IVHFH Announces 15th Annual Women Build Honorees: Linda “Digger” Barrow & Wai Yin Chan

At Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity, home starts at the core—the heart of our mission, the center of our community, and the people who make it all possible.

​This year’s Women Build honors two extraordinary women: Wai Yin Chan and Linda “Digger” Barrow. For decades, they have been a constant presence on our build sites, embodying the spirit and strength of our CORE volunteer team—the Committed, Outstanding, Reliable, and Essential crew who serve as an extension of our staff and mission. As IVHFH Construction Manager Christy Shipley puts it, “They are CORE. They are the ones we count on, in the heat and the snow, week after week. They are the heart of what we do.” And it’s not for recognition, Digger says, “We do what we do for people who don’t have what we have, but they are every bit deserving.”

Linda "Digger" Barrow

Digger, a self-taught carpenter with nearly 40 years of remodeling experience, joined Women Build in 2005, when she was recruited by longtime friend Jane Hagedorn. Since then, she’s brought her energy, humor, and fierce heart to nearly every home we’ve built. She admits she didn’t know much about Habitat for Humanity, but what she found was a purpose and a calling. “Habitat is my happy place. I liked being part of a team, combining our individual efforts to build a home for a family who needed one. It has become part of my life’s work.” 

​Since then, Digger has become a fixture on build sites, bringing her skill and her positive energy. She is a member of Zion Lutheran Church, volunteers with their food pantry, and is known for lifting up everyone around her. Whether she’s helping a student athlete wield a nail gun for the first time or leading volunteers with fellow Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity CORE volunteers, Digger brings joy, mentorship, and a fierce commitment to Habitat’s mission.

As a CORE volunteer, Digger exemplifies dedication, often saying: “We do what we do for people who don’t have what we have, but they are every bit deserving.” Digger continues to be a leader, mentor, and source of laughter and light on every build site, proving that giving back is a lifelong calling. 

Wai Yin Chan 

Wai Yin first volunteered after witnessing the devastation of the 2008 Iowa floods, arriving with a broom and never leaving. Volunteering alongside Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity Construction Manager, Christy Shipley, to clean up homes near Iowa City’s City Park ignited a long-term dedication to the organization. What started as flood recovery turned into years of hands-on work in construction, cleanup, and restoration. “I was hooked after working a week with Christy cleaning up houses around the City Park after the 2008 Flood.” Wai Yin has been a quiet, joyful force of care, always doing what needs to be done. 

Since then, Wai Yin has become a steady presence on the build site. She has helped install roofs, paint interiors, and—true to her character—pick up stray nails for recycling. No task is too small; no act of care is overlooked. “There are days when I do not have any specific assignment. I would pick up a broom or washcloth. I always feel good that the work site looks better for at least a day.” What drives Wai Yin is not recognition, but the simple, powerful motivation of knowing her work helps a family move into a safe and stable home, maybe even a few minutes sooner. “What keeps me coming back is the satisfaction knowing that the homeowner can move in a few minutes earlier.” 
​
When she’s not volunteering with Habitat, Wai Yin delivers food for Table to Table, helps at the food bank, or rows on the Iowa River with Hawkeye Community Rowing. Her hands and heart are always at work. 

Why Wai Yin and Digger?

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity's Women Build celebrates women who are community-oriented, generous, supportive, and inspire others. Digger and Wai Yin are the embodiment of those values. They show up—not for praise, but because they believe deeply in helping others. Their dedication over decades has shaped the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity community and helped build more than just homes; they’ve built relationships, mentorships, and a lasting impact. Their humor, wisdom, and willingness to do what’s needed, whether framing a wall or picking up a paint roller, remind us that every hand helps, and every volunteer matters. 

Introducing: The “CORE Build” ​

To honor the team spirit that Digger and Wai Yin have helped create, the 2025 Women Build home will also be known as the “CORE Build.” It's a tribute to the circle of dedicated volunteers who return week after week, year after year—mentors, teachers, friends. Digger told the men who also serve as CORE volunteers both on Habitat’s build sites and in the Iowa City ReStore, “We thought we would name it the CORE Build, so that every time those of you who aren’t poster girls see the word, you will know that we appreciate what you do.”​