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Watch the video below to hear from Construction Manager, Chris Weckmann. He tells us what is happening in the next couple of weeks at our William "D'Grouch" Laubengayer Memorial Build site. What you will be helping with at our Memorial Build site:
Come on out and join us on the build site as we finish up these two beautiful homes! Our April Tool of the Month is the Milwaukee Narrow Crown Stapler. IVHFH Construction Manager Chris Weckmann explains what the Narrow Crown Stapler is and its use on the construction site. Watch the video to hear what he has to say! What does Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity use this tool for?
It is primarily used to attach the aluminum soffit, which is located on the underside of the porch and roof overhangs. We are currently using the stapler for this scope of work at our Memorial Build homes. Unlike pneumatic staplers, which are powered by air compressors, this electric-powered tool is particularly useful once we begin stapling on the soffit of the second floor—it's a bit cumbersome climbing 20 feet in the air while hauling heavy air compressor hoses! How to use it: 1. Align the stapler with the location where you need to staple. 2. Push the stapler into the aluminum, and the staple will be set in place once you pull the trigger.
Reflecting on my Friendship with D'Grouch
Written by: Christy Shipley Fifteen years ago, my director said to me, "You gotta meet this guy that volunteers with us. They call him The Grouch." Within ten seconds of meeting William, I knew three things: it was D'Grouch, he was extremely intelligent and very ornery, and he would be a great friend. Losing William is one of the hardest things to think about, so I would much rather think of all the things that made him great in my eyes. There are the facts that one could rattle off from memory or find in all our records, like how he had volunteered with Habitat for 20 years. He worked on more than 100 houses. He created tools for us and donated many more. He volunteered an average of 1,100 hours with us every year. I could throw numbers at you all day, but I would rather tell you what was behind all that. I want to tell you about William rolling up to the job site on his BMW before anyone else so he could just visit with me and see how things were going. He liked to poke fun at the world when things were tough and make sure he would get me to laugh. I want to tell you about how, as a driver of a pickup truck, he cut me no slack when I retired my truck in favor of a more fuel-efficient, bright yellow Focus. He promptly named it the "yellow piece of junk." Let me tell you how, if I was cutting material, he would always double measure what I had cut and, with a gleam in his eye, announce that I was off by at least a 64th of an inch. He was great because he knew how to give you just the right amount of gruff. He knew how to listen when you needed to vent. He knew how to just show up when you desperately needed another set of hands to keep the project rolling. I can remember him working at the first Women Build I was in charge of. He came out with his saw and proceeded to teach the ladies how to properly use a compound miter saw. His patience and encouragement was amazing. HE was amazing. William loved to project the image of D'Grouch. He loved to grumble. He loved to make snarky, sarcastic jokes. But I know for a fact that no man was less grouchy. If you knew him, his heart was on his sleeve. His thoughts were always of those around him and those he could help. He always went out of his way to do kind things. D'Grouch was a cover, you see, and one that I was so very privileged to see through. It doesn't do William justice to try and sum up his impact with numbers. These are the facts that I will always remember instead of those numbers: I was blessed to get to work with William for 15 of those 20+ years. I wish with all my heart that we could go on building together past those 100 houses. I will not only treasure the tools he created and donated but do my best to make sure that every volunteer who uses them knows about the great guy they came from. As for those thousands of hours, how did they go so fast? How did they do so much? So many families safe in their own homes, so many gut laughs and slightly off-color jokes, billions of minutes of teasing, and so, so, so much serious hard work and caring mentoring, that's how. All from one guy I will always call my friend.
Meet Bruce Alexander, a longtime volunteer with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's construction team. Bruce has been a staple of our build sites for many years, making significant contributions to our construction crew. We recently caught up with Bruce to discuss his experience volunteering with our organization.  Bruce and his wife, Mary, are long-time IVHFH supporters. What year did you start volunteering with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity? 1992. I was fortunate to be part of the original all volunteer group. What is your favorite memory with IVHFH? After 35 years with IVHFH, that is a pretty tough question. I make memories each week that I work with family members, the construction managers, and the other volunteers. If you could give any advice to any new volunteers or individuals who are on the fence about volunteering, what would you tell them? This is what I tell every new volunteer I work with: even though you believe you don't have any skills related to building a home, Habitat will find a place for you to participate and learn. It is a great environment to find out all the parts of the process, including learning to use power tools, if that is something you want to learn. No pressure. What drives you to continue to volunteer with us? This is easy. First, it is building safe, affordable homes along with future homeowners. Working with the IVHFH staff in general and building on site with Christy and Chris along with new and old(er) volunteers is a treat. I have made new friends along the way. Is there anything else you would like to share? I have been fortunate to attend four Jimmy Carter work builds in Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, and California. At the Los Angeles build, I had breakfast with Jimmy and Rosalynn as they sat across the table from me. So, I can say that I have had breakfast with a President and First Lady. Thank you, Bruce, for all of your hard work and dedication to Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity! We are so thankful for the countless hours you have dedicated to our organization over the years! You have helped change the lives of numerous families!
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in Habitat Friends Night last week! Our team eagerly anticipates this annual gathering each year, as it allows us to connect with many of our wonderful volunteers, donors, and homeowners. We truly hope this event reflects our deep appreciation for each of you. We had the pleasure of honoring several supporters for their exceptional commitment and service to the Habitat for Humanity mission. A big congratulations and thank you to our award recipients for 2025!
Our March Tool of The Month is the Oscillating Took, a favorite of the IVHFH construction crew who lovingly refer to it as the "Wiggler". IVHFH Construction Manager, Chris Weckmann, explains the Oscillating Tool and its use on the construction site. Watch the video to hear what he has to say. What does Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity use this tool for? It is primarily used to cut items in hard-to-reach places. For example, you may have limited space due to a fixed item like a fence or cabinet being in the way. The oscillating tool is essential because it has a thin blade that allows you to reach a difficult space and does not take much force to cut through material. It can be utilized for interior and exterior needs.
Check out the video below to hear from Construction Manager Chris Weckmann. He tells us what is happening on our William "D'Grouch" Laubengayer Memorial Build site! What you will be helping with on our build sites:
Interested? Come on out and join us on our build sites! Check out our available shifts here!
Meet Dave Skallerud, a long-time Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore volunteer! Dave is celebrating his 10-year Iowa City ReStore volunteer anniversary this March! We recently caught up with Dave to chat about his experience volunteering with Habitat for Humanity!  We promise that he LOVES volunteering with us! What year did you start volunteering with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity?
"I started volunteering in March of 2015!" What is your favorite memory of IVHFH? "My favorite memory is doing ANYTHING with the guys. We get a lot done but have fun doing this work. One specific time all of us enjoy are the ball games (Cedar Rapids Kernels). Most of the time we don't even know the score, but we enjoy drinking a beer and socializing with the guys. We also like to go to lunch." What drives you to continue to volunteer with IVHFH? "It benefits the potential homeowners and community. But it also benefits us volunteers because it gives us purpose in life. I retired from two careers, which I enjoyed but when I left them, I created a void in my life that ReStore helps fill." If you could give advice to any new volunteers or individuals on the fence about volunteering, what would you tell them? "Pull up your bootstraps and prepare to get dirty and work. Develop a thick skin because we give each other a hard time but we receive a great number of challenges and job satisfaction. The backgrounds of our volunteers speak volumes: a Professor from the University of Iowa, a supervisor with AT&T, a watch repair technician/jeweler, county highway engineer, HVAC technician, construction technician, retired minister, and a retired Lieutenant Colonel." Thank you, Dave, for all of your hard work and dedication to Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity! We are so thankful to have you as a volunteer and know that you are always willing to lend a hand when needed!  Written by Tami Bonnett, IVHFH Development Director
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit one of the homes we've been working on through our Helping Hands home repair program. Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity has been working to make this home more accessible for the homeowner, Rosenda, who has mobility challenges. We installed an accessibility ramp, a crucial modification to ensure she can safely enter and exit her home. The project was nearing completion, and I wanted to gather photos and videos to document our work. That day, however, the weather was less than cooperative. It was a cold and windy Friday, with snowdrifts piling up along the county roads. I was driving through rural Iowa, and as I turned down a gravel road leading to the house, I couldn't help but notice just how isolated the location was. Open fields stretched, allowing the wind to blow snow across the roads, and there were no nearby neighbors in sight. I parked and quickly got out of the car, feeling the cold wind burn my face and fingers. After taking a few photos of the ramp and shooting a couple of videos of the 60-foot ramp, the longest we've ever installed, I rushed back to the warmth of my car. As I drove back down the gravel road, the isolation of the area stayed with me. The home felt so far removed from any help, and I couldn't stop thinking about the homeowner. What would Rosenda do if she fell outside? How long would it take for someone to come to her aid? It was a stark reminder of how geographically isolated some rural homeowners are and how vulnerable they can be, especially in the winter when cold temperatures and harsh winds can quickly turn a simple fall into a life-threatening situation. While that Friday had been cold, temperatures plunged below zero the following Monday and Tuesday, with wind chills nearing negative 20°F. I couldn't stop thinking about Rosenda, imagining her outside in such extreme cold—perhaps trying to retrieve something from her car or check her mailbox. In those frigid conditions, I realized that if she were to fall and couldn't get up, she might not survive more than an hour before the cold took its toll. The reality of how essential our home repairs are genuinely hit me. I don't think I'd ever connected someone's living situation to a life-or-death scenario in such a direct way. It was a crucial moment of reflection for me and one that I wanted to share with our staff at our Tuesday staff meeting. I shared my reflections to remind everyone of the life-saving nature of our work. I also wanted to thank the Helping Hands crew, who work through extreme weather to complete these essential projects. In our discussion, our Helping Hands Director, Aaron Kiesey, shared that the hypothetical scenario I had been thinking about—Rosenda falling and unable to get up—had already happened. Aaron explained that she had undergone knee replacement surgery and was in the middle of physical therapy and rehabilitation. Rosenda had transportation to her appointments, but on one occasion, her ride dropped her off and left before she could get back into the house. She fell in the driveway, injuring her knee further, and couldn't get up. Thankfully, Rosenda’s son, who works during the day, had decided to check on her during his lunch break. Though her injury was severe, that unexpected visit saved her from even more serious harm. She was hospitalized and is now residing in a rehabilitation center. The accessibility ramp, the final step of the project, will allow Rosenda to safely return home. This situation is a powerful reminder of why our work is so vital. These services are urgent, especially in rural areas, and even one modification can make a life-changing difference. Check out the video below to hear from Construction Manager Christy. She tells supporters what is happening on our Billie Townsend Women Build and our William "D'Grouch" Laubengayer Memorial Build sites! What you will be helping with on our build sites:
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Our Mission: Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Our Vision: A world where everyone has a decent place to live. Our Values: - Demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ. - Focus on shelter. - Advocate for affordable housing. - Promote dignity and hope. - Support sustainable and transformative development. |
We welcome all who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live. Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize.
Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith. |
