As we kick off National Volunteer Week 2024, it’s time to shine a spotlight on the countless individuals who generously give their time, skills, and hearts to make a positive impact in their communities. At Habitat Greater Ottawa, our volunteers are a powerful force in building stronger, healthier communities through affordable housing. Whether it’s lending a skilled hand on the build site or ReStores, being active on our various committees, helping out at community events, or advocating for affordable housing, volunteers are truly the heart and backbone of what we do.
This year’s National Volunteer Week theme is, Every Moment Matters as it highlights the importance of every volunteer and each contribution they make at a moment when we need support more than ever. With that theme in mind we want to highlight these moments through some of our Habitat Greater Ottawa volunteers.
Interested in volunteering with Habitat Greater Ottawa? Click here to visit the Get Involved page and find out more about our current openings.
Click here to find out more about National Volunteer Week 2024.
Read more below:
Having recently moved to Canada, Lynette was studying architecture at Algonquin College when a professor suggested she volunteer for Habitat Greater Ottawa to expand her social and professional network. Feeling that Habitat for Humanity seemed most aligned with her career she applied to become a Habitat volunteer in 2019. Lynette is a vital member of our Family Partners Committee, helping families through the process of our Affordable Homeownership Program. She’s also an active volunteer at the Train Yards ReStore where she puts her creativity to good use! Lynette has many Habitat moments that stick out from upcycling furniture at the ReStore, connecting with her fellow committee members during their build day and the Key Ceremony.
“I missed my first one [Key Ceremony] due to COVID isolation, but I still felt like I was a part of it,” said Lynette. “The families work so hard to achieve all their volunteer hours required before they move in and as Family Partner Committee members, we get so involved in that process and share in that excitement too. It makes my heart happy!”
Although Rhys became a regular volunteer at Habitat Greater Ottawa in 2015, he’s been a supporter of Habitat for Humanity for decades, including in 2002 during the Ed Schreyer Work Project. Currently, Rhys now pulls double duty as a build volunteer for the Kemptville Korners build and a ReStore volunteer at our two locations. There’s no typical volunteer day for Rhys as there’s always so much to do on both the build site and at the ReStore. One day it’s framing walls on the build site, the next day it’s receiving and unloading products for the two ReStore locations.
“The most common concern I hear is that ‘I don’t have the skills or ability to work on a build site'” said Rhys. “I would like to point out all are welcome, we all started someplace, and we learn and build on our skills no matter where we currently are.”
As the Senior Manager, Development at Colonnade BridgePort, Bonnie plays an integral role as Chair of our Land & Build Committee. She joined the committee in 2019, supporting the researching and sourcing of potential land and builds for future Habitat developments. A few years later in 2023, Bonnie also joined the Board of Directors helping to provide strategic leadership and governance oversight for the organization. Each board member brings their own set of unique skills and expertise whether it be finance, human resources, or policy planning.
“If you are someone who values change and impact, or are curious about affordable housing, volunteering for Habitat Greater Ottawa might be a good fit for you,” said Bonnie. “I encourage you to reach out to us to get started!”
William’s first experience with Habitat for Humanity was at the international level, when he volunteered on a Global Village trip to Honduras in 2011. The trip left a lasting impression on William and he wanted to see if there were opportunities to support Habitat at the local level. After he retired, William started volunteering at the Stittsville ReStore and ever since then, he has become a regular face for staff and other ReStore volunteers. Since becoming a ReStore volunteer in 2016, William also joined the Family Partners Committee supporting families in our Affordable Homeownership Program.
As a volunteer who has supported Habitat abroad and locally William has experienced first hand how every moment matters when you’re helping to build stronger communities. “You are building not just a house, but a successful restore, a caring community where the houses are built,” said William. “You are making new connections and new friends. “
