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My Habitat Story: Jack
Jack has been volunteering one way or another for most of his life. While working toward an eventual PhD in English and American Literature, Jack began volunteering as a college student with Big Brothers Big Sisters. After he obtained his master’s degree, he worked in schools as a church youth group leader. He subsequently got involved with Boy Scouts with his two sons.
In 1986, Jack took a counseling job at the University of Puget Sound. After retiring from the University in 2011, Jack began volunteering five days a week alongside former Construction Site Manager, Mike Taggert, helping remodel the building on South Tacoma Way that was to become the new home of both the Habitat offices and the Tacoma store.
In January 2012, Jack started volunteering at the construction site. His first neighborhood was Ainsworth Vista, a 13-home development in South Tacoma. He says the three things that have kept him coming back all these years are the opportunity to be outdoors, doing something productive and connecting with the other volunteers, who he describes as “wonderful people from all walks of life who want to be here.”
Jack says he learned everything he knows about construction by volunteering with Habitat. He wishes he could spread the word about how fulfilling it is to more people.
“I’m sure there are tons of people like me who would be delighted (to volunteer with Habitat)… because of the people you meet and the work you’re doing… If you’re fortunate enough to have your health – if you’re that lucky – then you oughta be giving back.”