Pictured above: Bob (right) and his son Craig (left)
For father-son duo Bob and Craig Wageman, volunteering with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is rewarding in more ways than one. They get to spend time together and do something they enjoy while helping make homeownership possible for more families in their community.
Bob started volunteering with the 3M Regular Crew in 2014, when his experience as a carpenter during his college years came in handy yet again. (He also built one of his previous homes and helped his kids remodel their homes.) Craig, who retired in July 2025, joined Bob on the Regular Crew just a few months later.
“I’ve always looked for things to do to support housing,” explains Craig, “and a chance to work with my dad while volunteering with Habitat was a great fit.”
Because they know each other so well, Craig and Bob quickly found a good rhythm when working on site. (For example, Bob says, “If I raise my voice, Craig knows I’m not mad. I’m just trying to get his attention.”)
So far, Bob and Craig have volunteered together on multiple sites around the metro, mainly at The Heights in St. Paul. They have also volunteered on a rehab project in Roseville and a new build in Maplewood. They do a variety of tasks, including framing from the ground up, hanging doors, building roofs, painting, adding finishes, putting in windows, installing siding, and more.
Homes at The Heights under construction.
As one of the newer members to the 3M Regular Crew, Craig has enjoyed getting to know the other members. About 40 volunteers make up the current group.
“Even though I was the new person to the existing group [the 3M Regular Crew], they welcomed me from day one,” says Craig. “Everyone is easy and fun to work with. It’s great coming into that kind of group. There’s great camaraderie.”
And for Bob, volunteering is also a way to keep moving and make a difference: “At my age, you need to stay active, and this does it. But it’s also the feeling of accomplishment. When you work with people to help build a house for someone to move into, that’s positive.”
On site, they also enjoy working with site supervisors who, in Bob’s words, know their job and what they’re doing and do it right. No matter who they’re working alongside on any given day, both Wagemans are inspired by knowing that a family will eventually call the house they’re working on a home. Craig remembers driving to The Heights one morning and seeing kids in a nearby neighborhood waiting for the school bus. He was moved to think that someday other children will get off their buses to go to their homes at The Heights.
“It helps that I enjoy the work, but I volunteer for the chance to do something that benefits people. My ultimate motivation is what Habitat stands for, and then doing the work,” says Craig.
For the Wagemans, seeing a house progress from foundation to finished home is part of the fun. Volunteering regularly allows them to be more involved and see the difference made over time. They’re both impressed by what a group of volunteers, AmeriCorps members, and staff can accomplish. A house can’t be built in one day, but even a few days of work can make a site look much different. And anyone is welcome on a Habitat build site, from someone who’s never held a hammer to more experienced volunteers like Bob—and everyone in between.
“When you volunteer, be willing to help and willing to learn. Ask questions and keep putting new lessons into your ‘toolbelt,’” says Bob. “Volunteering is very rewarding—physically, mentally, spiritually. Everything is positive, and you make an impact.”