Why donate?
Make a difference
A Habitat home is far more than just a house. It's a place where a family can share their day, plan for tomorrow, and dream about the future. A place to call home provides important peace of mind and stability for the entire family. When we reach out to a new partner family to let them know they've been selected, the excitement in their voices and the cries of celebration from other family members is so powerful and moving. It's truly an amazing experience and all made possible through the generosity of people like YOU!
A HABITAT HOME IS MORE THAN JUST A HOUSE.
That's right! Your support of our efforts makes dreams come alive for our partner families. How cool is that? You have the power to make a positive difference in someone's life through your donation today. Please join us in putting more smiles on the faces of our partner families. Every gift is so important because YOU choose to make a positive difference through your contribution.
In July, we celebrated the two families who will purchase neighboring houses in Holyoke. Construction simultaneous. It's quite impressive, especially when you realize the GSHFH construction crew consists of two full-time staffers, two part-timers, and one part-time equivalent. None of this could be achieved without our phenomenal volunteers AND your generosity.
Ireydiza and her husband Juan purchased a three-bedroom GSHFH home in Holyoke in January 2023. The couple has two young children. Just four years ago, the family was happy, healthy, and dreaming of buying their first home. Then tragedy struck. A workplace injury disabled Juan, the breadwinner. Following several surgeries and two strokes, their dreams were put on hold. Juan was unable to return to work. Ireydiza left school to be the sole breadwinner, create time to care for her young children and recuperating husband.
Despite the pain and struggle, Juan gives back where he can. Whether it’s playing with his children, sharing his story on social media to bring awareness to strokes and the symptoms, or supplying food to the homeless, Juan is determined to make the best of his situation.
Single mother Antonia has four children -- three teenage girls and a pre-teen son. The family currently resides in an apartment with significant issues, including poor insulation, sewage backups, mold in the basement, a leaky roof, and is in an unsafe neighborhood. The apartment is just one of many the family has lived in through the years. As survivors of domestic abuse, Antonia wants to show her children it is possible to break the cycle and give back to the community that helped them escape their situation. With the support of a local social service agency, Antonia said she received counseling, training, and employment.
“I have a beautiful family, an awesome job, and I am now working toward buying my first home. I have hopes, dreams to do better, and be better than my upbringing,” she said. “It’s not about where you come from, it’s about where you’re going. Good attitudes produce better outcomes.”