Story: Habitat for Humanity

Habitat's 100th house that was built in honor of Habitat volunteer, Joe Dappen, was dedicated in 2009.  Over the last 20 years, Joe has worked on every Habitat home built in the Lincoln area-all 100 of them. Joe taught chemistry at Lincoln Southeast High School and in 1988 helped organize the Lincoln Habitat affiliate. He has witnessed the changes in Habitat during the past 20 years

For 20 years, Habitat supporters in the Lincoln area have come together in the simple, profound work of putting hammer to nail and brush to paint to improve this community. Volunteers and homeowners labor three days a week, year round to build simple, decent housing and generous contributors have made the work possible by contributing the needed funds for construction material.

"It was wonderful to have the 100th Habitat home built in honor of my volunteer service to Habitat for Humanity," says Joe Dappen, "but, Habitat isn't just one person. The real honor goes to all the devoted volunteers who spend their Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, year round building homes for people in need." 

Joe and his fellow volunteers are an inspiration. In the words of Norman Vincent Peale, "The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have."