Column: Live United, by Ann Austin

The United Way of Freeborn County is about so much more than our annual campaign. Our volunteers and the agencies we support work year-round to help people in our community. There are many stories to share about people’s lives being changed by good deeds.

We are very grateful to have this space to share our stories.

A new program that was approved this year by our allocations committee is Habitat for Humanity. Most people have heard of them and their work to build quality, affordable homes with the use of volunteers. Since Habitat began in our area in 1991, they have built 28 homes.

It may seem like a house is just a house, but for some people this experience is life-changing.

One story tells of a dad of a single parent household who was involved with the Habitat program. Before becoming a partner family to Habitat he was in jail for drug use and theft. He was in and out of trouble throughout his life and didn’t feel he was worth being helped. He had a son but did not have custody, and his son’s mother was a drug user.

He worried about this constantly but had no means to support his son by himself. He also had a very tough time keeping jobs. He somehow found Habitat and managed to assist with the building of a home. He applied to be a partner family and was later awarded this honor. He learned new skills, met new friend, and settled into a nice home where he was later able to bring his son to live with him.

He has since held a steady job without fail, and his son goes to a good school. He has never since been in trouble with the law and has a drug-free home. He credits Habitat with saving his life and giving him a chance when no one else would.

This is symbolic of the many stories Habitat partner families tell about the effect of their home on their lives, and how they relate to others and their community. The last family who moved into an Albert Lea Habitat home said they never had anyone help them as Habitat has, and they never thought they would own their own home, with their own yard for their kids to play in.

Our local Habitat is also working on a new program called “A Brush With Kindness.” This program focuses on the repair and refurbishment of existing homes. There are many opportunities to volunteer and help Habitat build a better community.

For more information and to check out pictures of the homes Habitat for Humanity has built, visit its website: www.habitatfreebornmower.org/index.htm, or “friend” them on Facebook to keep up with the latest news.

If you happen to be interested in volunteering for a very worthwhile project this summer, The Children’s Center will be putting on a new roof Aug. 13. They are looking for volunteers who have had previous experience with roofing.

This will be a one-day project. Your reward will be helping children have a safer environment to learn and there will be a delicious pig roast for dinner! Call Kim Nelson at 373-7979 if you can help. I’ll see you there!

Ann Austin is the executive director for the United Way of Freeborn County.