Fourteen WSU undergraduate students, representing a wide range of majors, used their Spring Break “constructively” – by participating in a Habitat for Humanity-sponsored home building project.
The students traveled to Wayland, Mass., to build a foundation for a home that the organization will offer to a needy family. The WSU crew donated $1000 and approximately 225 hours of sweat equity.
Allison Lapointe, a sophomore majoring in Biotechnology, reports: “Doing Habitat for Humanity was a lot of fun! I would definitely do it again. It was also an educational experience, in learning how to build a foundation of a house with the newly developed equipment they have today. Being able to work with your friends and meet new people while volunteering is a wonderful experience.
Amber Trudeau, a junior majoring in Community Health, also took part. “I learned so much about the hard work it takes to build a home,” she said, “as well as how many people are actually involved in the process. I had so much fun and would do it again in a heartbeat…. It feels great to know that I helped build a place for a deserving family to call home.”
Kevin Dean, a freshmen majoring in biotechnology, said that this was his first leadership experience being part of the WSU community. “I met a lot of great people who have truly open hearts for each other and everyone else. I also got to go see Geoffrey Canada, who turned out to be a great leadership figure and taught me a lot about things that need to improve upon us.”
The “alternative break” program was sponsored by the Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement and the Office of Residence Life and Housing. The work was done in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Restore, MetroWest/Greater Boston. It is a $712,000 project funded half by the town of Wayland, and the rest through fundraising.
Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester is a global, nonprofit housing organization, and is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. To qualify for a Habitat Home, families must show: A need for adequate shelter and affordable housing; the ability to pay for a Habitat home and a willingness to partner with Habitat. Applicants attend monthly Family Partner Committee meetings and complete sweat equity hours on the construction of their own or other Habitat home.