When children become adults, staying close takes work. Dave Woodley knows this well.
"Volunteering together is a wonderful way to create that time. It gives you a shared purpose, something to look forward to, and a way to keep strengthening your relationship in a new stage of life,” Dave says about working with his son Christer.
The Woodleys have volunteered together for more than a decade. When Dave retired, he joined the Third Act Regular Crew to work on home construction projects and invited Christer to join when extra slots opened.
Last summer, the Third Act crew helped prepare the new Brooklyn Park ReStore. This connected them with Habitat’s mission in a new way, and they found Saturday shifts that fit Christer's schedule. They returned as individual volunteers before joining the ReStore Regular Crew together.
"The best part of volunteering alongside my son is simply getting to spend meaningful time together," Dave says. "Life gets busier and more complicated as kids grow up, so having a regular activity that brings us together is really great. We have fun, learn new things, and meet new people, all while giving back to the community."
For Christer: "I enjoy volunteering with my dad because we work well together," he shares. "Whether we're assembling furniture, pricing merchandise, or helping customers, we work smoothly together and I learn some new things. It is rewarding to accomplish things working side by side."
They prefer hands-on work over sitting at home. ReStore gives them a chance to be active in their community and make a difference.
A typical Saturday starts with signing in and checking the job board for the day's tasks. Most often, the Woodleys assemble furniture or sort and price donated items. On busier days, they help on the sales floor by moving purchased furniture to the loading area and assisting customers.
"We have been impressed by how much is moved through ReStore each month," they note. "It seems like every time we are there most of the furniture has turned over from the previous time and all sorts of new merchandise is on the floor."
The work is hands-on and tangible. Each task completed means another family can find what they need to make their house a home.
The Woodleys’ dedication comes from knowing their work directly makes a difference by creating affordable homeownership for local families.
"What we like most about volunteering with Twin Cities Habitat, whether at ReStore or on a construction site, is knowing that the time and effort we put in directly supports local families on their path to homeownership," they share. "It feels meaningful to help create a foundation for long-term stability and a sense of belonging for families in our community. Knowing that our efforts can help provide other families with similar opportunities we've had is very rewarding."
Every piece of furniture assembled, donation sorted and priced, and customer helped directly contributes to making homeownership more accessible.
And during Minnesota winters, there's a bonus. "I love working on Habitat buildsites, but I have to admit, during Minnesota winters, it's pretty nice to volunteer at ReStore in a temperature-controlled environment with running water," Dave says. "ReStore is a welcome change from space heaters and port-a-potties on the job site!"
The Woodleys encourage other families to volunteer together, too.
"Finding a regular volunteer opportunity means you're not only spending quality time together—you're also contributing to a cause that matters to both of you and giving back to the community," they share. "It is rewarding for everyone involved, you meet great people, and it is fun."
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity offers multiple ways for families to volunteer together. ReStore welcomes volunteers to help with organizing merchandise, assisting customers, and handling donations. Construction sites welcome volunteer groups to work side by side building homes. Volunteering together gives you a way to stay close through all of life’s changes.