When Laurie Sweeney retired in 2012 after a long career commuting to Sacramento as a Quality Assurance Analyst, she knew one thing for certain: she wanted to give back. For years, the demands of her job left little time for community involvement. Retirement opened doors—but she wasn’t quite sure which door to take.

“I was interested in Habitat [for Humanity],” she recalled, “but I didn’t know what volunteering would involve. Would I be swinging a hammer up on a roof?”

That uncertainty lingered until a chance encounter in 2018 changed everything.

At a local home show, she ran into former neighbor Dave Armstrong, who was overseeing Family Services at the time. During their conversation, he mentioned they were struggling to find qualified applicants for its homeownership program and needed help reaching potential families.

“That just clicked for me,” Laurie said. “It matched my skill set.”

What began as a focused volunteer role quickly expanded. At the time, the team was small—fewer than eight employees—and there was no shortage of ways to contribute.

Laurie assisted with donor dinners, coordinated invitations, supported Family Services during busy seasons, helped launch upcycling initiatives at the ReStore, and even contributed to grant writing efforts. Her involvement deepened when her husband was invited to join the board. After attending meetings alongside him for a year, she made a decision that would further shape her journey: she became treasurer on the board herself.

“At first, I was nervous,” she admitted. “I wondered if becoming a board member would change my relationships with leadership. But once I joined, I realized it gave me the opportunity to sort of stretch my skills and learn, more about how Habitat works.”

Laurie’s analytical background brought value to her role. Budget reviews, strategic planning, and evaluating new projects became areas where she could ask thoughtful questions and ensure sound decisions.

She speaks with pride about Joe and John’s leadership and accomplishments—especially the innovative thinking that has positioned Habitat Yuba/Sutter as a community Leader. She points to the acquisition of the Life Advancement Center as an example of strategic planning and credits strong partnerships for turning bold ideas into reality. “It’s inspiring to see vision paired with the right connections,” she says.

Serving on the board has transformed her understanding of housing insecurity.

“I didn’t really understand homelessness before I got involved,” Laurie admitted. “So many people just didn’t have opportunities, or something went wrong—a medical crisis, a divorce—and things unraveled.”

Meeting homeowners and program participants face-to-face has deepened her compassion. What resonates most is Habitat’s partnership model—helping people who are willing to help themselves through sweat equity and commitment.

At the heart of Laurie’s dedication is something simple, yet powerful.

“Knowing that I’m helping,” she explains. “Knowing it’s a need the community has—and that I’m part of making it better.”

From a chance meeting at a home show to serving as a thoughtful, detail-driven board member, her journey reflects what Habitat for Humanity stands for: ordinary people using their skills, passion, and heart to build extraordinary change.

And in doing so, she’s not just helping build homes—she’s helping build hope.