Merlin’s Brush with Kindness

Merlin has partnered with Habitat for Humanity (HFH), to provide both financial support and volunteer support to hard working Aussie families.

Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit on a mission to ensure decent, safe and secure housing for families across the world. It’s Brush with Kindness project is a home repairs and maintenance program working in partnership with disadvantaged and socially isolated members of the community. It mobilises teams of volunteers to conduct landscaping and minor repairs to the homes of people living in poor housing.

A decent home provides much more than bricks and mortar. It’s the foundation for the future, giving families the opportunity to be healthier, happier and more secure.

According to HFH, over a million households in Australia are spending more than 30% of their income on housing, so many families are often left with little money to maintain their homes.

Safe housing leads to stronger communities that can grow and sustain themselves, and that’s why Merlin has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity and recently volunteered on its Ipswich Brush with Kindness project.

Tools Up in Ipswich

Merlin’s super team of six spent the day painting every wall, skirting and door frame of a local family home in Ipswich, Queensland, with the intent to breathe new life into the home.

We sat down with Queensland Sales Manager Chris Elleman to talk about his experience volunteering on the Brush with Kindness project, and discussed how you can get involved with HFH in the future.

What work was involved as part of the ‘Brush with Kindness’ project?

The team and I arrived on site ready for a full day of work. We worked alongside Wendy from Habitat for Humanity to paint every surface of a local Ipswich family’s three-bedroom house.

The walls were a bit chipped and dull, and we were so happy to help bring the space to life and make this house a home for the family. Throughout the day we also had the opportunity to talk to Wendy about other Brush with Kindness projects that have been happening in the Ipswich community.

What was the highlight of the day?

It was amazing to see everyone come together to get the job done. With a few laughs here and there, our team managed to get so much work done throughout the day, helping make a huge difference to this family’s home.

Who impressed you the most out of the team?

A special mention goes out to Amanda, one of our dealers from Doors Direct. She was our secret weapon. As someone who is normally behind the desk and not used to doing this type of labour. She did such an amazing job of not just painting the house – but putting up with the boys all day.

What did you learn about your colleagues through this experience?

We all work incredibly well together, and it was no different on the day. Altogether there were only six of us working alongside Wendy, four from Merlin and two from our local dealer, Doors Direct, we got all the work done in record time. We wanted to help those who need it most in the Ipswich community, and this shared goal helped us throughout the Brush with Kindness project.

What was the most rewarding part of volunteering with the ‘Brush with Kindness’ project?

Knowing that we made a difference. The house wasn’t in great shape when we arrived but with the work put in by the team, we left it looking fantastic. As we drove home after the day of volunteering, we knew that we had helped someone, and that is the best feeling in the world. I’m sure the family is incredibly happy, and, if Wendy is willing to have us again, we would love to come and help out again.

Why did Merlin choose to partner with Habitat for Humanity?

Having access to and feeling secure in your own home is a vision shared by both Merlin and Habitat for Humanity.

By working together with Habitat for Humanity in Ipswich we saw firsthand how you can make a tangible difference to the lives of vulnerable Aussie families. A home provides a sense of place and pride for people, so having a safe place for families to come together and share time with each other is so important.

How can others get involved with Habitat for Humanity?
If you’re interested in working with Habitat for Humanity to give families strength, stability and independence to build better lives, you can get a team together and find a local Brush with Kindness project. You can also donate via the Habitat for Humanity website.

We are incredibly proud of Chris and his team for volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Keep an eye out for more updates about our future work on Brush with Kindness projects.

To find out more about Merlin’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity, read about our announcement here.

For more information about Merlin’s or to browse our range of garage door openers and accessories, visit our website or call 1800 638 234.