Hear All About Jonathan’s Volunteer Day at Habitat for Humanity’s Carter Work Project
There’s nothing better than renovating for a good cause. Drew and Jonathan know that more than anyone, as they’ve been involved with Habitat for Humanity for years. They even have the special honor of being named Habitat Humanitarians. This fall, though, Jonathan joined the longstanding Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, and it was a day to remember.
The Carter Work Project has a decades-long history with major impact. Former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter have worked alongside more than 100,000 volunteers to build and improve homes across 14 countries. But this year was particularly special as it honored President Carter’s 100th birthday. Over 2,000 people, including Jonathan, gathered in St. Paul, Minnesota, to cast a spotlight on the importance of affordable housing.
“I think it’s a fundamental right to have a safe home,” Jonathan says. “As a Habitat Humanitarian, I feel like it’s my duty to shout from the top of a mountain that there’s a solution for the housing crisis, and it’s projects like this.”
Together, Jonathan and the other volunteers worked on 30 homes at The Heights build site on St. Paul’s East Side. And here’s some great news: With a total of 147 affordable homes planned, it will be Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s largest-ever development! They shared a few more fun by-the-numbers stats about the first 30 homes, too:
- 5.5 tons of nails and other fasteners
- 20,000 tools
- 2,000 volunteers throughout the week
- 75+ participating sponsors
The Heights also has a strong focus on environmental sustainability. It’s going to be an all-electric community with rooftop solar and Energy Star appliances, plus sustainable-forward materials. The homes will also have air-source heat pumps for efficient heating, cooling, and water heating. A win for the environment is a win for us all!
But of course, when you work hard you get to play hard, too. Jonathan emceed the Build Forward bash, which kicked off Twin Cities Habitat’s comprehensive campaign—Build Forward Together—during the Carter Work Project. There were performances from The Family Stone and St. Paul and the MPLS Funk All-Stars, special programming, and plenty of jokes courtesy of Jonathan.
Even though this year’s Carter Work Project has passed, there are plenty of ways to get involved with Habitat for Humanity. Find a location near you today!
