When he’s not volunteering at 826LA and lending his talents as an illustrator to our field trips program, Patrick Diaz can also be found building homes across the country.

During a recent San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity build in Glendale, Patrick had a chance encounter with someone who also has done work with 826LA in the past: Alberto, who teaches special education at Los Angeles School of Global Studies.

Alberto’s path crossed with 826LA volunteer Patrick Diaz while he was building the teacher’s home with San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.

Alberto is a future Habitat homeowner, and when he mentioned that he currently lives in Echo Park, Patrick mentioned 826LA. As fate would have it, Alberto said he’s also been involved with 826LA. He has brought classes in to 826LA for field trips, and Alberto also helped put together They Were Shining With Ambition, the publication about street vendors written by high school seniors from L.A. School of Global Studies.

You may read a story from the book, released in June in collaboration with the East LA Community Corporation, here.

“It was really great to meet him and help build his house, and to discover the fine threads of connections across L.A.,” Patrick said. “So I asked him to pose holding the Habitat sign I carry across the country.”

Thanks to our more than 3,500 volunteers, these stories aren’t few and far between. Have you ever ran into an 826LA volunteer while out and about? We’d love to hear about it.

If you’re interested in volunteering with us, click here.