On Site: South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity Veterans Build
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" — Martin Luther King Jr.
When Scott Wild from South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity reached out to me about photographing their second annual Veterans Build, I was immediately excited to be considered. We connected the following day to discuss logistics, and despite it falling during one of my busiest weeks of the year, I knew I had to make it work.
I’ve always admired the mission of Habitat for Humanity, so figuring out the schedule was a priority. Scott was incredibly flexible, and we coordinated a plan to ensure the event was covered, even with my tight schedule.
A Community Effort
I was excited to document a community project of this magnitude. It wasn’t just about the construction; it was about the people. Seeing the Habitat staff, site supervisors, and diverse groups of volunteers working side-by-side was inspiring.
I had the privilege of photographing some incredible teams who came out to lend a hand, including:
The Army 557th Engineer Construction Company (Who brought a massive team of 17!)
BECU
The Thurston County Veterans Fund
Intrepid Mechanical Solutions
Coldwell Banker
OURCU (Our Community Credit Union)
Great Floors
557 ECC
SPSCC
Saint Martins University
and many other volunteers
Sunshine vs. The Elements
The first day on-site was a photographer's dream. The sun was out, the lighting was crisp, and everyone was chatty and smiling. Capturing the energy of the build was effortless.
The following days, however, reminded us that we live in the Pacific Northwest. The rain parked itself over Olympia and dumped constantly. While the weather created some logistical challenges—navigating soft mud with camera gear is never easy—it also added a layer of authenticity to the images.
There is a special element that rain adds to photos—a certain texture and grit—that is hard to appreciate when you are soaking wet and cold in the moment. But looking back at the images now, that "grit" perfectly captures the dedication of these volunteers.
Gratitude
I want to give a huge thank you to Scott and the entire Habitat staff who welcomed me like one of their own. And to the volunteers: you all deserve high-fives and hot chocolate for toughing out those conditions to build something meaningful for our veterans.
You can learn more about the initiative here: South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity Veterans Build
