In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Week, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County hosted our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the end of April – a special evening dedicated to the incredible individuals who make our mission possible.

More than 2,000 volunteers contributed over 22,700 hours to our work this past year. Even more impressive: 165 of those volunteers—just 8%—accounted for more than half of that time. This is our Regular Crew who come out week after week and in all sorts of weather conditions to raise walls, install cabinets, plan potlucks, and create community on our build sites year-round.

The dinner featured good food, laughter, and heartfelt recognition. We honored outstanding volunteers across a range of roles, including the Alice Call Miller Volunteer of the Year Mike Pilcher, Crew Leader of the Year Robin Robinson, and our Triangle Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership Center Governors Award Nominee Ann Louthan. This year included the addition of some fun awards, including Firewall Hero, Thor’s Hammer, Multi-Tool Master, and more.

We also recognized the next generation of Habitat leaders, including the UNC Habitat Club—who contributed over 3,500 volunteer hours and raised $11,000—and local Youth United chapters, whose members gave 600 hours and raised $2,700 for affordable housing.

“There’s something truly powerful about walking into a Habitat home and knowing that it was built not by corporations or the desire for personal gain, but by a community of people who came together to give a family the strength, stability, and self-reliance that homeownership brings—simply because they wanted to,” said Julia Henn, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator. “There’s also something special about stepping onto one of our build sites and watching the magic happen—not just the construction, but the relationships being built. You show up with care and compassion, time and again. You help us build not just homes, but a brighter future for everyone.”

Click here to learn more about how to volunteer on our construction site and sign up today!