Habichat, March 2010

A Reinvigorating Week!

Each year, a group of college volunteers from another area in the country comes to volunteer and build homes with us during a "Collegiate Challenge" week. Students spend their time working in partnership with our affiliate, the local community and partner families to help eliminate substandard housing in Montgomery County.

Although this is the fourteenth year that HFHMC has hosted Collegiate Challenge groups, we anticipate this week with great excitement each and every year. Not only does this week provide an excellent educational opportunity for students to understand our local housing situation and participate in our efforts, but the students' energy and enthusiasm is infectious and they bring a fresh burst of energy to our work sites, our office, and our entire organization.

This year we are hosting a group from the University of Maine at Augusta for the second year in a row. A few of this year's group are repeat volunteers so they are able to see the progress at 822 Cherry Street and 830 Cherry Street - two of our rehab projects in Norristown - since they worked on them one year ago. Although the students may be on vacation from classes, we still put them to work! It is amazing how much can be accomplished in just one week by the students' focused efforts, especially since they are often trained just once in the beginning before being given significant projects for the week.

After working with us over their spring break, students are often affected by what we like to call "Habititus," a desire to share their excitement for Habitat's work with anyone and everyone they encounter. The voices of youth are very effective in communicating the need for more safe, decent, affordable housing and sharing about the work they have done with Habitat. For many of the students, Collegiate Challenge is their first interaction with Habitat and their first step in forming a lifelong relationship with Habitat for Humanity and the issues surrounding affordable housing.

Collegiate Challenge is a great reflection of how our Habitat community comes together and rallies around our volunteers, who are the heart and soul of our organization. This year, the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr, PA offered their hospitality and is housing the group for the week. Also, Christ United Methodist Church in Lansdale, Beth Or, St. John's of Ambler and Villanova University nourished our volunteers and construction crew with delicious lunches this week. Collegiate Challenge would not be possible without the help of all of the individuals and congregations that are involved!

Sincerely,

Brenda Egolf-Fox

Executive Director