Wendy McPherson, Habitat Homebuyer - 2006, Dedicated Build Site Volunteer & Family Partner - Ever Since

It's Saturday, but Habitat homeowner Wendy McPherson isn't sleeping in! You can bet Wendy was up with the sun, threw on her most expendable pair of jeans and her trusty volunteer t-shirt, and headed over to her favorite Saturday morning spot - the Habitat build site!

Wendy has been a permanent fixture on our site since she helped build her own family home in 2006. For Wendy, it's all about giving back.

This is Wendy's story...

In many ways, the McPherson family was living the dream. Wendy married her high school sweetheart and the pair went on to have two beautiful girls. This tight family unit radiated with love and support for one another. It's what so many of us strive for. The only thing that was really missing - the stability of a proper home.

Before entering into the homebuyer program with Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis, the McPherson family moved 10 times, from apartment to apartment. The foursome made-do in temporary rental units that were either small and cramped or otherwise unsuitable for raising children due to issues with upkeep or environment.

But thanks to HFHSL supporters and volunteers, Wendy was able to take a step to change all of that for her family. Like all Habitat homebuyers, Wendy put in many hours on the construction site that would one day be the place her children would call home. It was hard work, but as is her way, Wendy rose to the occasion and faced her challenges head-on!

The experience was life-changing - a fact Wendy does not take for granted! Even while working up a sweat during the build, Wendy savored the process. And the relationships she developed on site were as precious to her as the house itself. Today, five years later, Wendy still considers some of the volunteers who helped build her home, family.

The one aspect of the build process that bothered Wendy was simply that there were so many volunteers, she could not possibly find a way to give back to them all. So Wendy did the next best thing...

When the build of her home was complete, Wendy's time on the site was anything but. To this day, Wendy can be spotted on site almost every Saturday. You can recognize her by her electric smile and her signature visor which she's decorated to commemorate her years of homeownership and volunteer work. Wendy is dedicated to giving back to the community and to helping other families navigate the process of home buying - and home building - just as so many others did for her.

A message from Wendy...

My name is Wendy. My husband, two daughters, and I became Habitat Homebuyers in the summer of 2006. Though exciting, the reality of becoming homeowners was a large pill to swallow, mostly because of the many transitions our family had made over the years. HFHSL welcomed us and nurtured us with loving kindness. We became equipped with the tools for achieving our dreams of homeownership. My experience has truly empowered me to be a better person. I know that the gratefulness in my heart can only be expressed by giving the same love we've received and by giving that same service in our community to our neighbors. Making a difference and touching lives, one family at a time, is the greatest gift I have received and could ever give. Thanks to Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis, the sponsors and volunteers for the difference you make every year! From Our Hearts To Yours, A Very Big Thank You!