Another full year for Habitat for Humanity

This spring break, Lawrence students will have the opportunity to travel down to South Carolina to participate in the Collegiate Challenge through Lawrence University’s campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity by building a house. Collegiate Challenge is a spring break opportunity for high school and college students to help build and complete houses. The Collegiate Challenge participants will build a house from start to finish
this year in Easley, S.C.
The Lawrence chapter of Habitat for Humanity has many more exciting
events planned for this year. On Feb. 13 they will host a Valentine’s Day party at the Emergency Shelter of Fox Valley and make cards and cookies with the people living there. Also in February, the group is planning
a time to help Habitat ReStore – which recently opened this fall in Appleton – to sort through donated
items and excavate houses for reusable materials; the program is almost completely run by volunteers.
In the plans for this year is a fashion show in which participants would create an outfit to model from used materials. President of Program and Fundraising Kristi Sandven says it is “essentially a Shack-a-thon for your body.” Shack-a-thon, the annual 24-hour shack building and campout, will be held May 13. The club reports that they have already raised $13,000 of the target $20,000. Any groups interested
in participating need to raise an entry fee, which can be done though bake sales, Krispy Kreme sales, empanada sales and other types of fundraising.
Another new event this year will be Demolition Day, held during
finals week in March. Housing materials such as toilets will be provided – along with a sledgehammer
– for students to take out their frustration and stress. Lastly, for this year’s events – not including all the local builds, demolitions and dedications that the group also participates attends – they will be partnering up with the new group Students’ War Against Hunger and Poverty to bring in the “Faces of Homelessness” panel and educate students, especially on Habitat International and inadequate housing
for the poor.
There are only three remaining spots left for the group’s spring break trip, so Lawrence students should act fast if they are interested
in going along. The cost of the trip has dropped to only $100 and a mere $20 deposit is required to save yourself a spot. Interested students should contact Builds President Carly Monahan soon if interested – no past experience
is needed. Meetings are held Thursdays in Downer F at 12:15 p.m. Active members fluctuate depending on the events but hundreds
are subscribed to the mailing list to keep updated with what is happening. If you are at all interested
in any of the events listed above or want to help plan campus events or local volunteerism, send an e-mail to luhabitat@yahoo.com to be added to the mailing list. Remember, anyone can help – one just needs the desire.