Whimsical birdhouses took the shapes of landmarks, locomotives and anime characters at Habitat for Humanity of Berks County’s 10th annual Birdhouse Challenge.
The organization’s signature fundraiser blended creativity with philanthropy, culminating with an auction of more than 25 birdhouses created by local artisans and others.
The evening at the Reading Country Club in Exeter Township drew about 250 attendees to support the work of the nonprofit that helps provide affordable homes for the local workforce population.
“We’re starting to withstand the test of time,” Timothy J. Daley, executive director of Habitat Berks, said of the event. “People see that it’s important to get behind the things that we do, and the event and its growth and its impact is testament to their support.”
Birdhouses are on display during the Habitat for Humanity 10th annual Birdhouse Challenge at the Reading Country Club on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Attendance has gone up significantly in the last three years, Daley said.
“So that tells me that Habitat’s mission is starting to resonate with people,” he said, “and that they understand all the money raised stays in Berks County, and it goes towards helping fellow community members develop home ownership futures. That’s the impact that we see at our event.”
The work of Habitat Berks is currently targeted in neighborhoods around the Buttonwood Street gateway, Goggleworks Center for the Arts and new Reading High School Innovation Academy, Daley said. On a broader spectrum, he noted, Habitat has a two-fold goal of increasing homeownership and eliminating blight in the city.
“Blighted properties are a cancer to any urban community,” Daley said, “and we want to remediate 100 blighted properties over the next three years, and that means 100 new homeowners in those properties.”
Daley thanked all those who supported the event, including the local artisans, students, businesses and organizations that contributed birdhouses to the challenge.
Birdhouses are on display during the Habitat for Humanity 10th annual Birdhouse Challenge at the Reading Country Club on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Among the standout pieces were entries that paid tribute to Reading’s heritage, including a detailed replica of the Pagoda and a model Reading Railroad engine.
The evening’s top bid went to Melody Meadow Manor, a collaboration of artist Joshua Griffith of Exeter Township, a 12th grader at 21st Century Cyber Charter School, and Val Bertoia of Bertoia Studios. The elaborate piece, sponsored by Barley Snyder Attorneys at Law, doubled as a windchime and fetched $1,700 in the live auction.
Birdhouses are on display during the Habitat for Humanity 10th annual Birdhouse Challenge at the Reading Country Club on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
The live auction also included five pollinator houses built by carpentry students at the Reading-Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center. The wooden houses designed for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects were auctioned to donors who turned them over for placement at libraries throughout Berks.
The evening’s fundraising activities also featured a silent auction, raffle prizes and a cork-and-bottle pull raffle.
“We’re still tallying the night, but it’s expected to raise over $50,000 to support the work of our mission,” said Doug Long, Habitat Berks’ development director.
Five pollinator houses built by carpentry students at the Reading-Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center were auctioned during Habitat for Humanity’s 10th annual Birdhouse Challenge at the Reading Country Club in Exeter Township on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Habitat Berks also used the occasion to recognize key contributors to its mission. This year’s honorees included Margie DeJesus of Coldwell Banker Realty, Wyomissing, as Individual of the Year; Larry Sundberg of Shoemakersville as Volunteer of the Year; and Sentry Abstract Company, Wyomissing, as Community Partner of the Year.
Visions Federal Credit Union served as the presenting sponsor.
While the birdhouses often become cherished decorative pieces for winning bidders, Daley said the event’s true value lies in what it helps build: affordable homeownership opportunities for working families in Berks County.
“We have an aggressive agenda and we’re doing things now in a much larger and aggressive way,” he said.