"My Own Little Way": Meet Rick, ReStore Volunteer

With nearly 9,000 volunteer hours under his belt, Rick is one of Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley's most prolific volunteers. Most days of the week, you'll find Rick hard at work helping Habitat make homeownership affordable, sustainable, and attainable for more of our neighbors. 

You won't find Rick on the construction site, though. Instead, you'll find him at our ReStore in Concord, working away in the office or taking photographs of merchandise on the sales floor. And while he may not be holding a hammer, Rick is well aware of how his efforts help drive Habitat's mission forward.

Born in San Francisco and raised in Redwood City, Rick remembers his surroundings as "a good place to grow up, and values were very, very important to people." So, when his wife's sister mentioned her own volunteerism with Habitat, those values prompted Rick to give it a try.

Rick got his start helping to build the 20 homes of Muir Ridge in Martinez. A construction novice, Rick found the work invigorating: "It was just fun, learning something new, doing something to help, and trying something I hadn't done before." Meanwhile, Rick also spent time on the Family Selection Committee, helping to interview potential homeowners and select Habitat homebuyers. 

"Then, along came a doctor's appointment," Rick says. When Rick revealed that he'd been spending his free time doing construction, his doctor advised against it in light of a recent back surgery. That advice, paired with some added encouragement ("It was my wife, basically," Rick says with a smile.), persuaded Rick to consider a different role with Habitat.

That's when, in 2016, Rick started volunteering at ReStore Concord. At the time, the store was located in a small space and had plenty of growth opportunity. Rick saw it as the perfect way to continue contributing to Habitat's mission, but in a way that put his expertise to good use (and was easier on his back!). 

Retired from a career in managing operations, Rick was accustomed to consulting on ways to make businesses run more efficiently and effectively. His experience has proven to be a boon for ReStore, particularly through a period of expansion and relocating to a larger showroom. 

"It's just a fun place to work!" Rick says. "It's just good, fun people, and there's something new every day. And dealing with customers is fun... almost all of the time," he laughs. "I felt like I fit in, in terms of what I could contribute, and Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful organization. I'm contributing in my own little way, and it's fulfilling."

His time on the Family Selection Committee grounds Rick in purpose. He describes it as a "bittersweet" experience that was joyful when families were selected for partnership, but disheartening when he was faced with the need that remains to be met. 

Rick is right; there is so much work left to be done. But with dedicated volunteers and supporters like Rick on Team Habitat, we're facing the future with determined optimism.

Thinking about joining Rick as a Habitat volunteer? "Do it!" Rick says. "Bottom line: I like the mission, and I like what I do."