Two weeks ago, Habitat for Humanity affiliates all across the United States–along with thousands of professional homebuilders–joined forces to construct more than 400 houses in 130 communities in just five days. Here in the metro-Warren/Detroit area (where I serve on the Board of Directors of Macomb County Habitat for Humanity), volunteers and professional builders with ties to the Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan, partnered to construct eight new homes, all of which benefited deserving families and neighborhoods in need.

The idea of a nationwide build that partnered Habitat for Humanity volunteers with professional homebuilders began in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2002, when 12 homes were constructed in less than one week. Then, in 2003, 24 homes were built in a week, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Here are some little-known facts: Habitat for Humanity is currently ranked overall as the 18th largest home builder in the United States, and the third largest private home builder. The organization works in more than 1,700 locations across the country, completing on average more than 5,000 homes per year and nearly 20,000 homes per year outside the United States.

Why I’m blogging about all of this is because The Big Nail is proud to support the work of Habitat for Humanity. The Big Nail encourages everyone out there check out Macomb County Habitat for Humanity for themselves. If you do not live in the local area, visit the national Habitat for Humanity web site and search for an affiliate in your area. And if you’re a college student, don’t let that fact stop you from volunteering. As my daughter Kolleen found out when she enrolled at Albion, many colleges and universities have Habitat for Humanity chapters of their own.