A Message of Gratitude: Honoring 40 Years of Building Together

Forty years ago, our community picked up hammers and a holy kind of hope. We didn’t wait for someone else to fix it—we showed up, learned together, and built side by side. Because of you, that spark became a steady fire: safe, affordable homes; repaired porches and roofs; children doing homework at kitchen tables; neighbors who know each other by name.

This year, costs have risen and the housing landscape keeps shifting. Still, you have stayed. You have given, volunteered, advised, prayed, and cheered. You have welcomed new families and stood with longtime homeowners. You have helped us build new relationships and tend the ones that brought us this far.

As we celebrate 40 years, we are also reaching forward. We’re exploring more efficient ways to build and repair—innovations that stretch every dollar and every hour. We’re refining our construction methods, strengthening partnerships, and seeking scalable solutions so more families can step through a safe doorway and call it home. This season, your generosity is helping more families experience the comfort of home—some for the very first time.

Thank you for being part of this long, beautiful build—yesterday, today, and the years ahead. Your generosity is the scaffolding for dreams; your trust is the ground we stand on. With you, we will keep lifting as we climb—one family, one block, one hopeful nail at a time.

A Life Changing Repair: Helping a Couple Safely Live at Home

Charles and Kim both struggle with health issues, and after a bad fall resulted in serious spinal surgery for Charles, his doctor warned that another tumble would be disastrous.

Unfortunately, daily life in their home presented safety issues. Particularly difficult was having to step over the side of a bathtub that had no handrails to take a shower. The sink in their bathroom did not work, either. They planned to refinance their home in order to make improvements, but they could not qualify because a medical bill affected their credit rating.

Charles and Kim were discouraged. “We just didn’t take many showers, because it was difficult for us to get in and out,” Charles said. “Fortunately, Kim’s brother does a lot of work for Habitat in Oregon, and he told us to contact Habitat here.”

They were delighted to learn about Habitat’s Repair Team and that they qualified for the program. The team was able to replace the old bathtub/shower combo with a nice new walk-in shower with tile walls, grab bars and a fold-down seat. They also laid new vinyl wood-look flooring and got water flowing to a new bathroom sink and vanity.

Charles and Kim are relieved that they can now take showers without fear of falling. “They did a great job,” Charles said of the repair team. “Thank you so much for your people and your generosity to us. Habitat is an incredible blessing sent from God.”