Dean, a dedicated volunteer, smiles at the intake table where he generously donates 20 hours of his time each week.
Dean, a gentleman in his mid-90s, has volunteered nearly 1,200 hours at our Habitat for Humanity ReStore in just over a year. Primarily serving at the McGregor ReStore location, Dean works at the intake table, inspecting incoming donations to determine whether they’re in acceptable condition.
“Everything has to be checked out,” he explained, as items must be suitable for resale. “We try not to send anything to the landfill.”
One hundred percent of ReStore’s profits support Habitat’s mission of building homes, communities, and hope, all while giving reusable household items and building materials a second life.
Dean spends five days a week, four hours each day, volunteering with us. “He could be doing a lot of stuff with that time, but he chooses to give that time to us,” Habitat Volunteer Coordinator Ashley Brady said. “I just think how fortunate we are that he chooses that.”
A lifelong volunteer for multiple organizations, Dean’s journey to Habitat began after Hurricane Ian in 2022.
“I was left with nothing to do, so I started scouting out and worked for different organizations, and I finally picked Habitat as the one that I liked the best,” he said.
Ian’s destruction of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands ended the chapter of Dean’s life where he dedicated his time to the Hammerheads, a group of handymen for island nonprofit organizations who helped design, build, and maintain projects that wouldn’t otherwise be feasible.
“We did all kinds of construction work all over Sanibel Island, and that all got destroyed,” he said. “The volunteers- we didn’t have a shop anymore.”
Dean dedicated his time to the Hammerheads since moving to Punta Rassa for retirement in 1988, after 32 years of service to The Minnesota Conservation Foundation.
Luckily for the ReStore, Dean felt most aligned with Habitat after his search for a new organization. “We’re accomplishing something,” he said. “We’re not just making noise. That’s what I like about Habitat. They have a solid mission statement, and they’re fulfilling it. They’re helping people find homes, and that’s so critical.”
At the ReStore, Dean has worked alongside Habitat homeowners and ReStore staff, something he considers the best part of the job. “The worst day is the kind you stay home all day, and you don’t see anybody,” he said. “That’s a bad day.”
“He comes in, jumps right to his spot and starts working right away,” ReStore Lead Sally Lake said.
For Dean, contributing to Habitat’s mission is rewarding. “I’m glad I can help out,” he said. “That everyday contribution is worthwhile.”
Like Dean, every volunteer plays a vital role in making Habitat’s work possible.
“The volunteers that I get to get out on those builds are so important,” Ashley said. “But the ones we have going to the ReStores are just as important.”
She explained that retail can be a demanding environment, and one that often lacks stability. When someone calls out sick or can’t make their shift for any reason, volunteers help keep things running smoothly.
“With the volunteers that are coming in, you have those extra hands that can pick up that slack,” Ashley said. “It is tremendous how much that helps. We couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers. They’re so essential.”
For those interested in volunteering, Dean has advice to share. “There’s a huge variety of jobs here,” he said. “Come out, have a visit, tell them everything you’re interested in and find a spot for you.”
