Habitat for Humanity: A Worthwhile Volunteer Experience
Written by Lisa Montanaro | December 26, 2009

Habitat for Humanity 12-12-09I had the opportunity to participate in a very meaningful volunteer project this month with the Young Professionals (YPs) of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce — a Habitat for Humanity project in Newburgh, NY (www.habitatnewburgh.org). I must confess that I’ve always wanted to do a Habitat project so I was thrilled when the YPs decided to take this on as their community service project. And I was not disappointed!

There’s something so satisfying about Habitat’s work; you really get to see the fruits of your labor. Most YPs painted for the day. I hauled materials, loaded up dumpsters, and even got to “organize” in the warehouse a bit! I also had the chance to see their store (aptly named Restore) for the public to purchase used furniture, supplies, and materials.

They require all volunteers to take a mid-morning break and gather in one location for refreshments, food, announcements, and acknowledgements. They recognize groups of volunteers and express their gratitude for all the volunteers’ assistance. They share stories about families that have benefited from Habitat’s assistance, which makes you realize even more the direct impact of the work you are doing.

I may have been sore the next day, but it was a really rewarding experience, and I was very impressed with Habitat. If you are looking for a volunteer project, definitely consider Habitat. I know the YPs plan to volunteer again in 2010, and I very much look forward to it!

Meet the Author

Helping others be the best versions of themselves gets me jazzed!

I’ve worn many hats in my lifetime—often at the same time—while enjoying fulfilling careers. I’ve been a performer, teacher, sign language instructor, lawyer, career counselor, law professor, coach, consultant, mediator, entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, writer, and author. 

I’m an eternal optimist and life-long learner, constantly researching ways to improve personal and professional effectiveness. And it brings me great joy to then pass on the results of that persistent curiosity to my clients and audiences. 

Of all the career hats I’ve been privileged to wear, my favorite is owner of this business since 2002. Why? Because it provides me the opportunity to work with wonderful organizational and individual clients. On any given day, I get to connect deeply with audiences, work with dedicated teams, improve workplaces, watch clients have a-ha moments, and know I’ve made a difference in their lives and careers. And that is very satisfying.