Habitat for Humanity North Central Iowa

09/11/2026

Today, we remember September 11, 2001.

We remember the lives that were taken, the families who were forever changed, and the heroes who ran toward danger when others were running away. We remember the firefighters, police officers, first responders, military members, and ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage, compassion, and selflessness.

Twenty-five years later, the pain of that day is still felt by those who lost someone they loved. But so is the strength, unity, and kindness that emerged in the days that followed.

May we never forget the lives lost, the sacrifices made, or the countless stories of courage and love that came from one of the darkest days in our nation's history.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

09/09/2026

TWO DOWNTOWN WEST HOMES ARE COMPLETE AND NOW ON THE MARKET! ✨🏡

Today, we’re celebrating a HUGE milestone for Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa and the Mason City community: the first two homes completed through our Neighborhood Revitalization Program are officially finished, on the market, and ready for their next owners!

So, what is the Neighborhood Revitalization Program?

Through this initiative, homes in need of significant rehabilitation are given a fresh start through renovation, community investment, and strategic partnerships. Right now, Downtown West is the focus of this work, with Habitat for Humanity NCI partnering with the City of Mason City - Government and Habitat for Humanity of Iowa to transform properties and bring new life to the area.

Rather than allowing vacant or deteriorating properties to continue to decline, the program provides the resources needed to completely transform them into safe, beautiful, energy-efficient homes while creating homeownership opportunities and contributing to stronger, healthier neighborhoods.

And there is an important piece that makes this program unique: these homes are intended to remain owner-occupied.

Each property carries a mandatory deed restriction that prohibits the home from being used as a rental and requires it to remain owner-occupied for the designated restriction period. If the homeowner chooses to sell during that period, the requirements carry forward to the next owner. This helps protect the purpose of the program and ensures these homes continue to create homeownership opportunities for people who want to put down roots and make them their own.

The program was made possible in part through Housing Renewal Program funding, which helps reduce risk for developers and nonprofits so properties that might otherwise be left behind can instead be restored and returned to productive use.

The result? Two once-neglected properties have been given a completely new life.

And now, we get to celebrate the finished product! 🎉

📍 325 1st St. NW
• 3 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | 2,052 sq. ft.
• 2-car garage
• New roof, upgraded electrical and plumbing, two high-efficiency furnaces & A/C
• New cabinets, flooring, carpet, light fixtures and fresh paint throughout
• Main-floor laundry
• Just blocks from Downtown Mason City
View the full listing & schedule a showing: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/M7108362181

📍 403 1st St. NW
• 3 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | 2,108 sq. ft.
• Complete top-to-bottom renovation
• New floors, windows, walls, roof, siding, plumbing, electrical, furnace & A/C
• Modern farmhouse design honoring the home's historic roots
• Just a couple blocks from Historic Downtown Mason City
View the full listing & schedule a showing: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/M7106946075

Financing options are available, and applicable AMI and homeownership deed restrictions apply.

Listed by Emily Peters
Brokered by Hildebrand Real Estate
641-423-5055

We are incredibly proud of the transformation that has taken place at these two addresses. What were once properties in need of significant work are now beautiful, move-in-ready homes waiting for the people who will make them their own.

This is the kind of change that happens when local organizations, city leaders, funding partners, volunteers, and community members come together with a shared vision. And this is only the beginning. We’re excited to see these homes find their next owners and continue this work in Downtown West! 🏡

Come see the transformations for yourself and schedule your showing today!

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸

Today, we celebrate the hard work, dedication, and contributions of workers in our community and across the country. We’re grateful for everyone who works hard to build stronger families, stronger neighborhoods, and a stronger North Iowa.

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 7th in observance of Labor Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday.

Have a safe and happy Labor Day!

09/01/2026

LADIES, IT’S TIME TO BUILD! ✨🔨

Grab your besties, rally your coworkers, call your sisters, and get your team together because Women Build 2026 is coming! 🏡

Spend the morning laughing, learning, getting a little dirty, and making a BIG impact right here in our community. Whether you’re a DIY pro or have never picked up a hammer before, there’s a place for you on this build site!

To help sponsor the building materials and support the local Habitat for Humanity program, each woman volunteer is encouraged to raise $100 for the Women Build Day. Just ask 10 friends for $10… it’s easy! Every dollar helps, and is tax-deductible.

📅 Women Build 2026 — Saturday, September 19th
⏰ 8:30 AM–1:00 PM
📍 Habitat ReStore Parking Lot
517 1st St NW, Mason City, IA

No experience necessary, bring your people and come ready to build! 💪🏻

Space is limited, so RSVP by September 11th and grab your spot before they’re gone!

👉🏻 REGISTER HERE: https://habitatnci.charityproud.org/VolunteerRegistration/Index/11437

Bring a friend. Bring your enthusiasm. We'll bring the hammers!
Women Build t-shirts and food will also be provided!

We can't wait to build with you!!✨🔨💪🏻🩷🏡

08/28/2026

Same amazing group, another BIG transformation!

THANK YOU to the incredible team from Family Treatment Court Center for coming out to volunteer with us again! 👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻

This time, they took on our front office gardens, which had definitely turned into little jungles! 🌿They put in some serious work w**ding, cleaning, clearing, and trimming, and the difference is incredible! Our gardens are looking SO much better thanks to all their hard work.

But what makes this group so special? They somehow manage to tackle the hard work with plenty of laughter, smiles, and great teamwork along the way! 💚

And we HAVE to give a special CONGRATULATIONS to Carolann — the beauty in the tie-dye! ✨ She got ENGAGED right before coming to volunteer with us, then showed up ready to spend her afternoon w**ding!
Talk about dedication, from “I’m engaged!” to “Where’s the w**d pile?” 😂😂

We are SO happy for you, Carolann! Congratulations on this exciting new chapter! 🎉💍

We are incredibly grateful for this hardworking group and the time, energy, and positive attitudes you continue to bring to Habitat. Thank you for helping us build more than homes, you’re helping us create beautiful, welcoming communities right here in North Central Iowa! 🏡💚

08/28/2026

We believe everyone deserves a safe, stable home 🏡

A home is just the beginning, it’s where families grow, dreams take root, and communities thrive.

With your help, we’re not just building houses, we are building hope!

🔨 Every nail = action
💚 Every gift = change

Make a difference today: https://habitatnci.charityproud.org/Donate

08/24/2026

What a Celebration! 🎉

This past Friday night, we gathered at Southbridge Mall for our Community Build-A-Thon Awards Celebration, and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate the incredible teams, creativity, generosity, and community spirit behind this year’s event!

The Community Build-A-Thon began during COVID, giving companies, families, and individuals a safe, creative, and fun way to give back to our community. In those early years, everything was built, shared, and celebrated virtually. This year marked the first time we brought the Build-A-Thon off the web and into the community, with an open Build Gallery and our first-ever public Awards Celebration — and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! Seeing people walk through the gallery, enjoy the builds, cheer on the teams, and come together to celebrate brought so much joy to all of us.

With teams, coworkers, friends, families, and community members filling the gallery, the evening was packed with laughter, excitement, and celebration! From an incredible dessert spread to Joe Malone, with Connoisseur Media LIVE on the radio, interviewing teams and sharing the stories behind their builds, and The Globe Gazette joining us to capture the celebration and share the story with the community, there was so much to see, hear, and celebrate. All 14 teams were recognized for the incredible work they put into their builds, with 9 teams taking home awards for their creativity, craftsmanship, community spirit, and fundraising efforts!

🏆 Best in Show – Adult Entry: First Citizens Bank
🏆 Best in Show – Children’s Entry: The Ruge Sisters, Team McCallister
🏆 Habitat Hero Award - Hazel’s House for Habitat
🏆 Community Spirit Award: ATURA architecture
🏆 Best Craftsmanship: Clear Lake Bank & Trust Company
🏆 Blueprint Brilliance Award: Bank Iowa of Clear Lake, Iowa
🏆 Best Neighborhood: Mountain Point Meadows, ATURA & Arrows Dei Academy- Team Six
🏆 Most Creative Award: Sunset Canyon, ATURA & Arrows Dei Academy - Team Eight
🏆 Most Likely to Be on HGTV: Jane Fischer & Associates LLC

We also celebrated five teams who went above and beyond in fundraising, each receiving a gift basket in recognition of their incredible efforts thanks to a Thrivent Financial Action Team grant! A special congratulations to First Citizens Bank, who raised the most overall and earned our Legacy Award! Every dollar raised through the Community Build-A-Thon helps Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa build and repair REAL homes for REAL families right here in our community. It’s amazing to see how these creative little builds can make such a BIG difference!

Most of all, THANK YOU to every team, sponsor, donor, volunteer, family member, friend, and community member who helped make this event possible. You took a tiny build and turned it into a BIG impact.

2026 Build-A-Thon Teams: First Citizens Bank | Ruge Sisters | Clear Lake Bank & Trust Company | Hazel Frye | Bank Iowa CL | Jane Fischer & Associates LLC | ATURA Architecture in partnership with Arrows Dei Academy with Team 1, Team 2, Team 3, Team 4, Team 5, Team 6, Team 7 and Team 8!

2026 Build-A-Thon Sponsors: CENTURY 21 Preferred | Connoisseur Media | First Citizens Bank | CLtel | Clear Lake Bank & Trust Company | The Wattnem Family | Metalcraft Inc. | Bank Iowa | Pritchard Family Auto Stores | Hildebrand Real Estate | The Bangoo Family | Farmers State Bank

And finally, a heartfelt thank you to Southbridge Mall for welcoming the Community Build-A-Thon into your space and for being such an incredible partner. The storefront was the perfect place to bring our Build Gallery to life and gave our community the opportunity to walk through, enjoy, and experience these amazing creations throughout the month. We are so grateful for your partnership and for helping us make this first year of bringing the Build-A-Thon into the community so special! 👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻

From tiny buildings to BIG dreams, this is what happens when a community builds together. Thank you for helping us make a difference, one creative build, one generous gift, and one REAL home at a time. 💚🏡

08/24/2026

📣 Extra, extra, read all about it! 📰

Our Community Build-A-Thon made the news! We’re so excited to see the Globe Gazette share the story of this fun community event and the incredible teams who came together to build, create, and raise funds for Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa.

A huge THANK YOU to the Globe Gazette for stopping out, joining us for the celebration, and sharing the Build-A-Thon story with the community. We’re grateful for your support and for helping us spread the word about the impact these teams are making! 💚

Those who built miniature houses to raise money for Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa to build real ones were honored Friday. ⤵️ Find a link to the story in the comments.

08/20/2026

📣 SHOUT OUT & THANK YOU
to Southbridge Mall and Alexis Hauge for their partnership with this years Community Build-A-Thon and this great reel sharing our Build Gallery and information about our Awards Celebration this Friday!👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻

EVERYONE IS INVITED!🎉
Join us this Friday, August 21st, for our Community Build-A-Thon Awards Celebration at Southbridge Mall! The event is open to the entire public, with the celebration running from 4:30–6:00 PM and the awards program beginning at 5:30 PM. Light refreshments and desserts will be provided!

Come see the incredible builds, cheer on your favorite teams, and celebrate the BIG impact they’re making in our community!

Don’t miss Joe Malone LIVE on-site with Connoisseur Media starting at 3:00 PM! Come early, check out the builds, cast your vote, and get ready for an evening of community and celebration!

Support your favorite team. Be part of a bigger cause. Build together. Make a difference in our community.

TEAMS: ATURA architecture in partnership with Arrows Dei Academy | First Citizens Bank | Ruge Sisters | Clear Lake Bank & Trust Company | Hazel Frye | Bank Iowa CL | Jane Fischer & Associates LLC

THANK YOU TO OUR BUILD-A-THON SPONSORS: CENTURY 21 Preferred | Connoisseur Media | First Citizens Bank | Clear Lake Bank & Trust Company | The Wattnem Family | Metalcraft Inc. | Bank Iowa | Pritchard Family Auto Stores | Hildebrand Real Estate | The Bangoo Family

08/19/2026

2 DAYS TO GO! 🏆
There’s still time to support your favorite team and cast your “vote”!

Scan the QR Code to view the Community Build-A-Thon Leaderboard, choose your favorite build, and make a donation to help your team climb the leaderboard! The “Legacy Award” will be awarded to the team that raises the most money throughout the Build-A-Thon! ✨ Every donation counts and helps your favorite team get one step closer to taking home the award!

These may be small builds, but they’re making a BIG impact. Every dollar raised goes toward helping Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa build and repair REAL homes for local families right here in our community.

And don’t forget! 📣 EVERYONE IS INVITED!
Join us this Friday, August 21st, for our Community Build-A-Thon Awards Celebration at Southbridge Mall! The event is open to the entire public, with the celebration running from 4:30–6:00 PM and the awards program beginning at 5:30 PM. Light refreshments and desserts will be provided!

Come see the incredible builds, cheer on your favorite teams, and celebrate the BIG impact they’re making in our community!

Don’t miss Joe Malone LIVE on-site with Connoisseur Media starting at 3:00 PM! Come early, check out the builds, cast your vote, and get ready for an evening of community and celebration!

Support your favorite team. Be part of a bigger cause. Build together. Make a difference in our community.

TEAMS: ATURA architecture in partnership with Arrows Dei Academy | First Citizens Bank | Ruge Sisters | Clear Lake Bank & Trust Company | Hazel Frye | Bank Iowa CL | Jane Fischer & Associates LLC

THANK YOU TO OUR BUILD-A-THON SPONSORS: CENTURY 21 Preferred | Connoisseur Media | First Citizens Bank | Clear Lake Bank & Trust Company | The Wattnem Family | Metalcraft Inc. | Bank Iowa | Pritchard Family Auto Stores | Hildebrand Real Estate | The Bangoo Family