Join Our 2026 Habitat for Humanity Team

At the Church of the Good Shepherd, our faith is not just something we profess on Sunday mornings; it is something we put into action in the neighborhoods of Raleigh. This spring, we have a great opportunity to do just that.

Our parish is joining Habitat for Humanity of Wake County for the Spring 2026 Beloved Build. We hope you’ll consider volunteering!

What is the "Beloved Build"?
The Beloved Build is a faith-based campaign inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of the "Beloved Community"—a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love for one’s neighbor. This initiative brings together diverse congregations from across the Triangle to build homes that provide a foundation for families to thrive.

Where We Are Building: Old Poole Place
Our team will be working at Old Poole Place, Habitat Wake’s most ambitious project to date. Located off Old Poole Road in Southeast Raleigh, this 23-acre community is designed to be a model of affordable, sustainable living. When completed, it will provide homes for 114 families, featuring a mix of single-family homes and townhomes, all with easy access to public transit and local parks.

Did You Know? The Impact of Habitat in 2026
As we prepare for our build day, here are a few facts about the work being done by Habitat for Humanity of Wake County this year:

• The Power of Advocacy: Habitat Wake is currently working with legislators on the FY26 Budget to ensure robust funding for programs that increase and preserve affordable housing across North Carolina.
• A Hand Up, Not a Handout: Habitat homeowners are partners in the process. They contribute hundreds of hours of "sweat equity" (including building on sites like ours!) and pay an affordable, income-based mortgage.
• Beyond New Construction: In addition to new neighborhoods like Old Poole Place, Habitat Wake is a leader in Home Repairs, helping long-term residents in our community stay in their homes by providing critical repairs that improve safety and energy efficiency.
• Sustainability: Homes at Old Poole Place are built with energy efficiency in mind, ensuring that the cost of owning the home stays as affordable as the cost of buying it.

​Three Ways to Get Involved
We are looking for at least 8 dedicated volunteers (hopefully more) to represent Good Shepherd on our main build day, but there are several ways to participate:

1. The Main Build Day (Saturday, March 14): Our central day of service at Old Poole Place. No construction experience is required! [Sign up by Feb 27]
2. The MLK Jr. Day Wall Build (Monday, Jan 19): Help us kick off the campaign by raising the very first walls in Garner. We need 1–2 people for morning or afternoon shifts. [Sign up for MLK Day]
3. The Faith Leader Work Morning (Thursday, April 23): A special morning for our parish leaders to build alongside other faith leaders from across the county. [Sign up by April 8]

Ready to join us?
Please click the links above to register. Habitat requires every volunteer to register individually to ensure they have the right safety gear and materials ready for our arrival. If you have any questions, reach out to our team coordinator, Don Blankenship.  You can also refer to the FAQ page  from Habitat. 

Let’s go to work, Good Shepherd. Let’s build the Beloved Community together.