Volunteer Profile: John and Sandy

(L-R) Sandy, construction supervisor Dave Graham, and John stand together at Emily and Zach’s Key Ceremony in New Glasgow.

A Habitat for Humanity home is a community effort. From donors and advocates to volunteers, countless individuals come together to help a family achieve the dream of having a home to call their own.

For Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia’s newest home in New Glasgow, volunteers Sandy and John played a particularly vital role. The two volunteered dozens of hours weekly, helping build the house from the ground up. Their hard work and unwavering dedication made all the difference in creating a home for Emily, Zach and their one-year-old son.

“It was an opportunity to give a young couple a chance to get started that they normally wouldn’t get,” said Sandy.

For John, volunteering on a Habitat build was a new experience. He had previously gained experience in carpentry, electrical work and plumbing, while renovating his home in Maine. When he learned about the New Glasgow build, John decided to stop by and see if he could help. Two months and over one hundred volunteer hours later, it’s safe to say that he has.

Sandy, on the other hand, is a seasoned volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia. A former engineer who once worked on the Confederation Bridge, Sandy began volunteering for Habitat in 2022 on a construction site in Stellarton.

“My next-door neighbour’s granddaughter was the recipient of that house, so her dad asked if I’d be interested in helping out,” Sandy shared.

Sandy estimates that he volunteered around 40 hours per week on that build. Since then, he has continued to support Habitat builds in Oxford and New Glasgow, using his expertise to give back.

“I belong to the Masonic lodge, and friendship and brotherly love are some of our main goals,” said Sandy. “So, helping others is just part of who I am.… I hate being idle, and Dave [Graham, construction site supervisor for the New Glasgow build] and I hit it off—we get along like two peas in a pod.”

Working on the New Glasgow home was a meaningful way for Sandy and John to make life easier for a young couple starting a family.

“More than once in my lifetime, I’ve had to restart literally from nothing, and I know how difficult that could be,” said John. “Being part of something that’s going to help a young couple with a baby—I think it’s awesome.”

Habitat homeowners must contribute 500 hours of volunteer work as part of the homeownership program to encourage community involvement and giving back. Volunteers like Sandy and John can contribute toward the family’s hours on the build, and both plan to donate the maximum amount.

With the completion of Emily and Zach’s home, Sandy and John’s efforts stand as a testament to the power of volunteering and its impact on families. Through their time and skills, they’ve helped create a brighter future for this family. Their story is a reminder that every volunteer makes a difference.

To learn how to support Habitat for Humanity, visit habitatns.ca/all-ways-to-support/. Want to receive stories like this in your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter!

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