There’s No Place Like Home

“There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home…” This iconic mantra, paired with three clicks of some seriously fashion-forward heels, boughtlead character

Photo cred: www.openculture.com
Photo cred: www.openculture.com

Dorothy her one-way ticket back to Kansas in the movie The Wizard of Oz. Tiny dog in tow, Dorothy finally returned to her former life after a brief stint in a technicolor dream world of yellow bricks, emotionally expired robots and yes, flying monkeys. You can imagine her relief when she returned to the farm: a place where Dorothy felt safe and loved. A place that provided for her a sense of familiarity and security. In other words, her home.

The Wizard of Oz was a landmark film for many reasons, but it survives the test of time because of the universality and transcendent nature of it’s message: there’s no place like home.

Perhaps no one understands this better than the creators, volunteers and supporters of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. While most volunteers walk away from a shift-well-done with a free t-shirt, perhaps some new friends and those invariably awesome “altruistic fuzzies,” Habitat volunteers walkaway from their hard work with a little more than that–they leave behind a real home for a family in need.

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity

“It’s a great feeling,” says Danielle Corsaut, Volunteer Manager for Habitat. “Knowing that we play a part in helping families accomplish their goal of homeownership by bringing members of the community together.” Corsaut manages about 9,000 volunteers each year through Habitat, a number that is quickly growing. “We build year-round,” she adds. “We use VolunteerLocal for our everyday needs, as well as special builds, projects, ReStore opportunities and events.”

Before VolunteerLocal, Habitat relied heavily on e-mails, phone calls and internet forms. “There was a lot of back and forth,” says Corsaut. “Now, we’re hoping to have all online volunteer registration by the beginning of next year!” Because when it comes to making volunteers and their coordinators feel happy, safe. and loved–there’s no place like VolunteerLocal.

 

Photo cred: geneseehabitat.org
Photo cred: geneseehabitat.org

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