This holiday season, we are featuring stories of Habitat building homes, communities, and hope in Orange County. This story represents community and the people who show up for our mission in ways beyond our construction site.

At Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, our mission thrives because of the many ways people come together to support it. Whether through volunteering, advocating, donating, or partnering as a homebuyer, our community is the lifeblood of our mission.

On our construction sites, dedicated volunteers swing hammers, raise walls, and share laughter, forging bonds that are as strong as the homes they help build. In fact, over 2,500 individuals spent time on our construction site last fiscal year, building 15 new homes.

In our advocacy and policy work, supporters amplify the voices of those in need of safe, affordable housing. Recent efforts include the passage of the $15 million Town of Chapel Hill Affordable Housing Bond with 72% support. These funds will continue to build homes and communities for organizations in Chapel Hill beyond Habitat.

Donors fuel our mission by attending fundraising events and contributing to programs that empower families. Earlier this month, over $213,000 was raised at the annual House Party – this generosity lays the foundation for sustainable growth and opens doors to opportunity.

And perhaps most inspiring are our homebuyers, who are not only building their own homes, but building connections with future neighbors and friends in the process. At neighborhoods like Weavers Grove, they engage in sweat equity and come together for community potlucks to create a supportive, vibrant community.

Our whole Habitat community contributes to a shared vision: a world where everyone has a decent place to live. As the year draws to a close, we invite you to be part of this community with a tax-deductible gift before December 31.