25 days, 25 stories: A Volunteer’s Transformation

Each day from October 5 to October 29, 2009 we will be posting a new story in celebration of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha’s 25th anniversary. These stories have come to us from people who have been involved with Habitat Omaha in a variety of ways at some point in the past 25 years. We hope that you enjoy these reflections, some old and some new, about Habitat Omaha and that they inspire or renew the spirit of service in you. If you have a story of your own that you would like to share please send it to us at buildinghope.omaha@gmail.com.

A Volunteer’s Transformation

 
I first became familiar with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha as a producer for KM3 News. I had the privilege of producing the Habitat Show every year. I interviewed and wrote stories about many of the people who were transformed by this grass roots organization. I remember one story in particular about a young, shy 19-year-old named Jackson. Jackson was a volunteer with Habitat Omaha through a prison work release program. He would often volunteer for Habitat in order to escape the confinement of the prison walls. When I met Jackson he had just been released but was still volunteering for Habitat. I asked him “Why do you keep coming back to volunteer? You’re free.”

Without any eye contact he quietly mumbled, “I don’t know, it keeps me out of trouble and gives me something to do with my hands I guess.”

It would be three years later before our paths would cross again. It was at the Habitat Omaha NCAA College World Series Build. Jackson had signed up to work as a volunteer. But the really amazing part is that also signed up 20 of his fraternity brothers from Creighton University! This “new” Jackson was a second year college student. He was all smiles and had the confidence to look me straight in the eyes when he was talking. While I can’t say when the pivotal moment happened and Jackson decided to turn his life around, I often wonder about how much Habitat volunteers contributed to this amazing transformation. I think about the Habitat construction site. It’s one of the few places where no one is judged for how they’re dressed or what they know or don’t know about the job at hand. Rather it’s framing a house, raising a wall or painting the kitchen, they are all in it together. At the end of the day a group of strangers are now new found friends. While they all walk away knowing a little more about construction, I don’t think they know the impact they may have made in each other’s lives. Especially in the life of an impressionable young man named Jackson.

Tracie McPherson
Faith Relations and PR Director
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha

 

 
Visit the new habitatomaha.org to learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, find out about volunteer opportunities and to donate now.