For many students, spring break means a trip to the beach, but for others it means giving back to those in need by building houses with Habitat for Humanity.
This year three staff members and a group of 22 students traveled to Pittsboro, North Carolina to participate in Habitat for Humanity. Seton Hill University (SHU) has contributed to this program for the last six years and has taken a number of students to volunteer where needed. Each year the group travels to a different location, but the theme is always the same, to help others in need.
By Allyson Hepler,
Contributor
For many students, spring break means a trip to the beach, but for others it means giving back to those in need by building houses with Habitat for Humanity.
This year three staff members and a group of 22 students traveled to Pittsboro, North Carolina to participate in Habitat for Humanity. Seton Hill University (SHU) has contributed to this program for the last six years and has taken a number of students to volunteer where needed. Each year the group travels to a different location, but the theme is always the same, to help others in need.
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit organization that seeks to create shelters for families, while eliminating poverty and homelessness around the world.
The organization looks for volunteers to help give back by building houses. Since 1976, they have built more than 225,000 houses around the world. The houses are built and sold to partner families, through the use of affordable loans and volunteer work.
Since spring break and Easter vacation were combined this year, the volunteer group left on March 15 and returned on Friday March 21. This enabled the students participating in the trip a chance to see their families during the holiday weekend.
“We are going down there with the attitude that we will do whatever needs to be done,” said Cindy Boland, director of Campus Ministry. They will either begin to build a new house or contribute to working on a house already in development. The students, both new travelers and veteran builders, are excited about going.
Students like the idea of helping others while still being able to spend time with their friends. “I like to know that I helped to make someone’s life a little brighter,” said Kathryn Lemon, a freshman. Many of the students echoed Kathryn’s feelings about the trip.
Michelle Gailey, a senior, said, “My favorite part besides the actual physical labor part is the reflection groups we have after every work day.” For some students this is their last trip, while others are just beginning to learn that one person can make a difference.
Courtesy of Darren Achtezhn
