Jake Schilling knew there were lots of benefits working for Devon, but one he didn’t expect was the opportunity to volunteer in his community. Then Jake joined a Devon team that helped build a house for Habitat for Humanity.
“I like the fact that our culture at Devon has a sincere commitment to the communities where we live and work,” Schilling said. “Volunteering, for Habitat or any local organization, gives us a chance to live out our values – good neighbors doing the right thing, with great spirit and teamwork. Of course, it’s fun, too.”
Devon actively supports Habitat for Humanity projects in Oklahoma City, Houston, southeastern New Mexico and north Texas. More than 500 employees have been involved in home-building projects in their communities.
“The Habitat projects are wonderful volunteer experiences for our employees,” said Wendi Schuur, Devon’s director of Public and Community Affairs. “Not everyone has construction skills, but anyone can actively participate and contribute. And, at the end of the project, they get to see the tangible results of their efforts.”
Devon’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity is successful because it ties directly into one of the company’s core values – being a good corporate neighbor. As an added benefit, the volunteer work contributes to team-building and camaraderie as employees get to work toward a common goal that will change families’ lives.
More than 1,500 Habitat for Humanity affiliates are at work in the United States, building houses in partnership with people in need of decent, affordable housing. Habitat houses are purchased by families at prices affordable to low-income Americans, thanks to the donated labor of Habitat volunteers, the support of partner organizations and the no-profit, no-interest terms of each U.S. Habitat for Humanity mortgage.
There is a rigorous process and certain benchmarks, including financial need, which families must meet before qualifying for a Habitat house. In many cases, the resulting Habitat for Humanity house is the first home ever owned by the recipient family.
The power of the partnership is never more evident than at the end of the project. Frequently, Devon volunteers are invited to the ceremony that marks the handing over of the house keys to a family’s new home. “It’s truly a full-circle moment for both the family receiving the house and the volunteers who worked so hard to build it,” Schuur said.
As no new home is complete without a housewarming gift, Devon often provides for new appliances, children’s beds and other essentials that help a family transition more easily into their home. “We want to be sure that the family starts off on the right foot,” Schuur said.
An estimated 5.4 million American households face worst-case housing needs, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Receiving little or no government housing assistance, these families are unable to find a decent place to live at a price they can afford to pay.
Thanks to the hard work and commitment of its employee-volunteers, Devon Energy is helping transform lives for the better and building communities – one home at a time.