Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County is made up of individuals with a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds, who are joined together by a shared passion for our community and for the transformative power of homeownership. At the heart of this mission are the dedicated humans who make it all possible, including Construction Site Supervisor Sarah Woolford.
Future Homeowners, volunteers, and professional tradesmen work with Sarah during the construction of homes until the completion of the homeowner punch list. Onsite, Sarah, along with Senior Construction Site Supervisor, Toren Rash, are the most visible and consistent point of contact, coordinating and overseeing the building process. Having been engaged with Habitat since her youth, Sarah deeply understands and is committed to our mission of creating affordable housing opportunities for all.
Born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Sarah’s passion for construction and creation is influenced and inspired by her family. Growing up, her father’s constant involvement in household projects sparked Sarah’s admiration for his knowledge and ability to customize so many things to their family’s specific needs. Sarah’s grandma’s handiness and versatility in fixing anything—from clothes to garage doors to bringing a plant back from the verge of death—also left a lasting impression. This introduction to problem-solving and hands-on work laid the foundation for Sarah’s own interest in the construction industry, but her Aunt Ann’s introduction to Habitat for Humanity further fueled her passion for creation and community service.
At age 10, Sarah had the opportunity to “work” around her Aunt Ann’s office and contribute some of her earnings to a nonprofit. Seeing one of her classmates receive a Habitat house and witnessing their joy and excitement led Sarah to make a donation to the organization.
Sarah’s journey in construction began during her high school years at Hoosier Hills Career Center, where she studied Building Trades. She continued her education in construction management at Ball State University, further honing her abilities. During her professional work experience at Walsh Construction in Chicago and Loren Wood Builders, Sarah held various roles such as electrical assistant, site supervision over demolition, and an estimator. These responsibilities allowed her to gain practical skills and knowledge across different aspects of construction.
Now, as part of the Habitat team, Sarah embraces the mindset that education never stops and loves that she has the opportunity to continue learning and growing her talents.
“I love construction because it brings people from all different walks of life- homeowners, tradespeople, architects, engineers- together to build a home,” says Sarah. “At the end of the day, you have tangible evidence of what you have accomplished. I love residential construction because you get to create a home that provides shelter and a place of community. At Habitat that community starts before the first block is even laid. The best part [of working with Future Homeowners] is getting to know our wonderful families and hoping that I was able to contribute in at least a small way in improving their lives.”
Sarah loves the sound of wind chimes and cherishes the opportunity to travel. She feels enormously grateful to have traveled to El Salvador with Habitat for Humanity, experiencing the organization’s global impact firsthand.
Sarah’s dedication to improving the lives of others is evident in her work as a Construction Site Supervisor—plus she’s downright fun to build with. Her unwavering belief in our organization’s mission and her drive undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing success and growth of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.
Say hello to Sarah onsite or at woolford@monroecountyhabitat.org.