Habitat for Humanity Hamilton is lucky to have a vibrant volunteer community. Every volunteer is extremely important, and each one brings their own unique gifts and talents to the table to help us advance our mission. Some volunteers make a tremendous impact over decades, and some can make a big splash in a relatively short period of time. Despite only volunteering with Habitat Hamilton for a little over one year at the time of this writing, Rachele Dendekker has been able to make a significant impact.
It all started with a simple idea. This idea proved to be successful with other local charities in the past, and last year, Rachele turned her sights to Habitat Hamilton. Driven by a genuine desire to make a difference in her community, Rachele devised a viable way to support the charities she cares about in arguably the most important area of all – fundraising. She launched a calendar sale fundraiser with all proceeds going to support Habitat for Humanity Hamilton’s mission. She successfully secured sponsors, produced the calendar from scratch, and then ensure every unit produced was sold.
Her drive and initiative led to an impressive $3400 raised for our cause. We were particularly impressed with Rachele’s efforts because she demonstrated that anyone can create a meaningful impact in their community with a nothing more than a bit of creativity and drive. When asked about her motivation, Rachele’s answer was heartfelt: “I wanted to make a small contribution to addressing the growing affordable housing crisis, and supporting Habitat seemed like the perfect way to do it.” Her determination and passion were evident in every step of the fundraising process. We are so grateful for Rachele’s contributions, and every dollar she raised will go towards supporting our Home Build Program.
But Rachele’s involvement with Habitat didn’t end with her fundraising campaign. She also decided to roll up her sleeves and volunteer on the build site late last year. She stepping onto the site at a time when we urgently needed Build Day volunteers, and she was met with a sense of purpose and camaraderie. “It was a great team-building day for the group,” she recalls, “and a productive build day. I was really impressed by how prepared and organized Habitat was, making it an overall rewarding experience for everyone involved.”
Through her experiences, Rachele has come to understand the true meaning of Habitat for Humanity Hamilton’s work. It’s not just about building homes—it’s about building hope and creating a brighter future for families in need.
Her message to others contemplating supporting Habitat is clear: “Every contribution, no matter how small, helps to make a difference.” Rachele’s story serves as a powerful reminder that anyone can achieve extraordinary things when they’re driven by compassion and initiative.
To echo Rachele’s comments, we rely heavily on our volunteers to advance our mission, and we always have opportunities available. If you are interested in volunteering with us, we would love to hear from you. Please check out the volunteer opportunities available on our website or send an email to volunteers@habitathamilton.ca for more information.
A sincere thank you to Rachele Dendekker—a true source of inspiration in the Habitat for Humanity Hamilton community. May her story inspire us all to step up, take action, and make a positive impact in our communities, one act of kindness at a time.