A Heart for Habitat
Growing up in a carpenter’s family, Drew Collier always considered himself an amateur “wood butcher.” After retirement from a 37-year career with Union Pacific, Collier found himself looking at the woodshop in his basement wondering how he could possibly get rid of all the tools in time to downsize. After making a call to an old friend, he decided on donating them to an organization he knew well, Habitat for Humanity of Omaha.
Collier first got involved with Habitat Omaha 16 years ago, building about 25 houses a year. He volunteered on job sites and even led his own rehab house renovation. He knew CEO Amanda Brewer at the time and was asked to conduct a consulting study on the construction sites. His focus was on how to utilize volunteers more effectively. Collier helped change the mindset of staff to be more volunteer focused and instilled the value of community impact on job sites.
When Collier decided to downsize, he knew he needed to find a location to accommodate the heavy-duty machinery that occupied his 20x60ft woodshop. After contacting Chief Construction Officer Drew Lier and Construction Supervisor Mark Butler, Collier waited for the truck and trailers that would be moving his tools to Habitat Omaha’s construction warehouse. Collier’s intentions of donating a shop to Habitat Omaha were, first, to “get rid of it” and second, he “saw it as a perk and benefit to the staff. That they would have access to a shop that they could use on their own time.”
Since donating, Collier has been given a key card and can access the shop any time. He has built many projects that include dining room tables and desks, and selflessly never sells the items he makes, instead giving them away to others. Collier also worked with the staff to build a beautiful centerpiece that hangs on the walls of Millwork Commons. It recognizes the Habitat Omaha donors using all different types of wood, some reclaimed; each donor name engraved on the front.
As Collier and Butler work together, their goal of creating a “first-class shop” gets closer. Remodeling the shop is both carpenters’ main task at hand. Collier continues to support the vision of the shop by purchasing new tools and investing in the staff at Habitat Omaha.
Staff working with Mark in the shop (left). Drew setting up the shop’s new CNC machine (right).
As a primary benefit to having a shop, Collier and Butler are now able to teach the construction staff the art of woodworking. Habitat construction staff are invited to stay after work hours to build projects that are given to homeowners. Some of these projects include Newell posts, corbels, counter tops and sets of stairs. “The families and even the volunteers really like those special touches” Butler explained.
The staff have been very responsive to this new opportunity, building a variety of personal projects that range from plant hangers and guitar holders to picture frames and tables.
The skills learned in the shop directly translate into the work done on the field. “The thing about carpentry, it’s all about precision, figuring out what’s the best way to do something” Collier said. “Generally, construction is on a broader, less precise scale, but you teach someone carpentry, and then they become more focused on the details.” The staff are more aware and educated about how to focus on the details while on the job. The work they put into the shop pays off when houses are built with more precision and attention to detail.
“The priority is always on building houses” Collier pointed out. Without generous donations like Collier’s, Habitat Omaha would not be able to provide resources like a woodworking shop to staff that provides families with priceless additions to their homes. Likewise, all the wood in the shop is donated by outside parties or taken from rehab homes, some coming from Collier’s previous shop.
Collier’s heart for Habitat is evident in the selflessness he has shown to the organization throughout the years, volunteering, donating and now teaching. He encourages others to do the same by donating financially and volunteering their time. “The strength of Habitat is the people” Collier explained. “It’s really about the heart.” Hearts that want to serve, give and make a difference.
A Newell post found at an old farmhouse in bluestem (left). Refinished Newell post (center). Desk countertop made for homeowner (right).
