October 26, 2021
Meet Sheri Bruun, Board President
Sheri Bruun works in the Children’s Department at the Normal Public Library where she is involved with programming - especially arts and crafts - for both children and adults. She really enjoys the ability to create as part of her job. She is a mother of 4 (3 girls and 1 boy) and a grandmother to one boy. Her children are all adults and living in other places for the first time, while she and her husband are getting used to an empty nest. She has been on Habitat McLean County’s board of directors since 2016, filling the roles of secretary and president-elect, and is currently the president. She also serves on the Family Services committee, the Building Hope committee, the Finance committee, and the Executive committee.

When asked why she chooses Habitat McLean County, Sheri said, “I give my time to the most precious of organizations because of what it does for our community and neighbors, but mostly as a way to pay forward how it impacted my family. I was a partner family in 2009. Building with Habitat was probably the single most empowering experience in my life. We lived in our beloved Habitat house from 2009 until 2015 when we just needed a bit more room for our growing family. It is an honor to serve this organization and with the many people who work hard to fulfill its mission.”

We are always looking for talented community members to lend their skills in service of our mission of building decent, affordable housing. If you'd like to learn more about the Habitat McLean County board, email Sheri here.
Class is in Session
Working on site for one of our partner families.
For somewhere in the neighborhood of 15-20 years the Bloomington Area Career Center (BACC) has taken their Construction Trades class to the field for hands-on experience.

By partnering with Habitat McLean County, an average of 35 male and female students each year learn building skills on site. They are guided through every stage of building a house by BACC instructor Jeff Frantz and Habitat McLean County construction manager Bill Waller.

The full-year class allows students to be part of every stage of a house build. Jeff Frantz, in his first year as their instructor, sees his students blossom from engaging in service learning.

"It is great partnering my class with Habitat," said Frantz. "My students get to work on actual construction sites, while learning to give back to the community. They are learning different construction trades and how to succeed in their future careers."
Recently, the class also took on a special project for the Westside Community Gardens. They built a much-needed shelter for gardeners tending their vegetables and flowers to take a break from the sun.
Westside Community Gardens shelter built by BACC Construction Trade students.
Crossroads Gives Thanks and Gives Back
Support a local small business and Women Build when you shop for a cause this holiday season. 

Crossroads is a fair trade local business providing equal opportunity, living wages and sustainable living for artisans, their families and communities in poverty around the world.

Women Build is a woman-run team of dedicated Habitat volunteers who partner with one of our families every year to empower them to build a better future as they build a house together.

You can support both as you Give Thanks and Give Back.

Two ways to help:
  1. Type “Women Build” in the Notes section of online orders placed Nov 1 through Dec 17 to donate 15% of your purchase. Avoid shipping and handling charges by using curbside pick-up.
  2. On December 10th, mention Habitat Women Build when you check out in-store at 428 N Main Street, Bloomington and 15% of your purchase will be donated to Women Build.
Take a look at Crossroads online catalog to put your gift list together now.  
Happy Halloween!






Whether you're carving pumpkins, taking the kids trick-or-treating, handing out candy, or sipping mulled cider, Bones the Builder and all of us at Habitat McLean County wish you a spooky, fun, and safe Halloween.