Celebrating 40: 1986-2026

February 2026- John Galvin:

As a founding member and past board president, John has had more than 40 years of involvement with South Shore Habitat and no one has a greater perspective than John Galvin on the growth and impact of the organization. Present at the founding of the organization in 1986, John cites one of his fondest memories being when he met Millard Fuller (founder of Habitat for Humanity) and former President Jimmy Carter (one of the best-known supporters of Habitat).

John humbly recalls the earliest days of South Shore Habitat, "We [members of the United Church of Christ, Norwell] would meet in Mark Newby’s office to plan how we would complete the renovations on our first major project. We didn’t have the skills or know-how on what we were undertaking. We prayed for guidance and help."

40 years later, the organization has professionalized and expanded but the core of the organization remains the same; John notes that he supports Habitat because housing is such a critical factor in the well-being and development of families, especially children. 

Many don't know that South Shore Habitat makes regular contributions to support Habitat work in El Salvador. To date, South Shore Habitat has tithed more than $650,000 to support El Salvador's Habitat. John had the opportunity to visit El Salvador and help with the work. He says, "Cement block construction is not easy. We mixed cement on the ground and one time we were making sidewalks and had to mix tons of cement for the sidewalks. It was backbreaking. The El Salvadorans were wonderful to work with and provided great Hospitality."

-John Galvin, past President of South Shore Habitat and one of the early founders of the organization. Photo c. 2006.

January 2026 - Senator Patrick O'Connor:

"I’ve been involved with Habitat over the past 9 1/2 years I’ve been in office. We have been part of groundbreakings, the Jimmy Carter memorial service, Habitat builds, presenting members of the team with Senate recognition, and offering support through the Towns that I represent. It is truly inspiring to see these projects come to life from the ground up. Experiencing all the work that the construction workers and the Habitat staff put into ensuring that these homes are built with care and precision is really moving.

My favorite memory is when my team and I helped on the build in Cohasset in September 2024. When we went to the unveiling of the home in September 2025, it was truly remarkable to see how the foundation of the home that we had helped to build really came together, and to meet the families that would be living there. It felt like a positive impact was truly made.

I hope that South Shore Habitat continues to grow and continue to impact our communities here on the South Shore, and beyond. I truly admire the work that you all do and look forward to participating in these projects in the future. I will always support the invaluable work that South Shore Habitat does."

- Patrick O’Connor, State Senator representing part of the South Shore (Weymouth-Duxbury). Image: O'Connor's team at Cohasset build site, 2025.