Grand Re-Opening of our Main Office and Warehouses

We are hosting a Grand Re-Opening of our main office and warehouse on October 22nd, 2024. This is an opportunity for community members to see our newly renovated office space, warehouse, and parking lot, and it also marks the 25th anniversary of the original ribbon cutting of our office. This renovated space allows us to grow our mission and remain invested in the Church Row neighborhood for years to come.

Family, friends, volunteers, donors, program participants, partners, organizations, individuals, neighbors, and anyone who connects with Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity is welcome to join the celebration.

Please note a few details about the event:

The event is open house style! Feel free to come & go as you please between 3:30-5:00pm.
Parking can be found on our site (803 W 5th Street) and on nearby streets in the neighborhood.
We will have a Ribbon Cutting with the Grow Cedar Valley Ambassadors at 4:00pm.
We will have some FREE giveaway baskets! Enter to win by checking in at the welcome table. The drawing will happen in-person after the Ribbon Cutting and folks must be present to win.

Please consider joining us in celebrating our new space and learning more about our community work. To RSVP, email Kristy Rosonke: at krosonke@webuildhabitat.org or call our office at 319-235-9946.

Circle Up Breakfast

Thank you to everyone who made our Circle Up Breakfast a success! This is our premiere annual fundraising event for our Builders Circle members and potential members.

You can view all the photos from the event by visiting Circle Up Breakfast - 10/2/2024 | Flickr

Recap Video

Full Event Video

Learn More

Team Members with Heart

Nate Panos is the General Manager at our Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity ReStore. He is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the store. The aspect of Nate’s job that inspires him is collaborating with the community members and seeing people who are eager to give up their free time to volunteer.

Nate enjoys attending the home dedications and it refuels his motivation to Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity’s mission.

Chena's Home Dedication

Check out this before and after video of the home Chena moved into this month!

This renovation is special to the Walnut Neighborhood, as a lifelong resident owned it and cared for it before his passing a few years ago. Jack Beard served as the treasurer for the Walnut Neighborhood Association and was known for his dedication to reminding neighbors about monthly meetings. His impact on the neighborhood remains lasting and profound - and now his beloved life-long home has been restored and will be Chena's forever home.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped renovate this home! We couldn't do it without your help.

Dedication Event Photos

Become a Volunteer

Iowa Heartland Habitat has a goal of completing five homes by the end of this year, so those five families can spend the holidays in their new homes. Schedule a volunteer team of 4 to 8 people! Consider bringing out your department at work, your church small group, your favorite group of friends and family members, etc. We need your help!

Ready to make a difference? Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Susan Cornforth, at scornforth@webuildhabitat.org or call 319-235-9946 to get involved. Let's build a brighter future for our community, one home at a time!

The Power of Homeownership Study

The Power of Homeownership study that we did in collaboration with the University of Northern Iowa has been published in the Journal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs (JPNA)!

Abstract: This research examines the impact of financially assisted homeownership for Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity home recipients as measured in life satisfaction. We develop and assess a model with homeownership as the independent variable and financial well-being, current health, and psychological well-being as mediating variables that impact life satisfaction. We utilize data from 184 Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity homeowners and applicants to test the model. The findings show that homeownership through Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity is related to life satisfaction. That relationship is partially mediated by financial well-being, current health, and psychological well-being, where the mediating variables amplify the relationship between homeownership and life satisfaction.

The Full Study

Women Build 2024

Over the next several months, over 250 Women Build volunteers will build 2 entire houses with our special Iowa Heartland Habitat families in Waterloo.

Angela's home now has completed floors, and volunteers have started working on trim and paint.

At Shonda's home, volunteers have been working on painting and trimming.

Log on to the Women Build Portal for all the photos of the work being done - you can find them under each of the families photos labeled "Memories" and "Build Photos".

Women Build Portal

Are you looking for a unique volunteer opportunity? Do you have a passion for sustainability and volunteering?

Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity is looking to establish a Deconstruction Team to salvage materials from buildings slated for demolition or renovation. This effort helps reduce waste and provides reusable materials to sell in the Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

We need volunteers who will be called upon on an as-needed basis to work on deconstruction projects. You might be asking yourself, “What is deconstruction?”

Deconstruction of a house refers to the systematic dismantling of a building in a way that allows for the recovery and reuse of materials, rather than traditional demolition, which typically results in waste. This process is more environmentally friendly, emphasizing recycling and repurposing materials like wood, bricks, fixtures, and appliances.

Disclaimer: By completing this form, you are expressing interest in this opportunity. Commitment will be requested when deconstruction projects are available, and it matches your availability.

Prayer Walks

We have had some beautiful fall weather for prayer walks. Church Row residents and church members joined Jenna Petersen, our Neighborhood Impact Coordinator, to walk, pray, smile, wave, and see some Iowa Heartland Habitat projects.

The First Iowa Heartland Habitat Homeowner

In 1991, Mary Theroith became the homeowner of the first Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity home in Waterloo at 606 Independence Avenue.

Since then, generations have been blessed to be part of this safe haven, where she welcomed countless family and community members over the decades.

Her daughters and community members celebrated the renovation of the home with a ribbon-cutting that will honor her legacy as a home for traveling nurses.

Donations Build Homes Too!

Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center that sells new and used building supplies and donated home goods at discounted prices.

When you shop, all the proceeds from the ReStore are used to fund Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity’s mission to build homes, communities, and hope in Black Hawk, Butler, Bremer, and Buchanan counties.

We are looking for donations for the ReStore to continue to support our mission. Drop off your items at 4107 Hammond Ave, Waterloo, IA during regular business hours.

Tuesday-Friday 9:30AM-5:30PM
Saturday 9:00AM-3:00PM

Can’t make it in? No problem. Call us at (319) 883-3331 to schedule a pick up, or schedule it online - FREE OF CHARGE! Pickup appointments do fill quickly so please schedule in advance.