Students to remodel local home for service activity
A Cache Valley family will have their home refurbished and landscaped April 10 by USU’s version of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The HURD and USU athletics committee organized the renovation with the help of community businesses, and invite students to participate in the project, which will begin at 6 a.m. and go until it is complete.
Called “Meet the Challenge,” the project was the result of an effort to do a service project in which student-athletes could interact with the local community outside of the university, ASUSU athletics committee Service Chair Megan Darrington said. Darrington said her role as service chair involves planning and executing service projects that involve students and student-athletes so they have the opportunity to “get to know each other better through service.”
ASUSU Athletics Vice President Jeremy Winn said that after securing community sponsors and some planning, the committee took nominations and selected the self-nominated Kent family. The Kents – Emily, Mikal and their four children – were living in a townhouse that made it difficult to address the needs of their 5-year-old son, who was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and is now in a wheelchair. Winn said the family was able to sell the townhouse and move into a house in Smithfield that’s more appropriate for their circumstances, but it needs some work.
According to Darrington, the renovation will include carpeting and flooring, a closet remodel, painting, repairing a swing set and landscaping including a garden and planting grass, among other things. There will also be some local artists participating by painting pictures on some walls, she said.
Students can register to volunteer in two-hour shifts at usu.edu/hurd, individually or with their club or other group. The address of the home is 444 E. 180 South Smithfield. Darrington said volunteers who register will receive a map to the location as well as a T-shirt and breakfast, lunch or dinner, depending on the shift they are working.
However, students do not have to register to volunteer.
“If students want to just show up and volunteer to help, they are more than welcome,” Darrington said.
Winn said they expect to finish the renovation around 6 p.m. where they plan to reveal the finished product.
“The student-athletes, the HURD and local businesses in the community have been absolutely incredible,” Darrington said. “Everyone has been so enthusiastic and supportive of this, and we are so excited to get in there and change this family’s home forever.
No matter what small or large improvements we make, I know the family will be overwhelmed with appreciation. The results of this project are not only going to affect the family but also our volunteers. It’s going to be an all-around amazing, fun experience.”
She said she hopes the “Meet the Challenge” service project will become a new tradition that will come up with a big, interactive project every year that will positively affect the valley community.
– chelsey.gensel@aggiemail.usu.edu