Originally from NYC, Selena has lived in Florida for over 30 years. She left “Corporate America” in 2016 and has been spending her “retirement” volunteering at various non-profit organizations and paying it forward.
Selena has been involved in the Habitat mission since 2007. The financial institution she worked for at the time kicked off a new community involvement program. She worked alongside the Habitat liaison to schedule dates for the team to volunteer with Habitat. “The teams were made up of folks from all different departments of the company so it was a great way to get to know our colleagues. I usually brought the snacks for our break and we always had a great time!”
For Selena, volunteering with Habitat offers the opportunity to learn new construction skills and what it takes to build a house. She enjoys showing up to a build site with a lot of framing and block that needs to be done – cool tools are needed! Selena likes working alongside site supervisors. “They take the time to show you how to do a particular task and then giving you time to learn to do it right. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some fabulous Habitat supervisors through the years. It’s one of the reasons I still enjoy volunteering with Habitat.”
When asked what she likes most about volunteering, Selena explained, “Knowing everything I do is fostering a better community for all of us to live in. Habitat homes give the homeowners a sense of accomplishment, and a start of a brighter future for their families.”