Students volunteer with Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity during spring break
Hattiesburg, MS – Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity will host 7 students from University of Maryland and 20 students from University of Texas, Austin the week of March 16-20, 2015. The schedule continues with 17 students from Missouri Science and Technology March 21-28, 2015, 15 students from University of Wisconsin March 29 – April 4, 2015, and 24 students from Walter Payton Prep April 5-11, 2015. We have already hosted students from Concordia College February 23 – 27, 2015 and Georgetown University March 9 – 13, 2015.
These students will be volunteering during their spring break to help build or rehabilitate homes for families in need of affordable housing. These students are participating in Habitat for Humanity’s national alternative break program, Collegiate Challenge.
“We look forward to having the student volunteers again this year. This is our eighth time hosting Collegiate Challenge volunteers and we are appreciative of their efforts,” said Laine Burnett, Hattiesburg Area Habitat’s Family and Volunteer Manager. “Collegiate Challenge provides the students with an opportunity to help provide affordable housing solutions in our area. The work they’ll do during their spring break will have a lasting impact in our community.” The students will be working on existing Habitat projects like the home of Geneal Washam- Hattiesburg’s 64rd Habitat House, and various home repairs through the affiliate’s “A Brush with Kindness” program.
For the past 25 years, more than 229,000 students have spent their school breaks volunteering across the country through Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge program, donating more than $23 million to Habitat affiliates.
“We are grateful to Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity for hosting the students as part of Collegiate Challenge.” said Jenn Skudlarek, Habitat for Humanity International’s manager of U.S. volunteer programs. “Their work together makes a meaningful difference and will have a lasting impact in communities across the country.”
The Collegiate Challenge program is one of the many programs Habitat has to engage youth ages 5 to 25 in Habitat’s work. In addition to the ongoing support State Farm® offices provide local Habitat affiliates across the United States, State Farm has served as the national corporate sponsor of Habitat for humanity’s youth programs since 2007.
“We are so grateful to these students for giving up their spring break and coming to Hattiesburg to build with us” said Laura Goodwin-Wright, Resource Development Manager with Hattiesburg Habitat. “While most college students take a much needed break, these students will be working during their entire visit to help our affiliate serve more families.”
About Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity
Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit housing organization committed to assisting families in need by providing the life-changing opportunity of having simple, decent affordable housing in partnership with a team of enthusiastic volunteers and staff guided by Christian values. Since 1990, our ministry has provided a hand-up, not a hand-out to 70 families in the Hattiesburg community. Habitat volunteers build and repair houses in partnership with low-income families. Upon completion, the families repay the cost of services through ZERO interest loans and at no profit to Hattiesburg Area Habitat. For more information about how to get involved, visit www.hattiesburghabitat.org or call the Habitat office at 601-582-4663.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 600,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www. Habityat.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat.org or join Habitat’s blog community at www.habitat.org/blog
