Volunteer Spotlight

Michael and Alysson Foster

Love is in the Air at Habitat this Valentine’s Day

You never know when you will get bit by the love bug, but this little critter sure got around the Habitat office in 2008. Our new volunteer coordinator, Isabelle Accornero got married last summer in Jamaica. Two of our long-time volunteers, Michael Foster and Alysson Blake (now Mrs. Foster), got married on December 27th, and not to be undone, our fabulous, and much too modest Executive Director Diane Estrin got married on New Years Eve to John Steward in a small family wedding. Diane and Isabelle say they would much rather hear about how Michael and Alysson met at Habitat several years ago and saw their love blossom into something quite extraordinary.

Michael and Alysson are both retired federal employees with a broad range of administrative experience which they share with Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County. After being retired for several years, Alysson was looking for opportunities to help the community. That very same day she opened the Press Democrat to the Community section and found two requests for volunteer assistance, one from the Charles Schultz Museum and the other from Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County. She made the calls and has been volunteering with both organizations ever since.

Michael was also looking for ways to help others and was always intrigued with the Habitat for Humanity story. He called the local Habitat affiliate and found out about helping on a build site in the Kali subdivision. He showed up early one day and proceeded to help with lot cleanup, hauling debris, and other small tasks, then ended up helping the volunteer paint contractor paint the exterior of Sherri’s house – twice. They were the last ones to leave the job site that day. Michael went home exhausted and satisfied after spending most of the day climbing up and down ladders and scrambling over the roof of the house. Unfortunately, he hadn’t climbed a ladder in a while and could hardly walk the next several days. Undaunted, Michael decided he would just have to find OTHER ways to help Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County.

Over the last several years Michael and Alysson worked on several events and committees together. Alysson asked Michael out (yes, she asked him) to a wine tasting in Petaluma and Michael accepted (not telling Alysson he was a beer drinker). They had a great time that night and never looked back, becoming quite inseparable this last year.

They traveled together constantly with trips to New Orleans attending a Habitat Conference, helping with the build at the Musician’s Village in the Upper Ninth Ward. They later attended a Disaster Preparedness Class in Biloxi Mississippi, where they spent two days helping build a house in Gulfport with Habitat volunteers (Michael avoided ladders or roofs). During these months their love grew, leading in August to Michael asking Alysson to marry him, and culminating with their wedding on December 27th. On their honeymoon on the big island of Hawaii, they even stopped by the local Habitat affiliate and ReStore in Kona.

Michael and Alysson continue to volunteer for our local Habitat affiliate. Michael manages the web site, creates and edits the HabiChat e-newsletter, works with our member/donor database, helps at events, and is involved in the Family Services program. Alysson is Diane’s “staff extender” providing invaluable administrative support, researches policies and procedures, assists at events, sits on and chairs committees, and helps whenever needed. When asked why they volunteer, they both believe that the more you give and do for others in life, the more you get back in return.