Category: Give Back

The Power of Volunteering: A Path to Healthier Aging

1/30/2025

Herb Grulke and Mark Piepenburg are shining examples of how volunteering can positively influence the aging process. Mark recently celebrated an impressive milestone of 11,000 volunteer hours with Habitat for Humanity, while Herb, a dedicated ReStore volunteer, just turned 90 years young.

Volunteering, even in small amounts, has been linked to slower age acceleration for both retirees and working individuals, according to a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

“We found that the effects of a moderate level of volunteering — between 50 to 199 hours per year, or about one to four hours per week — were strongest for retired people,” said Cal Halvorsen, an associate professor at the Brown School and co-author of the study “Does volunteering reduce epigenetic age acceleration among retired and working older adults? Results from the Health and Retirement Study.” The study will be published in the January issue of the journal Social Science & Medicine.

Youth Making a Difference: The Story of Two Brudders Cakery and Their Summer of Impact

10/25/2024

When most kids think of summer vacation, they imagine time spent swimming, playing video games, or relaxing. But two young boys in Green Bay had a different idea. With a passion for baking and an even bigger passion for giving back, they decided to turn their summer break into an opportunity to make a difference in their community.
Under the name Two Brudders Cakery, these boys set up a stand, selling cupcakes with a mission to support local nonprofits. As each batch of cupcakes sold, they grew more excited about their goal of helping others. But, like many of us, they wondered: "Did we make enough of an impact?"

Their question was answered in a special way when Jessica Diederich, CEO of Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity, took them on a trip to the local hardware store. There, the boys saw firsthand how their donation translated into tangible tools and materials for the Habitat build, including 3" framing nails, carpenter pencils, and tape measures. Their eyes lit up with joy as they realized that their summer efforts helped build a home for a family in need.

Green Bay Habitat Blog

The Power of Volunteering: A Path to Healthier Aging

Youth Making a Difference: The Story of Two Brudders Cakery and Their Summer of Impact

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