Jimmy Carter: Reflections from 20 Years of Volunteer Service with Habitat

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter--Habitat for Humanity's most well-known volunteer--has been involved with the organization for 20 years.

Twenty years ago, just as Habitat World began publication, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter joined Habitat for Humanity's battle against poverty housing. In the years since, he and his wife, Rosalynn, annually have lent their labors to the weeklong namesake project. President Carter's voice has echoed through the pages of Habitat World for the past two decades. Here are a few excerpts.

On Habitat's goal to eliminate poverty housing,
December 1984
"Habitat is a venture of faith and dedication. Its goals have been almost unreachable since the very origins of Habitat. ... There is no way Habitat can build all the homes that are necessary in the world. And what we'll have to do in the relatively near future is to decide not only how Habitat fits within the existing structure of home building ... but we'll also, in addition to that assessment, have to decide how Habitat's concept ... can be used to generate similar efforts throughout the world that won't directly be associated with Habitat at all. ... There is no constraint on the concept or the commitment or the practical demonstration, and that's where the almost unlimited growth can take place."

On building relationships with people in need,
February/March 1991
"Habitat has opened unprecedented opportunities for me to cross the chasm that separates those of us who are free, safe, financially secure, well fed and housed, and influential enough to shape our own destiny from our neighbors who enjoy few, if any, of these advantages of life. Working side by side with these families in building their new homes, we have not only learned about their hardships, but about their strong family ties, capabilities, ambitions, dedication and generosity. We have also been inspired by the transforming effect that a decent home can have in their lives. ... All in all, the few contributions we have made to Habitat have been far outweighed by the personal blessings we have derived from these experiences."

October/November 1991
"There's a chasm between families like us and our neighbors not far away, and we never are able to cross that chasm--except [through] Habitat for Humanity. That is the singular, divine concept that has opened a vision to me and many tens of thousands of people around the world. Habitat puts into practical effect the teachings of Jesus Christ--compassion, service, love. Habitat opens up to us, individually and collectively, the opportunity to live a great life. That's what Habitat means to me. I'm blessed to be [its] partner."

On volunteering with Habitat for Humanity,
October/November 1998
"There's mixed emotions involved. It's an honor for me to be here working with all these volunteers. But it's also a little awkward--I'm here to work, just like everybody else. ... Rosalynn and I came here to build a house, not shake hands and take photographs. ... There are few times in our lives when we are exultant. And each Friday afternoon of a Jimmy Carter Work Project tears run unashamedly down our faces. That is a moment of exultation."

On making a difference,
December 2000/January 2001
"Everyone has a hunger to make our only God-given life significant, to reach out to others less fortunate. It's an integral part of the faith we profess. It's not easy to do. How do you break down that barrier between 'us' and 'them'? There are 1.2 billion people on the planet who live on less than $1 a day. How do we help them? ... We've been blessed by Millard and Linda Fuller, who better than anyone I know have given us an opportunity to put our religious faith into practice, not in a sacrificial way, but in a self-gratifying way. It gives all of us a way to transcend a chasm and break through a shell. When we think we've made a sacrifice, with God as my witness, it is never a sacrifice. It is a blessing."