Acts of Service & Kindness: Lessons from Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, left behind a legacy of volunteering, and advocacy for affordable housing for all. While he touched thousands of lives while in office, it was his acts of service and kindness while volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, that resonates most with me. Today, I want to share his volunteer work and the impact I got to see firsthand.

I came to know President Carter when he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of Los Angeles County. Every year, Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter spent one week working for Habitat on home builds and renovation projects throughout the world. They began volunteering in 1984 and continued for 36 years. He helped raise the profile of Habitat and inspired thousands of volunteers to work on homes where the need was great.

I was fortunate to be a part of two Carter Work Projects. First in Los Angeles in 2007 where the Carter’s came to volunteer working on homes and to be part of the national kick-off of a new effort to renovate homes for low-income families called A Brush with Kindness.

A Brush with Kindness was created in the Twin Cities to preserve homeownership and generational wealth in marginalized communities. Soon after, it became part of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to complement its home building work. Over the next few years, Habitat affiliates around the country started their own A Brush with Kindness programs.

Then in October of 2010, the Carter Work Project came to the Twin Cities to help Habitat build and renovate homes in Minneapolis and St. Paul. During the week of volunteering, President Carter helped renovate the home of Dannie Mae M., a resident of Eastside of St. Paul and retired surgical nurse at HCMC.

But, this was not the first time Dannie Mae met Jimmy Carter.

Before becoming president, Carter made a speech in Minneapolis to students in the University of Minnesota’s nursing program. Dannie Mae was one of those students. Before he took the stage, Carter was told of a young woman in the crowd from his home state who was also the first African-American to enroll in the school’s nursing program. Near the end of his speech, Carter extended a surprise invitation: “Dannie from Georgia, come on up here with me.”

“I was just shocked,” said Dannie. “Not in my wildest imagination did I think a black girl from Georgia would get the chance to meet the president.”

When the Carter’s arrived at the home of Dannie Mae M. to assist with her home renovation in 2010, it was a very emotional reunion for both Dannie Mae and Jimmy (his preferred name when volunteering). She spent time with the president and all the volunteers that worked on transforming her home that day. At the end of the day Dannie felt so blessed, thankful and relieved that the president came to visit and that she could live in her home safer and healthier for years to come.

I too am blessed and thankful to be called to carry on similar work through Age Well at Home.  The work continues to grow as the need seems endless for the growing population of older adults struggling to stay home. Please consider helping us keep a mom, grandma or neighbor living in a safe, healthy home they so dearly love. 

— Pat Lund, Executive Director of Age Well at Home