Goochland County Staff Volunteer Day at Local Habitat for Humanity Build

County employees traded their desks for a construction site on March 18, when staff from Goochland's Community Development departments spent a full workday framing the future of affordable homeownership alongside Goochland Habitat for Humanity.

Staff from the Community Development departments of Building Inspection, Environmental, and the Customer Service Center volunteered to assist with a Habitat for Humanity new home build taking place in Goochland County. The teams traditionally assist with construction of the floor joist and subfloor for a new single-family dwelling, and the day is split into two shifts so all staff can participate while still keeping county offices open to residents.

The program traces its roots to a single professional meeting five years ago. Director of Customer Service Ashley Parker began the initiative in 2021 after being inspired during a Women in Code Enforcement and Development meeting, then contacted Goochland Habitat for Humanity and began coordinating volunteer opportunities for county staff. The teams are now in their fifth year of participation.

Women in Code Enforcement and Development is an International Code Council chapter whose mission is to promote the value, recognition, and professional development of women in code enforcement and development within Virginia through mentoring, education, networking, and collaboration. Parker's attendance at one such meeting channeled that professional ethos directly into community action back home in Goochland.

The March 18 build also drew support from a neighboring jurisdiction. The county extended a special thank you to the Hanover County Building Inspections Department for conducting the floor joist inspection.

To encourage giving back to the community where they work, Goochland County offers employees volunteer hours each year. That policy gave the Community Development teams the time to show up in force, and the experience left an impression on the volunteers themselves. "I love being able to work in the county that I have grown up in and be able to give back to the community by helping with the Habitat builds," said one volunteer identified as Tucker. "Being able to volunteer and help with these projects, not only as a county employee but a resident as well, is a really rewarding experience," said another volunteer identified as Marion.

Parker framed the day as more than just a community service box to check. "We are thankful for this team building opportunity, outside the office, where we can all work together to give back to our community which we proudly serve," she said.

Habitat for Humanity Goochland has been building homes in the county since 1997 and, with community partners, completes an average of one home per year. It remains the only nonprofit building affordable houses in Goochland. With county staff now embedded as a recurring part of that construction calendar, what started as a spark of inspiration at a professional meeting has quietly become load-bearing infrastructure for the county's affordable housing effort.