Twenty students from The Newman Catholic Student Center at Northern Illinois University helped build homes and improve the community during their spring break as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge program. The students spent the week of March 14th volunteering with Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity.
“I absolutely love and look forward to working with the NIU Students each year,” said Megan Hutchings, Volunteer Coordinator for Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity. “We have been blessed by the students for the past eleven years. They are dear friends of ours and truly part of the RCHFH Family.”
The students volunteered on two home builds during their Spring Break. One home is for the Swader Family that is being sponsored by St. Thomas Rutherford, Adams Foundation, The City of Murfreesboro, and Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati. The other home is for the Jones’ Family that is being sponsored and built by MTSU Student Life.
In total, Habitat for Humanity organizations across the U.S. will host 7,500 college and high school students in 182 communities as part of the 2016 Habitat Collegiate Challenge.
“Our Collegiate Challenge program unites students from across the country with the common goal of helping people who are ready to build a better life for themselves and their families,” said Maureen O’Leary, Habitat for Humanity International’s associate director of youth and young professional engagement. “Every hand helps Habitat homeowners build a foundation they need for a brighter future. We’re grateful to the thousands of students who choose to spend their spring break volunteering with Habitat. With our help, Habitat homeowners have the opportunity to build what we all deserve – a decent place to live.”
Since 1989, Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge program has engaged students 16 years of age and older to spend one week volunteering on a local Habitat construction or community project. Nearly 240,000 students have volunteered a week of their time and donated over $28 million to support Habitat’s work in local communities.
Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge is one of several programs Habitat established to engage the next generation of leaders in Habitat’s work. For more information or to register for a Habitat Collegiate Challenge event, visit their website.
These two homes will mark the 134th and 135th Habitat Homes built in Rutherford County.
About Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity
Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit, non-denominational Christian housing ministry, seeks to eliminate substandard housing by building simple, decent, affordable houses alongside low-income, working families. Homes are built by RCHFH construction staff, partner families and community volunteers. After a home is completed, it is sold to the family at no profit with zero-interest. RCHFH does not give homes away. For more information please call 890-5877
SPONSOR
