By Rachel Hartlaub, Sheboygan ReStore manager

Earlier this year, I took Inspiring Leadership, a servant leadership course, through Lakeshore College. Habitat Lakeside’s executive director, Le’Shay Guy, told me about the class and I’m so glad she did.
As ReStore manager, my goal is to help fund the mission of bringing affordable housing to Sheboygan County by increasing sales in the ReStore. People are our greatest asset and direct path towards achieving that mission. If the people in my orbit are not satisfied or taken care of, I am not doing my job correctly and that mission is not fully carried out.
 
Being new to management, learning how to navigate staff, volunteers, customers, and donors can be daunting. By taking a formal class and learning from other managers, I’ve been able to navigate tough work situations with a little more grace and embrace differences and conflict.
 
Jerome Ahmad was my teacher, and he was amazing! He worked at Kohler for 20-plus years, so he understands a lot about people, leadership, organizations, and complicated work situations. I really enjoyed talking to him one on one. Sometimes after class, we would discuss certain situations I was going through. He always had great advice and words of encouragement. Once he told me, “Rachel, you’re doing great. You’re doing better than you give yourself credit for.” That was exactly what I needed to hear at the time.

While each class was beneficial in its own way, a few really resonated with me during this chapter of my life. For instance, everyone in the class had to take the DiSC assessment, which helped us understand our individual communication preferences and how to interact with those of others.

The results were spot on! I am a “c,” standing for “conscientiousness.” This means I am reflective, careful, and committed to doing things correctly. The assessment also provided a page of things for me to work on and advice on how to manage them, which I have on my pinboard. These include “be firm and stand your ground, recognize the value of networking, and be direct with tough feedback.” I kind of knew these things about myself, but to actually read it, have it at the front of my head, and learn the steps I need to take to improve is very eye-opening!
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Another favorite was called “How to Conduct Effective One-On-Ones and Give Constructive Feedback.” Because of this specific class, I now do monthly one-on-ones with ReStore staff members. It gives me time to ask questions, give uninterrupted attention, and listen. I ask questions such as “What are you feeling good about? What is challenging you?” I’ll ask about what’s new in their world or a random question just to get to know them better. In a one-on-one, staffers should be doing most of the talking and need to feel comfortable and safe to do that.

The tenth class was our graduation ceremony. Each student had to give a two-minute speech on what they learned. I was so nervous to give the speech, but I know I wasn’t the only one who was nervous, so that made me feel better! Many of the participants’ supervisors also came to listen to our speeches, which was nice, but also made it more nerve-wracking. It was a perfect opportunity to express gratitude for Tammy (who handled the logistics for the course), Jerome, my classmates, and Le’Shay and the board for allowing me to take the course.
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Taking this class has been a springboard toward other personal goals/classes I want to take. Habitat for Humanity International’s online course, “Habitat ReStore Leadership Training: Leading with Purpose and Performance,” and the Sheboygan County Chamber leadership course are both on my list. It’s so important to be a lifelong learner because I’ve learned that servant leadership not only affects your work relationships, but also your marriage, family life, and friendships. This can have a positive ripple effect on improving our communities.
 
Additionally, I would love to see the ReStore staff take leadership/communication courses, because I want to create leaders and not followers. An image that really struck me during the first class was the “upside-down organizational structure,” showing an inverted triangle with the leader on the bottom holding up the employees. This shows that the leader supports and empowers employees, brand, and mission, which is exactly what I try to do. I really enjoy sharing the information I learned with my co-workers during ReStore staff meetings.
 
Inspiring Leadership was created in 2020. Since its inception, 48 series have been offered with a total of 850 participants. 21 of those series were cohorts and the other 27 were run independently for organizations. The next class runs Jan. 7 to May 13, 2027. For more information, contact Tammy Beringer, training coordinator at Lakeshore College, by calling 920-693-1275 or emailing her at [email protected].
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ReStore Manager Rachel Hartlaub (red t-shirt, back row) and her Inspiring Leadership graduating class.​

By Habitat for Humanity Lakeside staff

For many, going two months without being able to leave their house seems extreme. However, this was a stark reality for Lynn. “I was unable to get into the house because of the highest steps,” says Lynn, who lives in Sheboygan County with her husband, Allen. “We tried different approaches to try and get me in, but none of them worked, so (her physical therapist) suggested maybe a ramp.” 

After getting the ramp installed, Lynn is able to move in and out of the house with much more ease. “Now I can get back to my doctor appointment,” she says.

This is just one instance where a home modification is necessary to ensure older homeowners can age safely in their house.

A much-loved home can become impractical and even dangerous as homeowners age. Slippery floors, stairways, and high shelves are just a few examples of obstacles that can put them in danger. Here at Habitat Lakeside, we offer Aging in Place, a program for people 62 and older. Through this program, Habitat installs mobility and accessibility modifications to homes. With these modifications, people can stay in their homes longer and do so safely.

For many, staying in a home provides emotional security, a sense of familiarity, and is typically more affordable than assisted living or nursing homes. Another major factor is freedom. Older homeowners may want to choose their own lifestyle and simply prefer not to relocate. These are just a few examples of how Aging in Place can benefit older homeowners.

The program is offered to low-to-medium income households and is an excellent and affordable way to ensure that you can age safely in your home. The Aging in Place loan program focuses on in-home pathways, safety, and accessibility, and may include items such as grab bars, stair gates, or raised toilet seats.
To qualify for our Aging in Place program, you must be at least 62 years old and located in Sheboygan County. You must own your home and be current on taxes and homeowner insurance.

The application process is simple. After we receive an inquiry, we will send you further details about the program, and the application is provided if you decide to proceed. Applications are reviewed within two to three business days. Our construction manager then reviews the project, orders materials, and works with you to schedule a time for the repair work to take place.

Habitat Lakeside has offered this program since July of 2025. It is a great way to make sure that older homeowners can live comfortably in their homes and complete daily routines easily and safely. Just like Allen and Lynn, you can take initiative to make your home safer and make movement around the house much easier.

If you have questions or want to learn more, contact Habitat Lakeside Family Services Manager Penny Rayfield at 920.458.3399, ext. 307, or email her at [email protected].

Aging in Place is just one of many Habitat Lakeside programs that aim to provide affordable housing, home repairs, and more. Together we build homes, communities, and hope.

Habitat Lakeside Construction Manager Jon Hoffman with Lynn and Allen’s new ramp

By Altrim Luma, Habitat Lakeside marketing intern

At Habitat for Humanity Lakeside, we are constantly stressing the importance of a stable home to a family. However, hearing about the benefits and being able to experience them differ dramatically.

Luckily, I had the chance to experience them firsthand.

As a new intern at Habitat Lakeside, I went on my first visit to a home occupied by a Habitat Lakeside homeowner. Her name is Kewanna, and she has four children. As I pulled up to the street, I saw the home surrounded by vibrant green grass. Brightly colored toys were scattered around the driveway. When I walked in the house, I was immediately greeted by playful children and a space filled with warmth. Pictures and decorations, such as drawings and sticky notes on the fridge, hung all over, enriching the space and making it feel personalized and homey.

Throughout my visit, Kewanna’s kids were playing around the house, riding bikes, and making full use of their new driveway. The kids told us they had made new neighborhood friends; they will continue to make lifelong relationships, building a deep sense of community in the neighborhood. Kewanna beamed with joy as she led me around the house, and as she watched the children play blissfully, I could only imagine how she felt.

In my own life, I have moved homes twice, and each time, it was an emotional rollercoaster. When visiting Kewanna’s house, I remembered how it felt to be a kid in a new place, excited to make new memories while also feeling anxious in a new area. Having to get used to an entirely new space in an entirely different neighborhood can take time. Luckily, time passes anyway. Each time I moved, I was able to meet new people and have unique experiences. Having my sisters and parents with me during those uncertain times is what turned them into great memories. I also remember going to a new school and feeling worried about meeting new people. However, the friends I made there ended up being a huge reason for feeling so at home.

Because of this, I was reminded that the people we share these experiences with are what truly define home.
As I left the house, I had a profound feeling of fulfillment. The thought of Kewanna and her family being able to enjoy their home and make memories in it together is one that confirms Habitat’s mission, and my understanding of it. I walked down the pavement, observing the beautiful greenery planted in the woodchips, which will continue to grow with the seasons, right alongside the family.

It was this visit that allowed me to personally witness the importance of stable housing. To experience something like this for yourself, we invite you to attend the dedication of our 54th home on Monday, Aug. 24, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 2126 Geele Ave. in Sheboygan. Parking will be available in the west-side lot of St. Dominic Catholic Church, located across the street from the house. 

The dedication, open to the public, will include a tour of the home, remarks from Beau and Courtney, the intended home buyers, and the opportunity to mingle with other supporters of affordable housing. Refreshments will be served and, most importantly, guests will have the opportunity to fully witness the positive effects a stable, decent home has on a family.
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As the saying goes, seeing is believing.

Habitat Lakeside’s 54th home, almost finished, is on Sheboygan’s north side.

By Habitat for Humanity Lakeside staff
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On any given Tuesday at the Sheboygan ReStore, a shopper might find Betty placing merchandise on shelves or Jill tidying up the store, preparing it for Wednesday’s flood of customers.

“Next to Kohler, this is the best job I ever had,” says Betty, whose happy place in the ReStore is the bench where she cleans and prices donated goods.

Jill, for her part, is happy to sweep, mop, and otherwise make the store presentable for customers. “It keeps me busy,” she says, adding that since joining the ReStore in June, she’s gotten to enjoy the camaraderie among employees.

Betty and Jill found their ReStore positions through Indianhead Enterprises, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that sponsors the federal Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). SCSEP helps income-eligible older adults build skills, gain valuable work experience, and prepare to re-enter the workforce by connecting them with part-time training opportunities. Throughout their training, individuals can explore a variety of career pathways, including roles in customer service, administrative support, retail, food service, custodial work, and other in‑demand fields that match their interests and abilities.

Indianhead works with 40 to 50 organizations, called host agencies, in 22 counties across Wisconsin to place seniors in training opportunities.

“Between the skill building and individuals’ determination, the program is successful,” says Carrie Zinda, SCSEP project coordinator at Indianhead, noting that SCSEP has placed thousands of people since its founding in the 1960s. Participants may remain in the program for up to four years while developing the skills and experience needed to transition into unsubsidized employment; indeed, they can get help transitioning to unsubsidized employment at any time. “We are a workforce development program, not a temporary staffing agency,” Zinda explains. “We help job seekers re-enter the workforce with enhanced skills, confidence, and capabilities.”

Most participants learn about SCSEP through flyers, word of mouth, the Wisconsin Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, veterans’ organizations, and other community partners. Once placed with a host agency, participants receive paid, on-the-job training, with wages funded through the SCSEP program.

Zinda counts off several ways Indianhead’s program benefits job seekers: They earn money and stay competitive in the job market while updating their resumes. They build skills and connections to find permanent posts once their four years with SCSEP is up. They get a boost in self-confidence and well-being, and, as an added benefit, the money they earn bolsters the local economy.

Employers, such as Habitat Lakeside, reap benefits, too.

“I really enjoy working with Indianhead,” says Sheboygan ReStore Manager Rachel Hartlaub, who heard about Indianhead through a Green Bay-based agency that no longer works with the SCSEP program. “Jill and Betty add a lot of character to the store,” she says. “They are hardworking and help out wherever needed.”
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Betty “is a jack of all trades,” Hartlaub says. “She can price, put merchandise away, cashier, answer the phone, help customers and has even helped me lead high-school student volunteers. She feels like a member of the ReStore family.” Jill, who joined the ReStore this spring, “is a huge help on Tuesdays, when we clean and prep the store for the week,” Hartlaub says. “She sweeps, mops, cleans the bathroom and takes out the trash, which allows staff members to catch up on pickups and pricing on Tuesdays. It may not sound like a huge deal, but it is.”

For nonprofits interested in working with Indianhead, Hartlaub advises doing a little planning first. “Think about what needs you have and communicate this with Indianhead,” she says. When meeting with Zinda and the job seeker, “treat it like an interview and listen to your gut to evaluate whether the job seeker will be a right fit for the needs and tasks of your nonprofit,” Hartlaub says.

Her biggest advice? “Just do it,” she says. “Indianhead has a list of job seekers who need to be matched with a nonprofit, and nonprofits need the help. And it’s free help. It truly is a win-win-win for the non-profit, Indianhead, and the individual who needs a job.”

For more information on how nonprofits can work with Indianhead, visit their website. The organization has two project coordinators in Menomonie and two in Green Bay, with each assigned to different counties around the state. “The way to begin is to contact the designated coordinator,” Zinda says.
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Seniors interested in the program can also visit the website; they will need to fill out an application and undergo income verification to make sure they are eligible for the program. “Be persistent and let an organization know you’re interested in the job,” Jill says. “Just because you're an older adult doesn't mean you can't work and be productive.”

Jill (left) and Betty at the Sheboygan ReStore

By Habitat Lakeside staff

A few weeks ago, we attended a local family event and brought along a project: Collages. The frame: Post caps repurposed from the ReStore. The backdrop: Pieces of corrugated plastic, reclaimed from old Habitat Lakeside event signs, cut into squares by Packaging Systems of Wisconsin, and covered with stick-on wallpaper sourced from the Sheboygan ReStore. The collage elements: Whimsical decorative items, including googly eyes, puff balls, pipe cleaners, and beads, donated by Michaels. 

The results: Out-of-this-world creative. One young person crafted an ocean scene, complete with blue water and fanciful fishes. Another used the background of flowered wallpaper to make an aviary. Others spelled out names, fashioned pipe cleaner hearts, spelled out messages with lettered beads, and used googly eyes to make a classic smiley face. The finished collages sparkled with creativity and imagination.

Witnessing this beauty sparked by the human imagination made us realize how much we need creativity and imagination to carry out our mission: Making sure everyone has a safe, decent place to live.

Habitat for Humanity International itself is built on the creative premise of partnership housing: People in need of shelter join in the process of building their homes with volunteers, then buying the homes thanks to a financial tool that tailors a zero-interest mortgage to the homebuyer’s budget. The innovative thinking that launched this global organization continues today as Habitat affiliates all over the country come up with novel ways to combat this tough housing market. Solutions include townhomes, multi-family dwellings, and houses made partly with prefabricated elements.

Then there’s the creativity and imagination of our home buyers. Kewanna, who just closed on a beautiful Habitat home for her and her four children, imagined what her children’s future would look like if they had a home of their own: Stable. Comfortable. Nurturing, with room inside for Kewanna to cook and outside for her to garden (she loves doing both). She imagined her children one day coming to the family homestead with their children, “for my babies growing up to have a home to come to forever,” Kewanna told Seehafer News when her home was dedicated earlier this summer. “It’s just the thought of the future and how happy they will be.”

Finally, there’s the amount of creativity, imagination, and innovation on the part of all Habitat Lakeside stakeholders, from staff and volunteers to donors and in-kind partners, required to build our homes. Our financial and in-kind donors have the tremendous gift of vision: They can imagine a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to world. And they understand that it will take time and money to get there. They have the foresight to invest in Sheboygan County’s future. Our staff and volunteer share that same vision for the future of our community.

Very soon, Habitat Lakeside will launch a fundraising campaign to gather the money we will need to build 21 affordable, decent houses on Sheboygan’s near north side. We are early in the process of acquiring the land and preparing it for building. It will take every bit of imagination, creativity, and financial support from Sheboygan County’s businesses, foundations, citizens, and grant-makers to make this dream come true.

Yes, building 21 homes is a little more complicated than making collages out of pipe cleaners and googly eyes. The spark and the fuel are the same, though. Vision. Imagination. Creativity. And the desire to create something beautiful.

Please help us get started on this journey by making a donation. If you or your organization would like to play a more prominent role in this partnership, please call Le’Shay Guy at 920-458-3399 ext. 308 or email [email protected]. Thank you!

By Charlie Allis, Habitat Lakeside marketing intern

​Over the past year, I have spent about 470 hours as a marketing intern for Habitat for Humanity Lakeside. Throughout this time, I have gained valuable hands-on experience that helped me grow both professionally and personally.

Throughout my internship, I worked on a variety of projects. Most of my responsibilities focused on marketing tasks such as creating social media posts, which taught me how to properly take product photos and how to write a effective caption, and writing blogs and press releases, which improved my writing ability and allowed me to better understand what it takes to create a compelling piece of writing. I also spent a lot of time designing posters as well as helping with other tasks around the office and even working in the ReStore or occasionally on home-build sites.

Working on such a large variety of tasks enabled me to develop many new skills that will benefit me no matter where my career takes me. It also helped me to understand everything that goes into the marketing process for a nonprofit organization, which will be beneficial to me when I begin my career in marketing.
One of my biggest accomplishments during my time with Habitat for Humanity Lakeside was proposing, creating, and helping distribute a customer engagement survey for the ReStore. The goal of the survey was to gather direct feedback from customers about their experiences shopping at the ReStore. I spent weeks researching the best method to present the survey, creating the survey questions, then distributing it to our customers. After crunching the numbers, I presented the survey results to ReStore staffers and offered recommendations based on the data.

This project helped me learn more about analyzing data and figuring out what the answers to our questions actually mean — and the hard work and thought that go into creating a survey. I have taken many surveys in my life and now look at them with new respect.

Beyond the marketing experience, one of my favorite parts of working at Habitat for Humanity Lakeside was the people. The staff and volunteers always brought a positive attitude to work every day, creating an environment that was warm and welcoming. I especially enjoyed talking with employees and volunteers about all the interesting items that we have in the ReStore. For instance, going on a few donation pickups with ReStore staffers gave me a firsthand look at what people donate and even why. This experience showed me just how unique everyone’s donations can be.

Another thing I enjoyed was seeing the community come together during events like Rock the Block or the Raise the Roof Gala. Watching so many people work together toward a shared goal showed me how Habitat Lakeside’s mission benefits the community.

This internship confirmed for me that I wanted to pursue a career in marketing. It gave me the opportunity to develop important skills, gain real-world experience, and better understand the significant role marketing plays in an organization’s success and connection to its community. I am grateful for everything I learned during my internship with Habitat for Humanity Lakeside and to everyone who helped make the experience so memorable.

Charlie Allis at work in the Sheboygan ReStore. He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee this fall.

By Sam Parnitzke, Habitat Lakeside marketing intern 

I started my Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprentice journey late in my junior year. With no real vision of my future, picking where I would be working for the summer and for the school year felt like tossing a hat into a thousand different rings. Three months of summer felt like a lifetime. Senior year was miles away in my head.

When our advisor asked me for a focus for the internship, I suggested marketing. Marketing looked the most interesting to me. I thought it would allow me to have a sense of creativity without falling into a boring repetition that I feared other business-type jobs would have.

What my advisor and I couldn’t figure out was where exactly to find this marketing internship. There wasn’t a business in the area looking for a part-time marketer, especially one with no experience or marketing knowledge.

Then she mentioned that a nonprofit with a famous name surrounding it — Habitat for Humanity Lakeside — was searching for a marketing intern to support its rapid growth. Without a doubt, I knew that was the place for me. Before long, I had an interview, then an offer, and soon the first day.

The first couple of months were certainly a period of learning. Press releases, blog posts, ReStore promotions and posters and TikTok videos were all firsts for me. I was taught everything from how to take the best pictures possible to uncomplicated ways to make my writing clearer. My iPhone camera, Canva, and Microsoft Word became my best friends.

To say that marketing was fun is an understatement. I had no clue what the day held for me when I stepped through the door. That naive junior in high school had no clue how this internship would make him feel. How cool it was to see the ReStore bustling with people looking at the things I posted on Facebook the day before or even a trendy TikTok getting thousands of views and dozens of likes.

Furthermore, I got an inside look as to just what makes this organization tick. Habitat for Humanity doesn’t build and give away houses. It is a nonprofit that believes in the community it serves and partners with the people who will inhabit its homes. It was truly the mission that stuck with me: Habitat builds homes, communities, and hope in Sheboygan County.

To truly dedicate myself to my time here, I had to “buy in.” Some of the most special parts of my youth apprenticeship were the days I spent on home-build sites. There, I saw an entirely different world than the one I had been exposed to. You could see that “Habitat magic” in everyone's eyes. Whether it was Jon or Derek on the staff construction crew or all the volunteers I met along the way, they all believed. You could tell that in their hearts and minds they weren’t building someone a home; they were building someone an opportunity to make a better life for themselves and their families. The volunteers showed up for hours a day, day after day. Their paycheck? The satisfaction that someone would move in and raise their kids under a dry roof. 

My “buy in” is this value — to work as much as I could out there on the journey to serve. It also forced me to rather quickly learn skills I never thought I'd ever have to come across. In a marketing intern role, I learned about concrete, woodworking, and even window installation. I pinched my fingers more times than I could count, watched nails slip from my pocket working on the roof, and even retired a pair of white Nikes to the mud on Geele Avenue. After working on a build site, coming back to the office became so much easier.

Seeing the Habitat mission first-hand helped clarify and improve every press release, blog post, and TikTok I made. I knew each thing I wrote, designed, or photographed would help fulfill this mission. The work was challenging and, at times, a little frustrating. Content that took hours to make flopped, while our best-performing social media content was a throwaway TikTok featuring random sound about lamps. For the life of me, I couldn't have guessed if you gave me a thousand tries on how our content would perform. It was disheartening at times. 

But I wouldn’t trade the experience for any other role pushing papers or filling spreadsheets at an office. I am truly grateful for my time spent as a marketing intern at Habitat for Humanity Lakeside. While I might not be pursuing marketing, I can use all the skills I’ve learned in pretty much any career. Everything I did in my year here helped me become the person I am today.

No matter what road life takes me on, these valuable experiences won't leave me. In any field, job, or opening, the Habitat values remain. At the end of all this, I’m still just 18 years old. I may think I know everything, but truth be told, I’m throwing my hat into ten thousand new rings every day. Habitat Lakeside has shown me a little bit of how to aim. 

Graduation will mark the end of this journey. Putting God’s love into action in everything I do is an adventure that has no end. 

​Sam Parnitzke on a build site. He plans to attend Concordia University Wisconsin in the fall.

By Le’Shay Guy, executive director, Habitat for Humanity Lakeside

April is a time of renewal. As spring returns, we are reminded of what matters most: home. This month, Habitat for Humanity affiliates launch the Home Is the Key initiative to raise awareness and funds for affordable housing. In Sheboygan County, this campaign is not just fundraising. It’s a call to action: stable housing changes lives, especially for our children.

When we talk about housing, we often mention structures: walls, roofs, and foundations. But for children, home is much more. Home is where they sleep, learn, grow, and feel safe. It shapes their ability to succeed in school, build relationships, and imagine a future full of possibilities.

Unfortunately, not every child has that stability, and for many families, the challenge isn’t just affordability; it’s access.

Fair housing is the idea that everyone deserves equal opportunity to secure safe, decent housing, regardless of race, income, family status, or background. Laws have been in place for decades to protect these rights, but barriers still exist. Families can face discrimination, limited lending, or systemic challenges. These obstacles make it harder to achieve homeownership.

These barriers don’t just affect adults; they affect children in lasting ways.

When families are denied fair access to housing, children are more likely to move frequently, live in overcrowded homes, or face unsafe environments. Instability can disrupt education, harm mental health, and limit opportunities. Research shows that children who grow up in stable housing perform better academically, face fewer behavioral challenges, and are more likely to graduate high school.

Stability creates consistency, and consistency allows children to thrive.

At Habitat for Humanity Lakeside, we see both challenges and possibilities every day. We partner with families who are working hard, raising children, and contributing to our community. Many still face barriers to affordable, equitable homeownership. Through our programs, families invest their time in partnering, building alongside volunteers, and committing to long-term stability.

And the transformation is powerful.

Children who once lived in uncertainty now have a place to call their own. They have a quiet space to do homework and a neighborhood to build friendships. They know they won’t have to leave. Parents often tell us they see changes almost immediately. Improved behavior, better school performance, and renewed confidence are common.

A home provides more than shelter. It provides a foundation for opportunity. When that opportunity is fair and accessible, entire communities benefit.

The Home Is the Key campaign reminds us that we all have a crucial role in creating a solid foundation for our community. Act today: Donate, sign up to volunteer, or use your voice to champion fair housing practices. Each action directly impacts families and builds stronger, more equitable communities.

Here in Sheboygan County, every dollar raised stays local. It goes directly toward helping families achieve affordable homeownership, completing critical home repairs, and revitalizing neighborhoods. It supports children who deserve a stable place to grow up and a fair chance to succeed.

As a community, we pride ourselves on looking out for one another. Supporting both affordable and fair housing is one of the most impactful ways we can live out that value.
Because when we invest in housing, we’re not just building homes. We’re investing in the future of our community.
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Home is the key. Together, we can make sure every child has one. Every family should have a fair chance to build it.

Kewanna and her children in their as-yet-unfinished home.

By Habitat Lakeside staff

When Shawn and Carla were young, they dreamed of owning a dining table big enough to host future family gatherings, one complete with grown children, grandchildren, and other family members. In July of 2025, that dream started to come true when the two found a round cherrywood table at the Sheboygan ReStore.

The table, priced at $85, was made by Tom Seely, a furniture maker specializing in authentic reproductions of classic designs. As purchased, it was 50 inches round, had no leaves with which to expand it, and its chairs had stained cushions. Shawn and Carla, though, looked past its imperfections and saw possibilities.

​They took it home and embarked on an eight-month-long journey of turning a Sheboygan ReStore bargain into a family heirloom. “We have always loved creating and building,” Carla says. Over the years the couple, who live in Town of Herman, have laid a 180-foot-long brick driveway, added a bedroom, finished a basement, tiled a bathroom, and landscaped a yard, among other projects. “We prefer to do the work ourselves and feel great satisfaction in creating something beautiful,” Carla says. “It allows us to do more projects without debt.”

The two started by searching for planks to expand the table, which at the time of purchase sat only four people. “It was tricky to source 5/4-inch rough-sawn cherry,” Carla says. When they found it, Carla’s parents gave them the planks as a Christmas gift.

The couple then used Carla’s father’s basement to joint, plane, glue, and clamp the planks to turn them into leaves, drill holes for the pegs used to place the leaves in the table, then finish the whole tabletop with stain and polyurethane. They had planned to reupholster the chairs but found that that spot remover got the stains out of the cushions.

The finished result is a 10-foot-long oval table with six removable leaves and a detachable center leg. Wooden chairs from previously owned tables, or chairs found at the ReStore, accompany the four original chairs. The table can seat 12 comfortable, “14 if we’re cozy,” Carla says.

The table accommodated the couple, their grown children, and other family members for a recent Easter celebration. “It was a blessing to have,” Carla says. “This is the table we dreamed of having when our children were young.” When family members aren’t around, the couple can reduce the table to its original 50-inch round shape.

In addition to the $85 purchase price, the couple invested time and money to turn the Sheboygan ReStore purchase into a family treasure. Economizing, though, was never really the point. “This was an investment in our future, not really a money-saving venture,” Carla says. “It was the fulfillment of a dream of having as many people around our table as would fit in our space. We never expected to find this treasure at the ReStore,” she says.

The couple visits the store to find supplies that can work with whatever project they’ve embarked on. “It’s always fun to see what new items come in or what I can repurpose as my children are moving out of our home and attempting to furnish a place of their own,” Carla says.
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Interested in finding your own dream come true? “Try to look past the scratches and imperfections and see what it could become with some time and effort,” Carla says. “You never know what you will find.”

View the slide show below to see how the table progressed from ReStore find to family treasure.