March 29, 2011 - 8:17pm
Campus Clubs: Habitat for Humanity
BY JENNY ZHANG
While many students join extracurricular activities to build their resumes, those who join Habitat for Humanity do so to build something far more important.
Habitat for Humanity has made a name for itself, building homes for low-income families nationwide. And, locally, the University’s chapter of the organization sponsors one house in either Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti every year.
University alum Jessica Perszyk, president of Habitat at the University, said the group works with local families to build houses every Saturday.
“Adults in the family (in need of a home) have to work 300 sweat equity hours with our organization,” Perszyk said. “We build alongside the family, so we have a great relationship with them.”
When they are finished building or renovating a home, Habitat dedicates the house to the family, according to LSA junior Emily Goyert, community relations chair of the group.
The ceremony, she said, begins with welcoming words from the Family Support Partner and is followed by a prayer. Before the ribbon is cut, the family who receives the new home is also presented with a quilt from the community along with “a bible, tool kit and welcome mat”.
“A house dedication is a gratifying experience where volunteers, family members, and friends all join together to celebrate the completion of the new home,” Goyert said.
In addition to their work on houses in the area, Habitat works with Food Gathers and the Delonis Center — events organized by Goyert in an effort to serve meals to the homeless. Last year, Habitat also raised $10,000 through fundraising events such as a casino night and the “Beat OSU Fun Run”.
Perszyk said she applied for a State Farm Insurance grant early last summer that would match the amount they had fundraised. Once notified of the acceptance in October, Perszyk interviewed with Habitat International to discuss the University chapter’s use of the money.
Habitat is currently using the funds to build their tenth house in Michigan.
LSA sophomore Chanhee Han, a member of the organization on campus, said working with Habitat has been a rewarding experience.
“I truly enjoyed working directly with the people we help and raising awareness for numerous good causes, such as the value of a family, home, and community, on a campus, both in high school and college,” Han wrote in an e-mail interview.
