by Allison Rossi Utter, Volunteer & Community Outreach Manager

Brian Habeck has been chosen as Volunteer of the Month for December. Brian has been volunteering for Team Handyman since November 2021. When asked why he volunteers, Brian said, “It feels good to help people. My brother pushed me to do more with my free time after retirement.” Kris Recker, Team Handyman Assistant says, “Brian has been an integral part of our handyman team. During the pandemic several volunteers were no longer available and Brian reached out to volunteer. He is very detail oriented and is great at thinking through our sometimes complex jobs.” Brian says, “Doing this work instills a little bit of pride in yourself that you can share your skills and time with others. It is not about putting another feather in your hat.” A client that he helped for Team Handyman had this to say, “Brian provided a great service to me. Installation of grab bars has been invaluable and so important for my safety. Brian was very thorough.” Recently Brian took on an unusual job for a client that took him twelve hours over two days to complete. Brian is always willing to go the extra mile for clients and will take on challenges without hesitation. He is very reliable and when he is assigned a job will stay on task until it is complete.

Brian was born in Carleton and moved to Bay City when he was young. He worked as a Mechanical Engineer for GM in Bay City for 44 years. He and his wife, Karen have 4 grown children and 2 grandchildren. Brian spends a lot of time volunteering. He drives for Cancer Services and maintains trails at the McLean Nature Preserve. He also does volunteering for Little Forks Conservatory and the lake recovery efforts. As if those volunteer jobs don’t keep him busy enough, he recently requested to become a Meals on Wheels driver with his wife, Karen. When Brian isn’t volunteering he enjoys being outdoors biking, boating, hiking, cross country skiing and traveling.

Team Handyman volunteers assist Midland County seniors in keeping their homes safe and secure. They can make important modifications such as securing slip hazards, stairs and handrails. Volunteers can install grab bars, raised toilet seats and anti-slip surfaces in bathrooms. They can put in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors along with other safety-related repairs and tasks. Kris Recker says, “We are so very fortunate to have a thriving handyman service in Midland County and grateful to the skilled volunteers that make the program possible.” Labor and parts are free to Midland County residents age 60 and older. Donations are always appreciated. To learn more about these and other services, call Senior Services at (989) 633-3700.

We do have a need for a few more volunteers for Team Handyman in addition to other volunteer opportunities. Call Allison at (989) 633-3741 if you are interested or would like more information.

Thank you, Brian, for your handyman skills and your willingness to share them with the older adults of Midland County. You are greatly appreciated!