Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity

08/27/2026

Building affordable homes takes a community of partners, and we’re grateful to have A. O. Smith and Integrity Plumbing Services, LLC helping make it possible. 🏠💙

Thanks to the incredible generosity of A. O. Smith Corporation, every home we build in 2026 and 2027 will receive a donated water heater, helping Habitat homebuyers enjoy the comfort, reliability, and peace of mind that come with a safe, efficient home. A. O. Smith has been a valued Habitat partner for many years, generously donating water heaters. We are incredibly grateful for their longstanding partnership and continued commitment to Habitat families!

“We are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity because we believe everyone deserves access to a safe, comfortable, and affordable home. By donating water heaters, we’re able to support Habitat families while investing in stronger communities.” Rita Schwalbach, Foundation Manager, A.O Smith Corporation.

And that generosity goes even further thanks to Integrity Plumbing, which helps bring this partnership full circle by storing the donated water heaters and partnering with us to install them in Habitat homes.

Each step of these partnerships represents a shared commitment to helping local families build strength, stability, and brighter futures through affordable homeownership.

Thank you, A. O. Smith Corporation and Integrity Plumbing, for your generosity to help build stronger communities!

08/25/2026

Welcome home, Adil, Siham, Rayane and Wiam! 🏠💙

Yesterday, we celebrated this incredible family as we welcomed them into their new home, one they purchased through Fox Cities Habitat’s 0% interest mortgage model!

Adil and Siham are incredibly grateful for all the hands that helped make their home possible. They’re looking forward to decorating their living room and kitchen and celebrating this exciting milestone with friends and family. Rayane and Wiam are especially excited to have a space of their own where they can grow, make memories, and dream big!

A huge thank you to J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. and J. J. Keller Foundation, Inc. for making this home possible through their generous sponsorship and volunteer support. This home marks their 24th full sponsorship of a Fox Cities Habitat home, and we are incredibly grateful for their longstanding partnership and continued commitment to our community.

We were also grateful to have Fox Crossing Village President Dale Youngquist join us in celebrating and welcoming this family into their new community.

It truly takes the support of many to make a home possible, and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped Adil, Siham, Rayane and Wiam reach this exciting milestone!

08/20/2026

Volunteer Spotlight!

Today we wanted to recognize the amazing Appleton Habitat ReStore cashiers who help make the Appleton Habitat ReStore a welcoming place for everyone!

Our cashiers do so much more than process transactions. They greet customers with a smile, help shoppers find items, answer questions, share Habitat's mission, and keep things running smoothly at checkout. Many even lend their talents in other areas of the ReStore and on Habitat build sites.

Their knowledge, flexibility, and commitment create a positive experience for our customers while providing invaluable support to our staff.

We're so grateful for the time, talent, and enthusiasm our volunteers bring to the ReStore. Thank you for all you do to support our mission and our community! 💙

Interested in volunteering with Fox Cities Habitat? Learn more at: https://foxcitieshabitat.galaxydigital.com/

08/18/2026

Meet Arianna, a future Fox Cities Habitat homebuyer! 🏡🐾

Camping with friends and family, cheering at the races, and spending time with her French bulldog, Champ, are some of Arianna's favorite ways to enjoy life in the Fox Cities.

Growing up in a large family, Arianna faced housing instability and financial hardship, but those experiences helped shape the hardworking, determined person she is today. Inspired by her mother's own Habitat homeownership journey, she is now building a future of her own in partnership with Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity.

While Arianna is grateful to live with her mom, limited space has made it difficult for her to fully enjoy independence. She looks forward to having a home where she and Champ have the space they need, welcoming family and friends, and creating a place that truly feels like home.

08/13/2026

When 13-year-old Aubryn heard her church was fundraising for Fox Cities Habitat’s 401st home build, she took the initiative to organize the Hollywood for Humanity Charity Gala. Her idea brought together families, businesses, and community members to raise more than $10,000 for Home #401..

Aubryn's story began more than 30 years ago, before she was born. In 1992, members of Congregational United Church of Christ, Neenah/Menasha helped launch Habitat for Humanity in the Fox Cities. Since then, the church has proudly sponsored every 100th Habitat home, including homes 101, 201, 301, and now the 401st home.

Today, a new generation is carrying that legacy forward.

It's a powerful reminder that when we pass on a tradition of service, we build more than homes. We build a legacy.

Read the full story: www.foxcitieshabitat.org/blog-congregational-ucc-legacy/

08/11/2026

Welcome home, Lauren, DeVaughn, Miles, and Selah! 🏡💙

Last week, we celebrated as this family received the keys to their new Habitat home in Kaukauna, purchased through Habitat’s 0% interest mortgage model!

Lauren and DeVaughn are excited to begin this next chapter with their two young children in a place where they can grow, make memories, and build lasting traditions. They’re especially looking forward to decorating the kids’ rooms with fun themes and creating a home filled with warmth, security, and belonging.

This home holds an extra special connection for the family. Lauren’s grandfather, Les, has been a dedicated member of our Habitat Senior Crew for many years. When our homebuyer application cycle opened, he encouraged Lauren and DeVaughn to apply, making it even more meaningful that the Senior Crew helped build the place they now call home.

Known as our Red Shirt House, this home was sponsored and built by our incredible Senior Crew and also served as a training home, giving new crew members hands-on experience alongside seasoned volunteers.

To our Senior Crew, thank you for the time, skills and care you bring to every Habitat home you help build. And to Lauren, DeVaughn, Miles and Selah, congratulations on this exciting new chapter. Welcome home!

08/07/2026

Join us for a Construction 101: By Women, For Women

Whether you've never picked up a power tool or you're looking to sharpen your skills, our Women Build Construction 101 classes are the perfect place to start!

Join the incredible women of our Habitat Senior Crew for a fun, hands-on evening where you'll learn about power tools like nail guns, drills, and saws. You'll gain practical skills you can use while volunteering on a Habitat build site or tackling projects at home. No experience is necessary. Just bring your willingness to learn!

📅 Thursday, September 10 or Tuesday, September 15
🕠 5:30–7:30 p.m.
📍 Women Build Home in Menasha

Register today:
https://foxcitieshabitat.galaxydigital.com/event/?q=Women+Build&distance=&zip=&agency_id=&dateOn=&cat_id=&s=1&cat_id=

We can't wait to build friendships and a stronger community with you!

08/05/2026

Faith in Action! ❤️

On Tuesday, we were blessed to gather with local faith communities for one of our favorite Faith Build traditions: our Home Blessing and Messages of Hope.

Before the walls of this year's Faith Build home are enclosed, participants filled the home's framing with prayers, scripture, words of encouragement, and messages of love for Jose, Cecilia, their twin daughters, Ximena and Sophia, and their son, Santiago, who will one day call this house home. Though these messages will soon be hidden behind drywall, they will remain a lasting reminder that an entire community came together in faith to surround this family with hope and support.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their prayers. Your words will become part of this home's story for generations to come.

07/31/2026

The tornado that struck Menasha and other parts of the Fox Cities was a true disaster. Families have been displaced, homes have been damaged, and neighborhoods are facing a long road to recovery.

We are grateful for Volunteer Fox Cities, United Way Fox Cities, municipalities, neighbors, emergency responders, and the many local organizations leading immediate cleanup efforts, clearing debris and roadways, and helping families meet urgent needs. Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity is working alongside these partners during the early response.

But recovery will not end when the debris is cleared.

For decades, Habitat has built and repaired homes, revitalized neighborhoods, and helped families build stability throughout our community. In the months ahead, we intend to help address the significant and costly home repairs that remain after the initial cleanup is complete.

Financial support will be critical. Donations designated for disaster response will help support these recovery efforts:

https://www.foxcitieshabitat.org/donate/

We are also gathering information about future volunteer opportunities and expect to share more by the middle of next week. Thank you to everyone who has stepped forward to support our neighbors.

Your generosity funds programs that make homeownership possible for hardworking families in the Fox Cities.

07/30/2026

Our hearts remain with everyone impacted by Monday's tornado. Our team is working alongside community partners to determine how we can support the recovery of our neighborhoods. Through the challenges, we thought sharing a moment of joy would be a needed uplifting moment.

On Tuesday evening, we celebrated Heather and her two-year-old daughter, Gianna, as they received the keys to their new home in Kaukauna. Heather purchased her home through Fox Cities Habitat's 0% interest mortgage model.

After years of working toward homeownership, this day marked the beginning of a brand-new chapter for Heather and Gianna. As a single mom, Heather worked tirelessly to build a brighter future for her daughter while balancing work, childcare, long daily commutes, and the challenges of living in an aging rental with rising rent and ongoing repair needs. Her determination never wavered, and now she can finally provide Gianna with the safe, stable place she always dreamed of. Together, they're looking forward to making the house their own, creating new traditions, and filling it with lifelong memories.

A heartfelt thank you to Good Faith Funding, LLC and Corbett Construction & Realty for making this home possible through their generous sponsorship. We are also incredibly grateful to our dedicated Senior Crew and the many volunteers who poured their time, talent, and heart into this home. Together, they contributed 2,209 volunteer hours to help make Heather and Gianna's dream of homeownership a reality. Thank you as well to Mayor Tony Penterman of Kaukauna for joining us at the dedication. We are grateful for the support of our municipal leaders as we work together to create stronger communities through affordable homeownership.

Congratulations, Heather and Gianna! We are so excited to celebrate this milestone with you and can't wait to see all that the future holds.