Building Homes, Building Connections

Sargento continues a long-standing tradition of rolling up our sleeves alongside Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity. Across

five days, employees helped build two homes, Sargento’s 42nd and 43rd Habitat builds since becoming the first company to support Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity in 1992.

“It’s important to me and my family that we continue to partner with Habitat for Humanity Milwaukee,” Louie said. “It’s more than building houses. It’s about building stronger communities and sharing our success in a way that can make a difference in someone’s life.”

That spirit of community was visible all week as employees came together around one shared goal: helping create safe, affordable housing for local families. Some volunteers were picking up tools for the first time, while others returned with years of Habitat experience. Regardless of experience level, everyone had a role to play.

For Estefani Martinez, Production Sanitation Utility in Hilbert, that sense of teamwork is what brought her back for another year.

“My first year, I saw how we all worked together, similar to how we work in Hilbert,” Estefani said. “I liked how everyone helped and supported each other, and I wanted to have that experience again.”

Leah Malkovich Alexander, Data Scientist in Plymouth, was volunteering with Sargento for the first time, but it was her sixth Habitat build overall.

“I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in college and really enjoyed it,” Leah said. “When I saw Sargento was asking for volunteers, I thought it was a great opportunity to do it again.”

For first-time volunteer Emily Fields, Associate Data Governance Analyst, the experience reminded her of projects she used to do with her dad.

“I used to do things like this with my dad all the time,” Emily said. “It feels good to give back and to see the progress of your work at the end.”

That personal connection is part of what makes the Habitat volunteer week so meaningful. It gives employees the

chance to meet and work alongside people they may not otherwise cross paths with during a typical workday. Dave Hendrickson, Custodial Courier in Hilbert, has volunteered for the past four years and said last year, he had the opportunity to meet the future homeowners.

“It was so neat being able to hear their stories and see the human side of it,” Dave said. “It was more than knowing someone was getting a home — we actually had the chance to meet them.”

This year, Dave said he was especially grateful for the connections formed with other volunteers.

“Other than helping build a home, the most rewarding part has been interacting with other volunteers who make this work fun,” he said. “We come together for annual meetings and other things, but you don’t really get to know people in that capacity. Working side by side with someone gives you a deeper understanding of who they are.”

The impact of that work extends well beyond the job site. Habitat Supervisor Brunard Williams said homeownership can create a ripple effect that reaches families, neighborhoods, and entire communities.

“It’s always been the American Dream to own a home,” Brunard said. “When someone has the chance to own their first home, there’s pride in that. And that pride spills over into the community.”

Beyond the walls that went up during the week, employees left with a greater appreciation for the people behind the project — the families working toward homeownership, the Habitat volunteers giving their time, and the Sargento employees who came together to make the work possible.

And for anyone considering volunteering in the future, Dave offered simple encouragement: no construction experience is required.

“You don’t have to have any kind of skilled trade experience,” he said. “All you have to do is care enough to come down and do something. No matter how small or how big the task is, it matters.”