1,200+ Volunteers Lead One-of-a-Kind Habitat Build Across Iowa
John Deere teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to launch Building Our Communities, a first-of-its-kind effort bringing affiliates across Iowa and the Quad Cities together to help more families find a place to call home.
Employees at the Center
At the heart of it all were John Deere employees. More than 1,200 volunteers rolled up their sleeves, contributing over 2,500 hours in one week to help build and improve homes in Des Moines, the Quad Cities, Waterloo, and Dubuque.
Some worked inside Deere facilities, building wall panels that were later transported to build sites and became part of real homes. Others spent time out in the community, working alongside Habitat crews and future homeowners.
The goal was to make it easy for anyone to get involved, no matter how they chose to help.
The goal was to make it easy for anyone to get involved, no matter how they chose to help.
“We wanted to create as many ways as possible for people to show up and help,” said Taryn Edgin, president of the John Deere Foundation. “Whether employees are building at a construction site or framing walls on-site at one of our facilities, that’s what this is about. Neighbors helping neighbors.”
A Shared Investment in Communities
This effort was backed by a $1.2 million investment from the John Deere Foundation in 2026, helping support the construction or improvement of more than 30 homes. It also built on a long partnership with Habitat for Humanity, with more than $5 million contributed over the past five years.
Why it Matters
Across the state of Iowa, many families were feeling the strain of rising housing costs. More than 319,000 households were spending over 30% of their income on housing, making it harder to cover everyday essentials. Efforts like this helped create more stability and opportunity for families.