Summer means our volunteer season is in full swing. We owe a BIG THANK YOU to those that helped with our most recent events – both the Habitat Olympics and Women Build Week were a smashing success! We were able to raise over $18,000 from Habitat Olympics this year! We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors, participants, and volunteers. Congrats to College Hunks for taking home the Gold two years in a row! During Women Build Week we had 100 women on the worksite in four days! The list of tasks we were able to complete at one of our homes on Hill Rd is too long to list here!

​That’s just the beginning of our summer! We still need volunteer groups to join us on work sites throughout Genesee County.

​Please contact me if you have any interest in volunteering! Greg Hull, Volunteer Coordinator, ghull@geneseehabitat.org 810-766-9089 ext. 210.

There are lots of volunteer opportunities available! Check out a full list below.

Habitat Olympics, Friday, May 5th
Our much anticipated annual fundraiser featuring construction-themed games and a silent auction will be Friday, May 5th (Cinco de Mayo!) this year! Volunteers are needed to: Help check in teams, be a caddy for teams, take pictures, sell raffle tickets, set up, and tear down. Contact Greg Hull if you would like to volunteer (contact info below). Also, there are still sponsorship and team slots available! Contact Ashley Everhart for more info on sponsorships or signing up a team, aeverhart@geneseehabitat.org or (810)766-9089 ext. 203.

Women Build Week, May 10th-13th
National Women Build Week is a nationwide initiative of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program, developed in partnership with Lowe’s. Last year, more than 15,000 women, including Lowe’s Heroes from across the country, volunteered at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country. Through Women Build, we can train and equip women to work more effectively, helping Habitat increase its capacity and serve more families. We are getting as many women out to the worksite as we can this week! We already have commitments from a number of local women in leadership, the UAW Women’s Council, and of course, Lowe’s! If you have a women’s group or would like to join us as an individual on site that week, then don’t hesitate to contact Greg H. to get signed up! Also, Lowe’s will be hosting a FREE tool clinic for any interested women on Tuesday, May 2nd, 6PM at the Lowe’s on Corunna Rd. Each participant will get to build a small table that they can take home. Contact Greg Hull if you would like to attend.  Greg Hull, (810) 766-9089 ext. 210 or ghull@geneseehabitat.org.
 
16th Annual Bastille Day Race in Fenton, Saturday, July 15th
 This is a fantastic volunteer opportunity for all ages! The event includes three timed and certified races: the 15K run, the 5K run, and the 5K walk. Volunteers are needed for: registration, guiding traffic and runners at intersections, managing the water stations, and helping to clean up. 100 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Contact Greg Hull if you would like to help with this great event. Greg Hull, (810) 766-9089 ext. 210 or ghull@geneseehabitat.org.
 
Apostle’s Build Sponsored by Thrivent Financial
We are honored to receive a sponsorship from Thrivent Financial for the second year in a row! Thrivent has graciously donated $60,000 towards our new build on Hill Rd in Grand Blanc which will cover half of our total construction costs. We will be approaching various church partners over the coming weeks to help raise the funds and volunteers to build the rest of this home. If your church is interested in participating in this year’s Thrivent Build, this is a great opportunity for the entire congregation to get involved. Contact Greg Hull and we would be happy to set up a time to come and meet with you and members of your church. Greg Hull, (810) 766-9089 ext. 210 or ghull@geneseehabitat.org.
 
Introducing Hammer Club!
As the volunteer calendar fills up with various large groups, we wanted to make sure that we carved out some time for our regular volunteers to keep their hands dirty! Every Wednesday is now “Hammer Club” day. This is an opportunity for our regular volunteers to utilize their large skill set.
 
If you are interested in participating in any of the above events, then don’t hesitate to contact Volunteer Coordinator, Greg Hull, (810) 766-9089 ext. 210 or ghull@geneseehabitat.org. Don’t forget! We also have opportunities to volunteer in the ReStore and our committees.

​You won’t find a more hardworking volunteer than Chris Covetz. Although he works full time during second shift at GM packaging parts, Chris still finds time to volunteer up to 30 hours per week with Habitat for Humanity. We don’t know how he does it but we sure do appreciate the help!

Chris has been volunteering in Southeast Michigan for the past 20 years, starting with Rebuilding Together in Oakland County. Chris is now in his sixth year volunteering with Genesee County Habitat, he also volunteers with Detroit and Oakland Habitat affiliates as well as a number of other charities in the area.
​
Chris enjoys the never-ending supply of work to be done, “Habitat gives you the most opportunity to give something back,” said Covetz. “I have the ability to help, so I like to do so.”

What Chris loves most about volunteering with Habitat is helping out veterans and working with big groups – especially GM! “It’s fun to work with coworkers and higher-ups,” said Covetz “GM was started in Flint. It’s fun working with your own company.” 

Chris volunteered with GCHFH for all five days of GM Cares Week and was a tremendous help in assisting us with the 250 volunteers we had that week. Chris can always be counted on when we need the help most and our construction staff can’t say enough about his character. “He’s a patriot,” said Genesee County Habitat for Humanity Construction Assistant and Afghanistan War veteran Chris Smith. “He has huge involvement with veterans.”

​When asked how he personally benefits from helping out Habitat, Chris said teaching and continued talking about helping others. “When we work with a lot of inexperienced volunteers, they think they can’t do anything but we can help them get a lot done,” said Covetz who then added “We’re all beginners at one point.”

​There is no way we could touch as many lives in the community as we do without the help of volunteers like Chris Covetz. Here at GCHFH we admire and appreciate Chris’ hard work and dedication to our community.