Update from Amy Gibbs, Executive Director... |
Happy October from Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity!
As we move into fall, I continue to be amazed by the amount of work happening across our three-county service area of Wexford, Osceola, and Missaukee counties. Every home built, repair completed, ramp installed, and family served is possible because of the incredible support of our volunteers, donors, community partners, staff, and Board of Directors. Building Homes & Futures
Our construction team continues to make great progress on our Mark Lane Project. The home is framed, wrapped, and enclosed, with siding, soffit, and fascia completed. Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC rough-ins have passed inspection, and insulation and weather sealing are underway.
We were also grateful to welcome the Horizon Bank team to the jobsite for their annual Horizon Cares Day. Their team rolled up their sleeves to help with insulation and ramp work—and even their CEO and CFO traveled to Cadillac to lend a hand! Partnerships like these are what Habitat is all about.
Our remodel at Walnut Street is also nearing completion. A special thank-you goes to the volunteers from Zion Lutheran Church who joined us to help tackle some of the final projects. Community Ramp Program Our Community Ramp Program continues to grow! We have completed four ramp projects with two more in progress, helping local residents safely access their homes and maintain their independence.
Beginning this October, we are once again accepting applications for the Community Ramp Program throughout Wexford, Osceola, and Missaukee counties. We are also looking for metal or aluminum ramps that are no longer being used. If you or someone you know has a ramp that could be donated, please contact us. A ramp that one family no longer needs could make a life-changing difference for another. Looking for Our 2027 Partner Families! October is an exciting month because Partner Family Open Enrollment is here!
We will host our Partner Family Open Enrollment Open House on October 12 from 5:00–6:30 PM. This is an opportunity for families interested in our 2027 Spring Build Program to learn about Habitat homeownership, qualifications, the application process, and what it truly means to become a Habitat Partner Family. Habitat is a hand up, not a handout. Our goal is for every Partner Family to walk away with three important things: A Home. A Mortgage. And a Future. If you know a hardworking family who dreams of becoming a homeowner but believes homeownership may be out of reach, please encourage them to learn more about our program. Powered by Our Community
September reminded us once again how fortunate we are to live and work in a community that believes in helping its neighbors. From Zion Lutheran Church volunteers working alongside us, to Horizon Bank employees spending their Cares Day on our jobsite, to our Habitat team volunteering as beer pourers at the Cadillac Craft Beer Festival—we continue to see what happens when people come together for their community.
As we head into the final months of 2026, we aren't slowing down. We are preparing for future builds, expanding opportunities for affordable homeownership, continuing our repair and ramp programs, and looking for new and innovative ways to address housing needs throughout our region. Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us build more than houses. Together, we are building homes, stability, independence, and futures. With gratitude, Amy Gibbs
Executive Director
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity |
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Update from Jason Towers, Board Chair... |
Summer seemed to fly by this year. After a spring marked by flooding, we're already seeing the leaves begin to turn and welcoming another beautiful fall season. As we head into October, we're gearing up for Open Enrollment and working hard behind the scenes to prepare for this year's Festival of Dreams.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who gives their time, energy, and support to these efforts. It takes a community to make these programs and events successful, and we're grateful for each person helping make the Festival of Dreams the premier fundraiser in Cadillac while supporting local families on their journey to homeownership. Jason Towers
Board President
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity |
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Board Member Spotlight: Jason Towers |
Words from Jason: "We celebrated 30 years of marriage in July with an epic trip to Portland, Maine, including a few nights in Boston. Our grandsons are now 6, 3, and 2 years old and are the coolest little men in the world. We are also eagerly anticipating the birth of our first GRANDDAUGHTER in March!!!!!
As my role has shifted to Board President and I reflect on Habitat’s mission, I am honored to be part of this amazing team and the life-changing impact it has on our partner families and the community as a whole. I am excited to see what we can do in the future with the team of rockstars we have assembled. It's an honor to be here!!! Thank you!!"
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity is honored to have Jason Towers serving as Board President. His dedication, leadership, and commitment to our community help advance Habitat's mission of building stronger homes, families, and communities. |
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Click the ticket button for information on how to sponsor or donate to this year's Festival of Dreams! |
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Update from Flora Grundy, Fund Developement Director...
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The countdown to Festival of Dreams is on! Join us December 5 at Fox Hill for an evening of celebration and giving to support local families. Tickets are available, and we’re still welcoming sponsors and auction donations. Whether you attend, sponsor, or donate, your generosity helps build safe, affordable homes and make critical home repairs possible throughout our community!
For questions, contact Flora Grundy, Fund Development Director, at [email protected] or 231.775.7561 ext. 102. Flora A. Grundy
Fund Development Director
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity |
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You could help make the next Habitat homebuyer's dream come true, by signing up for this elite club! You can choose to donate as little as $12.50 a month or a one time donation of $150 (or more). |
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Homeowner Spotlight: Kevin & Faith Allen |
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity has been such a helpful resource for us to get work done on our home that we could not afford ourselves. From start to finish, the kindness, patience, and helpful nature of everyone involved has been so comforting.
We have a new furnace and a new hot water heater along with new windows and multiple repairs! The assistance we received has been such a blessing! Thank you Habitat For Humanity! These humans are so grateful! Kevin and Faith Allen |
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Did you know that a land donation can help build brighter futures for local families? At Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity, land donations play a vital role in making homeownership possible. Your unused property could become the site of a safe and affordable home, offering a fresh start for a family in need. Plus, land donations may offer valuable tax benefits for you or your estate.
Leave a lasting legacy in our community. To learn more about how you can turn land into hope, visit our website or contact us directly. We are specifically in need of land in the OSCEOLA and MISSAUKEE COUNTIES. Together, we’re building more than homes; we’re building futures. |
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Donor Spotlight: Douglass |
“At DouGLASS, we believe a strong community starts with neighbors helping neighbors, and we’re proud to support Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity and the incredible work they do to support local families. As a small, locally owned business, we know that giving back is about more than donations, it’s about coming together to make a lasting difference in the place we all call home.” Tereesa Arn, Office Manager |
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Update from Ben Banks, ReStore Manager... |
It’s been another great month at the Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore! We’re continuing to have strong support from our community while working hard to keep costs down and make the most of every dollar.
With the ReStore packed full of inventory, we’re looking ahead to a Fall/Halloween Sale planned for late October or the first week of November. We have lots of great items available and are ready to make room for even more treasures. Stay tuned for more details!
We’ve also been working on our coffee display, which is a partnership with Chunky Bear Coffee Roasters, it is truly delicious and only available in our Restore – another collaboration with our community that believes in our mission of safe and affordable housing.
A quick reminder to our donors: our ReStore is very full right now and has limited space for large items. We truly appreciate your generosity and support, but please check with the ReStore before bringing in large donations so we can make sure we have the space to accept them. Thank you to everyone who shops, donates, volunteers, and supports the ReStore. Your continued support helps make Habitat’s work in our community possible! Ben Banks
ReStore Manager
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity |
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Update from Evan Stieg, Construction Manager... |
Our construction projects are continuing to make great progress, and we’re excited to see these homes move closer to completion!
On Mark Lane, we had a productive day with the Horizon Bank volunteer group. The team worked hard on insulation, air ventilation baffles, weather sealing, and ramp construction. We’re happy to report that the ramp has been completed! Drywall is up, taping and mudding are underway, and the ceiling insulation is complete. Electric service is connected with water and sewer hookups in progress.
Over on Walnut Street, the project is coming along nicely. A new concrete driveway has been installed, and the home is nearly complete and ready for final cleaning.
We’ve also laid gravel for new sheds at four of our builds and constructed a portable stage platform for our upcoming fundraiser, Festival of Dreams, in December. Every step brings us closer to building stronger homes and a stronger community. Thank you to all our volunteers and supporters who make this work possible! Evan Stieg
Construction Manager
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity |
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Update from Lester Gingrich, Administrative Assistant... |
Since joining Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the team, learning more about Habitat’s mission, and becoming more involved in the community I grew up in. My background is in administrative and operations support, and I’ve enjoyed being able to put that experience to work while helping support the important work Habitat does for local families.
It has been rewarding to see firsthand how much goes into each project and how many people come together to make a difference. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Habitat team and look forward to continuing to learn, contribute, and help wherever I can. Lester Gingrich
Administrative Assistant
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity |
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Update from the Volunteer Coordinator… |
Looking for a meaningful way to give back together? We welcome volunteer groups from schools, churches, banks, businesses, and community organizations! Sharing your time and talents with Habitat is a great way to build connections while helping local families. To explore opportunities for your group—or to volunteer individually—contact Flora Grundy at 231-775-7561 ext. 102 or [email protected]. Flora Grundy
Volunteer Coordinator
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity |
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Update from Mike Tower, Home Repair Coordinator… |
Fall is officially in full swing with trees of brilliant shades of oranges, reds, and yellows, crisp mornings and evenings, and area pumpkin patches ready to be explored by families. No matter the time of year, area homes need a little loving care and repair.
Our home repair program is continuing a steady push into fall. We are actively working with our current home repair families to complete repairs as we continue to look to acquire additional grant funding to open the program to new families. We are happy to announce that we have acquired funding and are able to start accepting applications for our Community Ramp Program that allows ramps to be installed for families to safely enter and exit their homes.
We are currently accepting applications for our Home Repair Program in Osceola County. If you or someone you know is in need of critical home repairs, we encourage you to reach out to learn more about eligibility and the application process.
Applications for both of the above programs can be acquired via email, mail, or picked up in person at the Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity main office. Please contact our Home Repair Coordinator Mike Tower for any questions or to receive an application at (231) 775-7561 ext. 115 or at [email protected]
As we continue to push towards the end of 2026, we hope to acquire more funding for the rest of our Wexford and Missaukee County families. Please continue to follow our Facebook page and our website for additional updates for those counties. Thank you for your continued support of our Home Repair Program. Together, we are helping neighbors remain safely in the homes they love while building stronger communities.
Mike Tower
Home Repair Coordinator
Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity |
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Support our mission to build homes, communities, and hope. Click the button to donate and make a lasting impact right here at home! |
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Our Contact Information Cadillac Area Habitat for Humanity 7545 E 34 Rd. Cadillac, MI 49601 Office: 231-775-7561 ext 101 Restore: 231-775-7561 ext 112 |
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