25 days, 25 stories: Taking Teamwork Outside the Office

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.
 

Taking Teamwork Outside

 
the Office

 
When I saw the company email announcing the Habitat for Humanity event, I knew it was something I wanted to sign up for. I had wanted to participate in Habitat for a long time but didn’t really know how to get started. I was very excited about the opportunity to help, in even a small way, provide a home for someone.

Employees from CSG Systems working together on the Habitat Omaha build site.

I expected a lot of hard work and a little fun, but it was a lot more than that. As it was a CSG Systems sponsored event, I worked side by side with a lot of coworkers, some of whom I see every day, and some that I had never met. We also worked with teams from other corporations, individuals who volunteered on their own and two of the homeowners. It was amazing to see the willingness of everyone to step in and do whatever was needed or asked for. Whether it was actually constructing parts of the home, stacking lumber or just picking up trash to keep the area clear, everyone jumped in without complaint.

Volunteers, including CSG employees, at the 2009 Framing Frenzy.

Four Habitat homes were being built side by side and we were assigned one of the homes to work on. However, all the workers were quick to identify where help was needed on other homes and willingly went from home to home filling in where the help was needed most.

Employees from CSG working with other volunteers during Habitat Omaha's Framing Frenzy.

Working alongside the homeowners was especially rewarding. You could see the excitement and pride in their faces knowing they were helping to build the very house they would soon be living in, and the appreciation they had for every person who showed up to help. During the various break times, I had the opportunity to talk with some of the other volunteers and was humbled by the generosity of these people. One gentleman mentioned that he takes vacation every Friday for about 10 weeks in the summer to work on Habitat homes for those weekends, and has done that for several years. Their generosity was truly motivating. I am grateful that CSG provided this opportunity and I will continue to volunteer, next time bringing my family along.

Lisa Vandemark (CSG Systems Employee)
Habitat Omaha Volunteer

 

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