Habitat Spotlight: Meet Jared

Jared (above, right) first came in contact with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha as an AmeriCorps NCCC member. He joined the team-based community service program in 2017 to explore the world outside his hometown of Omaha, which, coincidentally, happened to be the location of his first project. When his time with NCCC came to an end, Jared decided to reconnect with his Habitat Omaha friends. He officially came on board in February as an intern with construction and volunteer services. Jared is now a full-time staff member at Habitat Omaha, in the role of Volunteer Services Coordinator.

Every day looks different for Jared, which is something that he really enjoys about his job at Habitat Omaha. His primary responsibilities include responding to volunteer inquiries, booking and orientating volunteer groups, and providing assistance to other departments.

“There’s always work to be done, so I try to help where it’s needed,” he says. “As an intern I spent a majority of my time in the field so I love when I get the chance to lead a group of volunteers on a project. The balance and variety ensure that my week is never dull. I love it!”

Jared’s essential work items are a writing utensil and a piece of scrap paper. “Making constant notes and reminders for myself helps me to stay on track,” Jared explains. His song of the week is “Budding Trees” by Nahko and Medicine for the People. A fun fact about him is that he loves camping and hiking.

“Two years ago I explored 10 different national parks during the centennial celebration of national parks in the U.S. I’m definitely a mountain bum by nature.”

Jared believes that homeownership provides a sense of stability, freedom and independence. “It’s easy to take these things for granted,” he adds, “if they’ve always been a part of your narrative.”

When he first joined Habitat Omaha, Jared was surprised by how much the organization does and how far it’s come. He says it’s exciting to be part of such a quickly growing affiliate.

Jared is proud to work at Habitat Omaha because, as he says, “I believe in the mission. I really think we’re making a difference in the community and I’m glad to have the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself.”