Welcome to our new Board President!

July Volunteer News

A monthly update on all things volunteer at Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County

Q&A with new Board of Directors President, Steven Li

When did you join the Board of Directors?

February 27, 2019

Please tells us a little bit about yourself.

I currently live in Edmonds with my wife and two young boys. We love to explore new places, play at the beach, and go camping in our beautiful mountains and forests. I love to cook and grill and share my joy of food with family and friends through backyard BBQs and summer picnics. My secret goal in life is to enter a national BBQ festival and win a medal!

What is your professional background?

I’ve been working in the construction and real estate industries as an architect, builder and realtor for close to 20 years. I currently work as a real estate broker while also running my own architecture practice providing residential design and consulting services. I’ve had the joy of helping people design, build, and purchase their homes for most of my career.

What brought you to Habitat?

I’ve had an interest and concern for affordable housing since I began studying architecture and urban planning during my undergraduate studies at U.C. Berkeley. Since then I’ve worked as a carpenter for a small developer building affordable housing in Oakland, California, volunteered with different Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the country, and eventually ended up on staff as a construction crew leader and site supervisor at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville in Virginia.

What was your role with Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County prior to becoming board president?

Serving on the Board of Directors and with the construction committee.

What are you most looking forward to while you serve as the board president?

My greatest experiences with Habitat for Humanity have been working alongside partner families and the communities that came to support them as they built their own homes. I look forward to partnering with our board, staff, and volunteers to continue developing and growing our organization with the mindset of bringing people together to build community as we build homes. I am excited to build relationships with our partner families and to have the privilege of welcoming them to their new homes.

Where would you like to see Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County 10 years from now?

As Snohomish County continues to grow and housing affordability becomes more challenging, my hope is that Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County will meet this need by not only building more homes, but by galvanizing our communities to action in loving and supporting our neighbors. I would like to see Habitat homes and developments become community gathering spaces where neighbors share stories, meals, and support for each other. I would like to see Habitat Snohomish partnering with fellow housing organizations to fill in the gaps across the affordable housing spectrum. My hope is to see communities transformed as Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County works alongside a growing network of residents, volunteers, and supporters in pursuit of our mission to build homes, communities, and hope.

Volunteer orientations scheduled at Smokey Point Habitat Store

We are now providing volunteer orientations at all three Habitat Store locations. Volunteer help is greatly needed as we get the Smokey Point Habitat Store up and running.

Other urgent needs...

Volunteers are urgently needed to help on our truck Thursdays and Fridays. If you’re interested in riding along with our truck driver to help pick up store donations, please let us know. The truck departs the Lynnwood Habitat Store each morning, Monday through Friday.

Volunteer help is needed Wednesdays and Saturdays at our Gold Bar home construction site . You can read more about the family who will purchase this home here . No experience is required, but all volunteers must attend a volunteer orientation before they can participate.

If you’re interested in donating lunch for our volunteer builders, please contact volunteer@habitatsnohomish.org .

Volunteer Sign-Up >

Volunteer Spotlight: Claudia Gallagher

Claudia Gallagher volunteers as our Donation Coordinator, supporting the Habitat Snohomish Material Donations Department. She volunteers eight hours every Monday and occasionally fills in other days as needed. Claudia has been a volunteer at Habitat Snohomish for two years.

Claudia’s role is vital to our organization, answering the donations line and emails a sixth day of the week. This reduces the number of voicemails left to be answered after the weekend and ensures store donors receive a prompt response.

“Claudia is fabulous because she enables the office to run smoothly six days a week,” Material Donations Manager Cydney Watkins said. “People don’t like to wait, they want their donations picked up yesterday. Claudia makes it possible for them to get on the schedule more quickly.”

Claudia answers the phones, responds to voicemails and schedules donation pick-ups. She provides donors with detailed information about items we can accept so they can drop off their donations. Claudia schedules both residential and commercial donations throughout Snohomish County.

“She has so much positivity and she doesn’t make donors feel bad about items we are unable to accept as donations,” Cydney said. “When she has to say no, she says it with grace.”

Prior to volunteering at Habitat, Claudia retired from her 30-year-career as a lighting designer with the Seattle Opera Company in April 2018. She particularly enjoyed working on the logistics of producing operas.

Become an AmeriCorps Construction Crew Lead!

Serve at Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County for 10.5 months as an AmeriCorps Construction Crew Lead! Learn how to build a home from start to finish and become a leader on the construction site as you teach inexperienced volunteers new skills.

Construction, architecture or engineering education and/or experience is preferred, but not required. This position offers a monthly living stipend, an education award, health insurance and other benefits.

Learn More >