A few years ago, Curtis signed up for a Habitat Omaha “Rock the Block” event through his work.

He didn’t think much of it at the time. Just a Saturday, helping out in a neighborhood, cleaning up yards, fixing what needs fixing.

Now, he’s done eleven of them and usually leads the projects himself.

“I try to show up whenever it comes up,” he said.

A homeowner himself, Curtis knows how quickly things pile up: overgrown trees, a fence starting to lean, a deck that needs more work than you want to admit.

But for many of the homeowners Habitat Omaha volunteers like Curtis help, it’s not just about time.

It’s the cost. It’s physical limitations. It’s life.

Habitat Omaha volunteers participating in Rock the Block.

Curtis recalls one homeowner in particular whose husband had passed away, and the fence her spouse used to maintain began falling apart. It became too unsafe and eventually too expensive for her to fix.

In a few hours, Curtis and a team of volunteers stabilized it and cleared the yard of debris.

“It would’ve taken me all summer,” the woman said.

For the homeowner, it’s relief. For the community, there’s something else happening, too.

“We help homeowners,” Curtis said. “But we also give volunteers a chance to bond with their kids and pass on skills to the next generation.”

Thank you to Curtis and all the volunteers who make our work possible. If you’d like to volunteer, we’d love to have you! Learn more about volunteering with Habitat Omaha, or you can sign up for our next Rock the Block on May 2 in Blair.