This past March, University of Massachusetts students came to help repair Ms.

Lena’s home for a full week, and the difference their time, effort, and care made was deeply meaningful. Together with the Habitat Dekalb team, we tackled the repairs and improvements Ms. Lena had been patiently waiting on: replacing and redoing the flooring, replacing doors, updating ceiling fans, and completing additional home upgrades that made the space safer, more functional, and more welcoming for Ms. Lena, a local DeKalb senior. The work was hands-on and collaborative from start to finish, but what truly stood out was the commitment of these dedicated UMass students, who approached every task with professionalism, respect, and a genuine desire to serve. Here we have Nat Bloom, one of the student coordinators, speaking about his experience volunteering with Habitat DeKalb.