In the mid 80s, several families were transferred around the country by IBM.  Jan’s husband, Art, was a part of this temporary “transfer migration”, so the family moved from Poughkeepsie, NY to Tucson in 1987.

In the early 90s, when other IBM employees chose to return to “home”, the Hoffman family decided to remain in Tucson.  They felt that since Art’s job required frequent travel, remaining in Tucson would be less disruptive for their teenage children.

Once the children were grown and gone, Jan and her husband decided to move to the western part of Tucson and soon became immersed in the building of a new home, including the landscaping. 

After spending many years involved with her children and their school activities, in addition to numerous church activities, being idle was not something that Jan was ready for.  Art suggested that Jan look around for volunteer opportunities in Tucson and eventually suggested she look into volunteering with Habitat because of their mutual love of building.   He thought that if Jan could check it out first, when he was finally ready for retirement, he would already have a foot in the door!

Five years ago, Jan started volunteering in the front office manning the desk every Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.  She would answer phones, handle filing, greet visitors and answer questions.

She soon felt that she would like to have a little more to do.  Jan then began assisting Nancy Rude in the development department with organizing the filing system for Habitat and soon other projects were being thrown her way.

Among the many projects that Jan was involved in was the opening the HabiStore . . . she helped look for available properties, and set up the computers and programming that would be needed to track inventory. 

Jan also helped put together the first calendar produced by Habitat for Humanity Tucson as a thank you gift for the donors.   After gathering ideas, Jan decided to focus on a project that had been given to some of the homeowner’s children, “What Does a Home Mean to You?”    Using the children’s artwork and their various quotes, it was mailed out and the response amazed everyone.  Habitat received a total of $25,000 from these calendars, which were only meant as a thank you! 

Jan cares for her elderly father and three young grandchildren (ages 1, 2 and 3), but at least one day a week is devoted to Habitat for Humanity.  Jan says she just has to get her “Habi-Fix” on a regular basis.

For about a year, Jan’s father, Dee, was able to accompany Jan to Habitat for Humanity Tucson and the HabiStore, and help out where ever he could.  The two of them took on the organization of the homeowners services files, which took over 3 months to get done.  Last summer, the two of them helped out during the HabiStore’s inventory.  Dee made sure that all of the workers were continuously supplied with bottled water so they didn’t have to stop; this enabled the workers to complete the inventory in record time.

Jan is also the liaison to the Tucson Association of Realtors’s committee that puts on a golf tournament, softball tournament and sells tickets to Gaslight as a Habitat fundraiser.  She admits that over the last five years, she has helped in every way imaginable, including accounts payable.  She booth sits, has been a family partner and participated on the selection committee.

Being a family partner and a member of the selection committee are Jan’s favorite areas to volunteer.  Serving on these two committees allows her to witness firsthand the difference Habitat makes in someone’s life. 

Jan truly believes in Habitat’s mission and feels that, because of her participation, she has not only grown as a person but her world has expanded.  Jan never dreamed her life would be so touched, or that she would grow so much as an individual . . . and that is why she stays with Habitat.