Habitat for Humanity - Poland

When Kelsey Parker, Sr. Manager of Compliance, had the chance to travel to Poland for a Habitat for Humanity build, she knew it would be more than a volunteer trip. It was an opportunity to serve others, experience a new culture and connect with a piece of her own family history.

Kelsey joined her mom, Ellen Parker, a longtime Habitat volunteer, for a weeklong project in Piaseczno, Poland, just outside Warsaw. While this was Kelsey’s third Habitat trip overall, with previous builds in Beaumont, Texas, and on the Big Island of Hawaii, it was her first international build and her first time visiting and volunteering in Poland.

Unlike the new home builds many volunteers may picture, this project focused on giving new life to an abandoned building. Habitat for Humanity Poland is working to transform the space into high-quality apartments, helping create more affordable housing while also maintaining the culture of the community and repurposing many of the building’s original materials.

Each day brought something different. Kelsey helped remove old drywall, scrub exposed brick, strip paint from wood trim and sand materials that could be refinished and reused. The work was hands-on, a little dusty and hot, but always meaningful.

 

“It feels really good to help people while experiencing something really unique,” Kelsey said. “My mom and I get to travel the world but also make a difference and meet people in a way you probably wouldn’t normally.”

The week also included plenty of cultural experiences. Kelsey tried traditional Polish foods, including pierogies, explored Piaseczno, and also spent an afternoon at a local mental health foundation that pairs together people with disabilities to express themselves through art.  She even got to try her hand at pottery and donated her piece back to be sold in the shop and help continue the mission of the organization.

Some of Kelsey’s favorite moments were simple ones: learning from and working with the local Habitat team members, laughing through a few translation mix-ups and working alongside volunteers from across the United States who all shared the same desire to help.

“It’s definitely a different way to spend your vacation – but we often tack a few days on either end of the habitat week to allow for some extra exploring,” said Kelsey. These trips also offer a unique mother-daughter connection, “Since my great-great grandparents were from Poland, it was fun to hear stories that the food and culture sparked in my mom’s memory of her mother and traditions passed down through the generations. Even though my grandma is no longer with us – the memories and stories this trip resurfaced for my mom was really special for both of us.”

Kelsey hopes her story encourages others, especially younger employees, to consider getting involved. Habitat projects need volunteers with all kinds of skills and experience levels, and the team will teach you what you need to know once you’re there.

“They can always use volunteers,” Kelsey said. “All of my Habitat experiences have been really good. You’re helping people, meeting people and seeing a different place than where you are every day.”

For the Sargento Family, Kelsey’s trip is a reminder that Community Outreach can happen close to home or across the world. Whether it’s through the long-standing partnership with Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity* or another Habitat opportunity, every volunteer helps build something bigger than walls and roofs. They help build hope, stability and connection.

If you’ve ever thought about volunteering for a Habitat build, Kelsey’s advice is simple: give it a try. You may learn a new skill, make a new friend, discover a new place and leave knowing you helped create a stronger foundation for someone else.