move in on time. These crews are made up of big-hearted people willing to make an extra commitment to Habitat’s mission.  

3M CARES is a special program comprised of retirees from 3M, who exemplify their company’s ideals. The 3M CARES partnership with TCHFH began in 1996 and contributes more than $200,000 annually. The group also schedules volunteers for a 10-week long workcamp each summer. Additionally, a 3M retiree crew volunteers every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the year.

 “The great part of building with Habitat is if you don’t know how to do something, Habitat will teach you,” said John, a long-time volunteer with 3M CARES. “If you’re unsure how to install a window in the morning, someone will work with you and by that afternoon, you’ll be teaching someone else.”

Our A Brush with Kindness Program also employs the use of regular crews like the group A-REGS. This crew works in advance of volunteer groups to repair decks, trim, soffits and stairways just to name a few.

 “I truly enjoy the interaction we get with the homeowners,” Dave Devoy said, a retiree who’s been with the ABWK-REGS for three years. “Doing the minor repairs before the groups show up helps the whole process.

Whether you’re interested in joining one of our many regular crews or putting a crew together yourself we appreciate your interest and support and are looking for more volunteers.