Celebrating our volunteers

Volunteerism with Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity experienced a spike in 2025 on the heels of Hurricane Helene. A significant increase in out-of-town groups contributed, as did an increase in the number of local Home Repair core volunteers committing to helping repair homes every week. Nearly 2,700 individual volunteers collectively contributed more than 84,000 hours of service. The value of that donated time? According to Independent Sector, which values volunteer time at $34.79/hour, that level of service represents nearly $3M! 

Core volunteers (weekly or bi-weekly) are foundational to Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Their commitment to service has helped thousands of adults and children secure safe, stable and affordable homes, and enabled hundreds of aging adults to remain in their homes. Throughout National Volunteer Appreciation Week, staff will be visiting all volunteer sites, delivering special treats and appreciations to thank volunteers for their service.

“At Habitat, our work builds and rebuilds homes—but it also builds and rebuilds community and hope. Our volunteers open doors to stability for a family, to connection between neighbors, and to a deeper sense of purpose for those who serve. Together, we can build something bigger than any of us could do alone,” shared Andy Barnett, CEO of Asheville Habitat. 

Eleven core volunteers reached noteworthy service milestones: 

• Allen Laws and Jan Wright celebrated 35 years of service with the Asheville ReStore!
• Bill Winkler and Jerry Ray celebrated their 20th anniversary with Asheville Habitat, both serving for two decades with construction services. 
• Volunteers celebrating 15 years of service with new home construction are Cecil Greck, Ralph Johnson, Pete Steurer, Bernie Koesters, and Bill Reid. ReStore volunteers Sheila Ray and Anne Tansey hit the 15-year milestone mark, too.
• Many other volunteers are recognized for reaching 5 and 10-year milestones. 

In addition to celebrating years of service, Asheville Habitat also recognizes annual hours of service. Many volunteers individually contribute hundreds and hundreds of hours each year. In 2025, these volunteers earned the Top 5 Hours: 

• John Harvin, ReStore – 826 hours 
• Tim Kruse, ReStore – 808 hours 
• Ian Mackey, Construction (new home) – 685 hours 
• Coal Semkowich, Construction (new home and repair) – 610 hours 
• Jesse Gingrich, ReStore – 605 hours 

What keeps them coming back, week after week and year after year? Overwhelmingly, it is a desire to support Habitat’s mission, enjoying camaraderie with fellow volunteers, and feeling a sense of meaning and fulfilment.  

Construction Services core volunteer, Robin Smith offered, “You retire from a job, you don’t retire from the need for meaning, purpose, and joy. You find that at Habitat.” 

Some fun facts about Asheville Habitat’s volunteer program: 

• Asheville Habitat host volunteers of all ages, from students age 16 (minimum) to adults age 55+ staying active and engaged in their community, and everyone in between. 
• Habitat for Humanity International’s Women Build program empowers women to build – and advocate for – affordable housing in their communities. Since 1994, Asheville Habitat’s Women Build program has raised more than $1 million and built 21 homes! 
• Asheville Habitat hosts college teams from around the country every March as part of Collegiate Challenge, an alternative Spring Break program. 
• Core volunteers and staff from the AVL and WVL ReStores together diverted 2,922 tons of usable material from landfills in 2025. 
• Every other year, student volunteers (age 16+) from local public and private high schools help build (and raise the sponsorship funds for) the Student Build House. 
• Volunteer opportunities are available across the organization Monday through Saturday. Individuals and groups welcome! Visit ashevillehabitat.org/volunteer to learn more. 
• STAY TUNED! Read a new blog post each day this week, spotlighting an individual or team of volunteers.