Over the years, it seems like there are more and more interesting things to learn about our Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity. For our 30th anniversary, we are talking with people who have spent their generous time volunteering and holding several positions on the board over the years. This month, we would like to spotlight Bob Hammond and his wife Judy, who spent ten years volunteering for our affiliate and played a huge part in getting our ReStore going strong. As Bob reflected on GFHFH, he spoke with great fondness and a spirit of what it means to volunteer for GFHFH. Having sat on the board in various positions, Bob talked about how he was able to help develop new ideas and what the experience of building a Habitat home felt like. Like many wonderful and dedicated volunteers at Habitat, he became emotionally invested knowing that the mission being done was life-changing for families. As Bob stated, “You start out with putting the need out for volunteers in the community […] and what the goal is—and before you know it, you have reached hundreds of people. The need for more affordable housing grows each year and it is a blessing that GFHFH can help make that happen.”

I asked Bob how helping to build a Habitat home and meeting the families felt, as well as what message he would like to express about volunteerism. He responded, “It is a lot of work that is put into building any home…but at the end of the day volunteering together in a community to provide for those in need is a special experience and you end up making new friends and relationships that can last for years. For me, personally, it is all about the children. Homelessness, or any kind of struggles in providing for your family, affects the children most of all and that is my biggest commitment […] to help with HFH to continue to grow to shelter these families for years to come.”

“We have built-in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Caroline County, and King George, to name a few.” Bob and his wife Judy moved to another state, where they continue to volunteer for HFH. “We have built-in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Caroline County, and King George, to name a few.” Bob and his wife Judy moved to another state, where they continue to volunteer for HFH. We thank Bob and Judy for giving so much time and dedication to Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity, for being a strong connection to the mission, and for bringing volunteers together. Without the support of people like the Hammond family and our Fredericksburg volunteers, we would not be able to grow and continue to help communities. Please visit our website (insert website here) if you are interested in becoming a Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity volunteer to look at all our programs and current and future opportunities.

Thank you, Bob and Judy Hammond.

By Lucy Pintouri-Godwin