By Charlie Allis, Habitat Lakeside marketing intern

There’s something special about a room filled with people who come together to support a common cause. When communities unite around a shared purpose, they support one another and create positive change.
This was clear at Habitat for Humanity Lakeside’s Raise the Roof Gala, held Feb. 6 at The Village at 170 in Kohler. The event, which drew 280 people, celebrated generosity, community, and the incredible impact of Habitat for Humanity Lakeside’s work.

I attended the event as a marketing intern for Habitat Lakeside. It was my first nonprofit fundraiser and to be completely honest, I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect or how it was going to go. However, once guests began arriving, the atmosphere felt welcoming and relaxed. The room quickly filled with conversation and laughter. There was no pressure in the room, just people excited to be there and ready to support a meaningful cause. Seeing such a turnout was motivating, especially after all our hard work planning and setting up the event. It made me proud to see so many people show up to support Habitat Lakeside.

My role for the evening was checking guests, managing the slide show, picking raffle winners and other tasks. While it was exciting to watch the room fill, managing check-in for such a large crowd was a bit overwhelming at times. Still, every interaction was positive. Guests were friendly, patient, and kind, which made the experience enjoyable and allowed everything to run smoothly. Despite the rush of people, everyone was understanding and respectful while waiting to be checked in. Being at the entrance allowed me to have a unique view of the positive energy in the room, which grew throughout the evening.

One of the most memorable moments was a speech from Le’Shay Guy, our executive director. Le’Shay spoke about the achievements, mission, and goals of Habitat for Humanity Lakeside and why the organization’s work matters. Her words focused on the real impact of the community’s support, making it clear how each individual contribution helps change lives. The message seemed to resonate well with the audience.
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What stood out the most to me at the Raise the Roof Gala was how laid-back, yet purposeful, the event felt. With a dress code of flannel shirts and jeans, it didn’t feel super formal and was truly just a group of people working together to improve our community. This allowed for a relaxing, low-pressure environment, which made everyone comfortable to let loose and enjoy the night.
 
Raise the Roof Gala showed me what can happen when a community comes together and gave me a firsthand view of the generosity Sheboygan County shows to Habitat Lakeside. Thank you to everyone who attended the gala, to the organizations that donated auction items and to the people who purchased them, to the bakeries that donated sweets for the dessert table, and most of all to our sponsors: WOMT, IBEW 494, BankFirst, Baumann Excavating, Drexel Building Supply, Joe Schmitt Construction, Sargento, Masters Gallery, Quasius Construction, UnitedOne Credit Union, Wisconsin State Sheet Metal Workers (SMART 18), and Van Horn Automotive. Everyone helped make Raise the Roof 2026 the most successful gala in Habitat Lakeside’s history. 

​Charlie Allis at Raise the Roof 2026. Photo: Jon Erlien

By Sam Parnitze, Habitat Lakeside marketing intern

Retirement is one of the most exciting times of a person’s life. After years of work and service, it’s time to take a step back and enjoy your golden years. There is nothing but freedom, and your time is finally yours. Every day feels like getting your drivers license as a teen again.

But then what? The world keeps turning. The rest of your family goes back to work; the grandkids go back to school. Days filled with mid-morning walks and daytime TV begin to get old. How is someone supposed to stay busy all the time?

Volunteering is a clear choice. According to data from the 2023 U.S. census, of the 75.7 million volunteers yearly, 27.2 percent of them are between 45 and 64 years old, meaning the people closest to retirement are already committed to serving others. However, with so many opportunities across Sheboygan, why choose the ReStore? There’s one thing we can promise to all volunteers: We want to make your experience here special. The most important thing we can offer is the chance for you to experience the family feeling we have here. The floor is always open for someone to add a comment, concern, or even a helpful recommendation.

Even required safety meetings are short and fun while also giving you the chance to learn necessary skills. Given all the ways you can spend your time, the least we can do is treat you with love and respect. In addition, meeting new people and experiencing all the different jobs that need to be done daily are just a few perks that come with it.

Volunteering at the Sheboygan ReStore might not seem crucial, but it is. Any amount of time volunteers donate to the ReStore turns into work that affects the entire community. Free time, which is something most retirees have in abundance, makes volunteering at the ReStore an easy choice. We are lucky that it’s not the only choice, as volunteer opportunities are all over our area, from Fresh Meals on Wheels to the Sheboygan County Warming Center.
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Many ReStore volunteers have retired from years in the workforce. “When I was looking for somewhere to volunteer, the ReStore fit my needs and had the flexibility of times that I wanted to work and the cashier position available that I was looking for,” says Angie Barringer, who recently retired and came onboard as a ReStore volunteer. “In addition to that, I volunteer to meet new people and find a sense of purpose and fulfillment by giving back and making a positive impact.” At the heart of all our departments are retirees changing Sheboygan County and having a blast doing it. From receiving to merchandising to even sharing donuts and stories around the table. They say it takes a village to make change; we think all we need is our volunteers.

Even if you’re still in the middle of your working life, making a difference at the ReStore is possible. Flexible shifts make it so that even if you're just trying to fill a two-hour gap on a weekend, you can still be a welcome addition to the team. During the week, our very own Andrew Klinger works full-time at the Kohler Company. However, you can still find him in the backrooms of the ReStore come Saturday morning.

“It’s nice to wake up on a Saturday and go in and do some work with the express focus on helping,” Andrew says. “I love coming in and seeing what new things are in the store, and it's a fun change of pace from my work during the week. I’ve found that volunteering has been a great way for me to destress from my job and frankly gives my life as a whole a bit more structure.”

The ReStore is one of the most important aspects of the Habitat mission. ReStore proceeds support affordable home repairs and affordable housing in Sheboygan County. ReStore also offers a fun and thrifty place to pick up new and gently used furniture, home goods, tools and hardware, and building supplies. We are always looking for new people ready to help and start making a difference.

​Whether you're newly retired or still working, consider joining the ReStore family. We can promise your golden years will not be put to waste, and you staying busy will never be in question. To learn more about volunteering opportunities, please visit www.habitatlakeside.com or email Penny Rayfield, our volunteer services manager, at [email protected]. We can’t wait to hear from you.

ReStore volunteers take a break after a safety instruction seminar.