Salima’s siblings were outside building a snowman. With their laughter forming a joyful backdrop, she was inside the house taking a call from Trinity College, receiving the news that she had just been awarded a scholarship. This moment in time captures the dream Asukulu and Charlene, Salima’s parents, had for their children: a safe place where life was celebrated, where education was emphasized, and where love abounded.

Lee and Henrietta Healy greatly benefitted from an accessibility ramp installed on their home through the Home Repairs Program. Due to Lee’s Parkinson’s disease, Henrietta had a difficult time helping Lee navigate the stairs in front of their house. Thanks to the Home Repairs Program, an accessibility ramp was installed allowing easy access for Lee’s wheelchair.

The Restore has had a huge increase in donations over the last several months. A lot of our donations come into the store from the donation truck. We operate the donation truck Wednesday through Saturday. We schedule six to seven pick-ups per day.

Serving as a volunteer, staff employee, and board member, Shirley Naccarato has done it all. After retiring from 30 years at the Washington State Bar in Seattle, Shirley and her husband moved to the area looking for a slower pace of life. When driving past the Overland ReStore near their home, she became interested in Habitat’s philosophy and charitable mission and began working as a ReStore volunteer.

As Jason himself will tell you, Jason Welch is the luckiest person in the world. But receiving the keys to his Habitat home in 2019 didn’t come easily. After suffering a traumatic brain aneurysm that left him unable to walk, talk, eat, or function independently, Jason was given less than a one percent chance of living through his accident.

Katie and Michael Hobson have been Habitat homeowners for 13 years. From raising their four children to building their savings, owning their own home has given them the freedom to pave their own path. But it wasn’t always this way.

Treasure Valley Habitat for Humanity celebrated the installation of its first permanent accessibility ramp Wednesday, marking the launch of its Home Repairs Program. In partnership with LINC Idaho, the Home Repairs Program will address accessibility and safety concerns in homes owned by low-income families and elderly residents of Ada County.

After 30 plus years of buying, selling, and thrift store shopping, my new mission has become re-purposing. This adventure started 6 months ago when my life of luxuries and jobs came to an end and I moved back into a 3-bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, 1973 house my mom took over after taking care of my grandmother, who passed in 1990. (Shaking my head.)

For the most part, this year Habitat homeowner Eh Soe Min and his family will celebrate Christmas in a typical Karen (Burmese) fashion. But there will be a bit of American custom thrown in to acknowledge their new status as American citizens. Eh Soe, Jue Hae and their children will start with a Bible study and worship time on Christmas morning, (Karen tradition), after which they will each open a gift from under the Christmas tree (American tradition).

I have been a Habitat for Humanity volunteer since 2003. Shortly after I began volunteering in the office, I received a request from the Executive Director Ken Nichols, to join the Family Support committee.