Greetings,
This is my first issue of The Frame since being named Executive Director of HiH, and it’s also my first as a member of our monthly donor community. It’s an honor to both join you guys and to address this first issue of 2025, thank you for the welcome.
This issue contains lots of fun information about what’s happening at HiH, and we have more exciting things in store this year. Our annual report will be issued shortly, here I’ll give you a brief update about the state of the organization as we start a new year. Hint: It’s all good stuff:
Revenue from individual donations (which make up 85% of our budget) was up 21% in 2024.
We served 1,082 friends and neighbors in 374 households.
We hired or promoted 7 staff members, including one new hire from our brand new internship program.
We doubled the number of box trucks we have…to 2!
We inspired 1,001 different volunteers to join us, for a total of over 7,000 hours.
We held 2 sessions of our Youth Volunteer Academy, hosting 24 local teenagers from 6 different area high schools. And, we’ve set that program up for future success, even though grant funding has ended.
We diverted 175 tons of furniture items from the landfill.
And a sneak peek of something we’re up to this year: we’ve added our first new referral agencies in over 3 years, addressing that long waitlist at long last. We are also about to launch a campaign to add to our monthly donor list. If we’re successful there will be many more joining our ranks before the next issue. We’ll talk again then.
See you out there!
Ian
It’s time to learn more about Kristi Emick, our Director of Operations.
Tell me about when you first started working for HiH? How did you hear about us?
I started volunteering to help in the warehouse in February 2021. A few months into volunteering, I saw a listing in the HiH newsletter for a part-time volunteer position answering donation emails. I was happy to help! Shortly after that, in the summer of 2021, I was lucky enough to be hired as a Volunteer Coordinator - becoming one of the first HiH part-time employees.
What do you remember most about your early days as volunteer coordinator?
The generosity! We get the opportunity to be part of such a kind and big-hearted community. As a Volunteer Coordinator, I had the privilege to get to know and work closely with folks who give so much of their time and talents to Houses into Homes.
What does “operations” mean at HiH exactly?
Our mission is to bring the comforts of home to those who need our support in a way that honors where they are in life. It's part of everything that we do. From receiving donations, to working with volunteers who make gently-worn furniture beautiful, safe, and ready for delivery. It’s part of working with other non-profit organizations in our community and it’s part of meeting the individuals and families who are referred to us.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I enjoy watching my kids do the things they love - show choir, cross country, track, and all things band, concert and jazz. When I get to choose, I love being outside, but also cuddling up with a good book.
What’s something that makes you laugh?
The great team that I work with - we work hard, but we also love to joke around and laugh!
What keeps you motivated every day?
Connecting - not only with individuals in the households that we have the honor of helping, but also with our volunteers, our donors, and the agencies that send referrals to us. What we are doing at Houses into Homes made a difference to 374 families in 2024 and there are so many more families that we can help. Knowing that is my motivation to keep going!
Lightning Round:
What’s your favorite summer activity?
Hiking in the mountains and white water rafting
What’s the most used app on your phone?
Text
How many holes are in a straw?
One
What’s the last thing you googled (no cheating)?
”How wide is a standard sliding glass door?” Now you know that’s not cheating. And yes, I’m THAT boring.
Favorite caffeinated beverage?
Definitely coffee.
Guilty pleasure?
Hmmm…probably dark chocolate, but I don’t feel guilty about it.
Tell us something fun about yourself that we haven’t already asked about.
I took piano lessons from about 3rd to 8th grade and just recently started taking lessons again!
Shannon and Gary Christensen’s relationship with HiH started with their foster kid, Ellison. In the fall of 2024, Ellison participated in the Houses into Homes Change Your World Youth Volunteer Academy. “The program is really impressive,” Shannon shared. “Ells learned about the origins of housing inequity and how it persists, even today.” Knowing that HiH is helping fight this in our own community has led the Christensens to becoming sustaining donors. And Gary has plans to bring groups of UI engineering students to volunteer later this semester!
Pictured from left to right: Gary Christensen, Jack Christensen, Ells Ortiz Broeder, and Shannon Christensen
Thank you to Kevin Code and Brenda O’Brien, with lots of help (and a party house!) from Beth and Mike Knudson, who hosted a wonderful fundraising event to benefit Houses into Homes in December. They selected some great wines, and we had a wonderful evening telling stories and meeting new friends. Even better than the funds raised, there are lots of new volunteers in the photos below!
On Friday, February 28 (next week) we have our first fundraiser of the year, a four-person best-shot golf tournament at Pinseekers in Tiffin. We have five sponsors and as of this moment 15 teams signed up! We’ll have a long drive contest where you can test your skills against two UIowa Linemen: Logan Jones and Jonah Pace.
If you’re not already signed up…it’s 40 degrees in the forecast and it’s not too late!
We want to hear from you!
Click on the image to read!
The Frame is Houses into Homes’ quarterly newsletter for recurring donors. Why The Frame? Because for us, providing beds is our number one priority, and the frame is what supports everything else -- the boxspring and the mattress. In the same way, your recurring donation means that we can continue our operations with the confidence that Houses into Homes will be here long-term.