Building More Than Homes

For Katie, volunteering has never been an occasional activity. It has always been a part of who she is.

“I’ve been volunteering for as long as I can remember,” she says. “When I was younger, my parents took my sister and me to serve dinner at a homeless shelter on Christmas Eve. It definitely shaped how I thought about volunteering from a young age, and that’s stayed with me throughout my life.”

That lifelong commitment to service led her to Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program six years ago, thanks to an unexpected invitation from a friend.

“Someone dropped out of her team at the last minute, and she asked if I wanted to join. I’d never done more than use a hammer and screwdriver at that point, so I was nervous that I wouldn’t be useful. But she assured me that you don’t need any construction skills to volunteer.”

Katie took the chance—and she’s been returning ever since.

 

Raising Walls and Building Confidence

Over the years, she’s helped transform empty concrete slabs into homes. During some builds, volunteers spent the day raising and anchoring wall panels that had been constructed off-site. Other years brought new challenges, from installing vinyl siding to hanging cabinets and measuring, cutting, and installing baseboards.

“It’s really empowering to put the walls up,” Katie says. “I always love being able to see what we accomplished during our build day.”

 

Understanding Habitat’s Impact

While many people are familiar with Habitat for Humanity, Katie admits she once had a common misconception about the organization.

“Before I got involved, I mistakenly thought Habitat homes were given away for free,” she explains.

In reality, homeowners are selected based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. Participants take on a low-interest mortgage and complete more than 200 hours of education and volunteer service. They attend financial literacy classes, learn home maintenance and repair skills, and contribute “sweat equity” by helping build not only their own homes, but the homes of other families in the program.

“It’s an incredible partnership,” Katie says. “The homeowners work so hard throughout the entire process.”

 

A Day on the Build Site

A typical Women Build day begins early. Volunteers arrive on site around 7:30 a.m., grab their hard hats and tool belts, and gather with Women Build staff, Habitat’s dedicated “Tiger Team” volunteers, fellow participants, and future homeowners. After reviewing safety protocols and the goals for the day, everyone gets to work.

“There’s usually music playing in the background, and there’s a lot of laughter throughout the day,” Katie says. “At the end, we clean up the site, load all the tools and equipment, and make sure everything is ready for the next build day.”

And then comes a well-earned tradition.

“We usually go to happy hour afterward to celebrate,” she laughs. “We get a lot of strange looks because we’re often caked in mud, sunburned, and sporting hard-hat hair.”

 

The Families Behind the Homes

While every build is meaningful, one experience from this year’s project stands out. Katie spent much of that day working alongside two future homeowners.

“These women have been through multiple challenges in their lives, but they’ve never stopped trying to make life better for themselves and their children,” she says.

One homeowner shared that she and her children visit the construction site every week to check on the home’s progress.

“The kids were positively giddy at the prospect of having their own rooms and a backyard to play in for the first time.”

For Katie, conversations like these are a powerful reminder of how much many people take for granted.

“It’s easy to overlook things like having privacy, a safe place to play outside, or the stability that comes with knowing where you’ll be living next year,” she reflects. “I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for those things over the years, and I recognize how fortunate I’ve been.”

Seeing the excitement and anticipation on the faces of future homeowners and their children has reinforced why affordable housing matters so deeply. Moments like these are what keep Katie coming back year after year. They are also a reminder that the impact of Women Build extends far beyond the walls being raised on a construction site—it helps create the foundation that every family deserves.

Supported by a Culture of Giving Back

Katie says inSeption has been supportive of her volunteer efforts from the very beginning.

“I’ve never felt like taking a day off to volunteer has been discouraged or that I’m inconveniencing anyone,” she says. “Actually, it’s the opposite. Even when I had that last-minute invitation to join a team years ago, everyone was like, ‘Do it! We can cover everything here.'”

She believes that support reflects the company’s broader commitment to community involvement.

“I love that inSeption participates in several charitable events during the year, like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Walk and the Ronald McDonald House Plane Pull. They also just signed on as a Corporate Partner for Life Science Cares, which is going to allow employees to participate in more philanthropic activities in our own industry. As a company that focuses on helping others, it just makes sense that they encourage their employees to do the same.”

For Katie, volunteer time off isn’t simply a benefit. It’s a reflection of a culture that values community impact and recognizes that employees can make meaningful contributions beyond the workplace.

 

Making Time to Make a Difference

Her advice to colleagues who may be considering volunteering is simple:

“With all the responsibilities we have at home and at work, it can sometimes feel like you don’t have time to volunteer. But what I’ve found is that most organizations understand that, and you can find opportunities at places that would be thrilled to have your help, even if it’s just for an hour or two a month. It doesn’t take a lot of time to make an impact. Find a cause that resonates with you and see what’s out there.”

And after six years of helping families build homes, Katie has witnessed firsthand what that impact can look like.

“It’s honestly indescribable,” she says of seeing a family receive the keys to their new home. “I’m tearing up a little just thinking about it. These women have worked so hard to improve their situations, and it’s always heartwarming to see their kids running through the front door, so excited to check out their new bedrooms.”

“It’s the culmination of a year or more of hard work and anticipation, and I’m always so grateful to be able to play a small part in their story.”

For Katie, volunteering through Women Build has always been about more than construction. It’s about building confidence, building community, and helping build a future where more families have a place to call home.

 

Support Katie’s Women Build Fundraiser

Inspired by Katie’s story? There’s still time to support her efforts.

Katie’s Women Build fundraising campaign remains open through August, and every donation helps Habitat for Humanity continue its mission of providing safe, affordable housing and empowering families through homeownership.

If you’d like to contribute, consider making a donation through Katie’s fundraising page and help build stronger homes, stronger families, and stronger communities.