All the Cheers for our Volunteers

All the cheers for our volunteers, because truly – where would we be without them? April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and for Old Colony Habitat for Humanity, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the people who make our mission possible every single day. As a small but mighty team of four, we rely on the generosity, talent, and heart of our volunteers, who show up time and time again to help us build not just homes, but hope.

They are more than volunteers – they are family. We are endlessly grateful for the incredible individuals who have supported countless projects alongside us. In this blog, we’re honored to spotlight three remarkable women: Maggie, Kim, and Jennifer, whose dedication and compassion have made a lasting impact.

Please take a moment to get to know them and their journey better below!

Meet Maggie Boyd

Tell us a little about yourself! Where do you work and what do you do?

My name is Maggie Boyd, and I have been with Plansee USA for over 21 years.  As the Head of Administration, I work on numerous projects related to organization, marketing and aligning Plansee with the community. My husband, Kevin and I have two teenage girls – Allie is a junior and Miley is in 7^th grade.  We often all talk about Habitat for Humanity and the opportunities it brings to other families to build a home and gain a community.

What made you want to get involved with Old Colony Habitat for Humanity?

A few years ago, Plansee was before the Franklin Town Council on a construction project and simultaneously, Kim Thomas from Habitat for Humanity was there for the early discussions and planning related to the Meeting House.  It was at that time that I was inspired about the project and thought about how Plansee and I could contribute to such an amazing project.

What’s your favorite moment from volunteering with us so far?

Community and connections are an integral part of who we are as a society.  In observing how the Old Colony team works together and build something with unconditional commitment and love is truly inspiring.  My small participation has brought a sense of internal leveling and contributed to work life balance.

Meet Jennifer Moccia

Tell us a little about yourself! Where do you work and what do you do?

“Previous careers” in finance/ business development/ event design, and management. 

My passion has always been living a life of service – to my family, my church, and my community, near and far. I was a coordinator of youth ministry and leader of women and family ministry for over two decades, and I currently serve in adult faith formation

I am an AmeriCorps volunteer serving as an elderly advocate and financial manager for the elderly. I also served the charter school as a board of trustee member, community service coordinator, and arts enrichment programming chair

What made you want to get involved with Old Colony Habitat for Humanity?

I’ve been involved with other Habitat organizations since the late 1980s, including Providence, Greater Boston, Metrowest, Attleboro, and Worcester, serving as an individual volunteer and build day lead, and coordinating groups of women and teens.

Serving with Old Colony Habitat on the Franklin house is a full-circle opportunity for me to help build a home in the town where I live and have served in many other capacities.  

I have an affinity for antique buildings and barns and a deep appreciation for churches. This project is a perfect union of my interests and I am pleased to be involved in preserving and respecting the heritage of this building

What’s your favorite moments from volunteering with us so far?

• Climbing through the building with Kim before the framing was up and discovering the old beam with the 1856 high in the rafters. My preservationist voice spoke for the beam… “save me!”

• Serving as a build day lead alongside the fabulous other leads and Habitat leadership team. The collective life experience, knowledge, and dedication of the group are impressive.  And they’re really fun to work with!

• Witnessing “first time” build volunteers experience the “spark of servitude” that ignites from giving themselves on one particular day in their life. I’ve seen it time and again over the years, and it never disappoints!  People realize as they’re completing a certain task, that helping others is fun and doesn’t require much, and they want to give more.  Every seemingly small gesture adds collectively to grand results. I’ve served in mission groups in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, working on projects for weeks at a time.  The Washington Street project is a perfect example that one doesn’t have to travel far outside their own community to make an impact in one day.

Meet Kim Mu-Chow

Tell us about yourself! Where do you work and what do you do?

I am on staff at New England Chapel in Franklin, MA. I am the @NEC Coordinator which supports our church members in need and supports other local non-profits including Hockomock YMCA, Franklin Food Pantry, Medway Village Food Pantry, and Safe Coalition. 

I am retired and now serve as a professional volunteer on multiple committees throughout the region including

• Community Benefits Advisory Group to UMass Memorial Health’s Milford Regional Medical Center
• Steering Committee of Greater Milford Community Health Network, known as CHNA 6, which provides grants to improve the community health in our area
• Secretary of Pathway to a Better Life, the temporary, emergency warming shelter in Milford during the frigid winter months
• My husband and I also do food rescue weekly from other organizations and deliver the food to multiple senior centers and housing authorities.

I also serve on a few Franklin boards, including the Council of Aging, Franklin Municipal Affordable Trust, and the Board of Health.

What made you want to get involved with Old Colony Habitat for Humanity? 

I have always been intrigued by Habitat for Humanity. Our church has an SOS (Serving our Savior) team that does minor home repair for individuals and families. We also go on mission trips, last year we went to Vermont to assist in home repair after their devastating floods. I have been participating on our SOS team for years. Like Habitat, we have team leaders who teach others how to do things. On our mission trip to Vermont, we installed a glass shower for a homeowner with no instructions or screws. Luckily, we had a talented lead with tons of patience and ingenuity and we got the job done and only had to purchase some screws.

Steve Manni comes to NEC and I always love hearing his stories about Old Colony Habitat for Humanity and when I heard about the challenging Franklin built I was ready to sign on to help! It was awesome to watch Sally’s home rise from the former South Frankin Congregational Church! 

What’s your favorite moment from volunteering with us so far?

This is a hard question for me, as everything has been so wonderful.

• Meeting Sally and her family and working side by side with them is a thrill
• Getting to know other women at the Women’s Build Day and getting all our of our punch list done early despite the male leads saying that we were going to be talking all day and not get anything done.
• Watching the progress on the home and seeing it come to life and how beautiful the home will be and all the love that is being poured into the home