Habitat for Humanity
Spending a Saturday pounding a hammer can be enjoyable. At least that is how the Habitat for Humanity volunteers feel.
Habitat for Humanity is an international, nonprofit organization with one goal in mind: to serve. USU is privileged to have a chapter on campus, said Clark Brinton, director of the USU chapter.
He said he wishes more students knew about the opportunity so they can make a difference by serving.
According to Habitat for Humanity International Web site, the organization builds and restores simple homes through volunteer labor. Brinton said the organization looks for eligible families that have lower income and build homes for these families. He said by working on the home for a minimum of 40 hours a week, the homeowner avoids a down payment and monthly mortgage payment.
However, many of these individuals are students themselves trying to work through school, and that is where Brinton said the club comes in.
“One guy we helped is in nursing school at Weber State, is married, and has a job, so it becomes hard for him to get in the full 40 hours,” he said. “What we do is go and help him, and that counts toward his 40 hours.”
Saturdays throughout the fall and spring are spent helping these individuals work on their homes. Brinton said spending a Saturday building a home may seem like a sacrifice, but is a lot of fun and a good time.
Chapter Programming Coordinator Alysse Sowards said working side by side with the homeowners and noticing how appreciative they are makes the sacrifice worth it.
“The people who own the homes are hardworking people,” Sowards said. “It’s a direct benefit working next to them.”
The USU chapter is an affiliate of the Cache Valley chapter, whose headquarters reside in Logan. The two chapters work hand in hand in support for one another and help with the building of homes.
Scott Tew, chairman of fund raising, said working with the Cache Valley chapter is one of the enjoyable things about the USU chapter and being a part of such a large organization. Tew said by working with a large association, it gives a satisfying feeling to know the service performed goes toward a much larger cause.
Dustin Nash, a committee member, said while working on a home in Richmond one Saturday morning, he realized service wasn’t such a bad thing.
“We were all working with one another, and the sun came over the mountains,” Nash said. “I remember thinking ‘This is what it is all about.'”
Secretary Erica Larsen said the club requires a lot of hard work but is also a lot of fun. Larsen said even though the chapter consists of only college students, when the members are given work to do, they are trusted to do a good job.
“We see how appreciative (the homeowners) really are,” Larsen said. “By working beside them, you get to see how hard of workers they really are.”
According to Habitat for Humanity International Web site, the cost to build a home varies from as little as $800 in some developing countries to an average of $46,600 in the United States.
Brinton said fundraisers are planned to help with the costs of building the homes. One final fundraiser, taking place April 25, will be a benefit concert. Brinton said the concert will be featuring Ben Oman and Jet Tucker, with hopes of more bands performing.
Other activities planned for the remainder of the semester include the Not-So-Extreme Home Makeover, where the club will remodel one main room of a home. The activity will take place April 19.
Sowards said the best part about participating in the activities and the club is the motive behind it.
“It gets you away from school and gives you the opportunity to meet new people,” she said. “You are having fun while doing things for other people. You are not focusing on yourself all the time.”
Nash said his involvement in the club has been a great experience and has become more than just an extracurricular activity.
“Habitat for Humanity has changed my life,” he said.
Tew said his involvement in the club has given him the feeling of service while having a good time.
“It is fun to be able to help other people,” he said. “Habitat is a good opportunity to get with friends and help people that are in need. Anyone can spend a little more time to serve others.”
-courtnie.packer@aggiemail.usu.edu