In June we sat down to have a conversation with construction weekday crew member and volunteer leader Dan Cannon. Dan has been a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis since 2023, logging over 400 hours on Habitat worksites. He also went through Construction Leadership Training so he could lead and train other volunteers on Habitat build sites. We are so lucky to have Dan working with us!
What brought you to volunteering to Habitat for Humanity?
I knew that Habitat would be a great opportunity to keep myself active doing something I enjoy (construction) and, at the same time, being able to help with the great mission of providing affordable housing to those that couldn’t otherwise purchase a house on the retail market. Admittedly, I am not the most skilled carpenter around, but the Habitat construction leaders and other volunteers are always willing to help with various tasks that I’ve either not previously encountered or had an approach that was not necessarily the best.
What keep you coming back?
It is a great way to spend time working on a home that will eventually be enjoyed by a new Habitat family. I usually leave tired and dirty, but motivated to come back, do things better, learn new methods, and continue the mission. Although I’ve worked on many Habitat Homes, there are new challenges on most days that are usually fun to tackle. I also enjoy leading volunteers from the Sponsor Groups who graciously give their time to assist. They come with a wide range of skills, including those that have never used a hammer, but willing to learn and contribute. It’s always nice to end a Sponsor Group day with at least 1 volunteer going home with the information needed to tackle an issue at their house.
Why is the mission and Habitat community important to you?
I have known about Habitat for Humanity for many years and really appreciate that Habitat doesn’t just give a house away, rather the homebuyer has to get qualified and perform many service hours to Habitat prior to purchasing the home. Also, to help ensure long-term success in the home, Habitat has a whole group dedicated to supporting the homebuyer well past the purchase date. Partnering with the homebuyer to make the success rate of homeownership as high as possible is very important.
Thank you to Dan for all you do to support the Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis mission!
