THE HABITAT REVIEW
FALL 2025 EDITION
CONSTRUCTION TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
BUILD UPDATE It’s been a busy and exciting summer at our St. Charles twin homes and Winona’s East End home! We’ve had lots of build days filled with energy, progress, and the incredible dedication of our volunteers. A huge thank you to the amazing teams from Central Lutheran, Fastenal, Riverside, Syensqo, WNB Financial, Loyola, Montini Catholic School, and our incredible partner families for showing up with hard work, heart, and a shared commitment to building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Together, we’re not just building houses—we’re building homes and communities. Thank you for being part of it- there’s lots more to come!
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RESTORE WRAP-UP
It seems like every Summer is a bit of a whirlwind at the ReStore, and this Summer was certainly no different, filled with unexpected donations, fresh finds, and always hot deals! We want to thank all of our donors for their contributions that help keep our shelves full, and all of our volunteers who stock those shelves--we couldn’t be doing what we do without your continued contributions! As we ease into fall, keep an eye out for some great seasonal deals. This is the time of year when many folks are wrapping up their spring cleaning and we typically see one last wave of summer items hit our floor. That means lawn mowers, patio furniture and umbrellas, camping gear, gardening tools, and pots—all priced to move. After all, we’d rather see them in your hands than store them until next spring! In addition to our seasonal stock, we have an amazing array of overstock from local businesses, as well as mainstays that help ensure you can refresh and refurbish your living space. Right now we have an amazing array of: Mattresses , vacuum-sealed and new in box (Full & Queen size) Carpet rolls, carpet remnants, and linoleum rolls Laminate and plank flooring Paint & paint supplies Light bulbs & assorted lighting solutions
The ReStore is changing on a daily basis, and we can’t wait to hear about the thrill of your next great find here!
Ben Steinquist ReStore Manager
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE
As summer draws to a close and we step into a new season, I am filled with gratitude for the ways this community continues to show up for our neighbors. Together, we have been laying more than just foundations for houses, we’ve been building stability, opportunity, and a deep sense of belonging in Winona County. This quarter has been a season of progress. In St. Charles, the drywall is going up on our newest homes, where a future homeowner is already envisioning family dinners in the kitchen and quiet evenings on the front porch. In Winona, our home repair program has been hard at work ensuring that long-time residents can live safely, accessibly, and comfortably in the places they’ve called home for decades. But the heart of Habitat isn’t just the construction, it’s the people. From the volunteers who show up week after week with heart and determination, to the donors whose generosity keeps hammers swinging, to the families who invest sweat equity in their own futures— you are all part of the story we are writing together. As we look ahead to the next quarter, our goals are ambitious: finishing our St. Charles build, expanding our home repair capacity to serve more households, and continuing to advocate for affordable housing across our county. None of this happens without you.
Thank you for believing in this mission and for helping us turn hope into something tangible—four walls, a roof, and a place to call home.
With gratitude, Brittany Hennessy Executive Director
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OUR FAMILIES
ANGEL & ANA
Angel and Ana have been working hard on getting their sweat equity hours completed for their home that is progressing smoothly in St. Charles! In July, along with a team of family and friends they worked hard putting plastic up on the interior ceilings of their home. They shared that they are excited for what the future has to hold with a safe home that they helped build.
SHAMAINE
Shamaine has been hard at work investing time and energy into the construction of her future home. In July, she spent time building alongside volunteers from WNB Financial, contributing to both the progress of the house and her required sweat equity hours as part of her partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Dedicated to completing this part of her partnership coworkers from her job are dedicating three days in August to help build her home. She’s excited to see the progress and is eagerly preparing to purchase her first home, a safe and stable place for herself and her three children
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STAFF HIGHLIGHTS
JEAN PURVES
Jean is our new front of the house Assistant ReStore Manager. Jean enjoys taking her dog, Bachelor, for long walks around the small lake, arts and craft projects like stamp carving and collaging, and when she can, likes to visit the beach and go paddle boarding. She enjoys laid back evenings watching TV with her partner, eating a home-cooked meal and then a big bowl of ice cream. Welcome, Jean and thanks for all you do!
BRADLEY DUEPNER
Brad is our new back of the house Assistant ReStore Manager! Brad enjoys fishing, hiking and kayaking. He loves tacos and meat and cheese charcuterie boards. Brad’s favorite season is fall. Working for Habitat is a great fit for him because he cares about the housing issues in our community and wants to show the importance of reducing waste while encouraging reuse. One of Brad’s “bucket list” wishes would be to acquire a pilot’s license. Welcome, Brad, you’re doing a wonderful job at the ReStore!
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
With heartfelt gratitude, we thank Central Lutheran Church for their steadfast support of Habitat for Humanity serving Winona County. For many years, they have generously shared their time, volunteers, compassion, and resources to help us build homes, communities, and hope. Their continued commitment to our mission means the world to us.
GALE STEINQUIST
Gale Steinquist has been a dedicated Winona Habitat ReStore volunteer for over 7 years, often helping at the register on busy Friday mornings. She enjoys working alongside the ReStore team—including her son, Ben. Gale loves seeing donated items find new homes and says volunteering gives her a sense of purpose. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, pickleball, biking, and scrapbooking. Thank you, Gale, for your commitment to the ReStore and our community!
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