College students spend spring break building for Habitat in Statesville NC
By Chyna Broadnax | Statesville R&L
Published: March 5, 2009
The buzzing of saws and pounding of hammers to nails resonated through a Habitat for Humanity construction site Wednesday. Nearly a dozen students from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., are helping build three Habitat homes in the Fourth Creek Village subdivision off Garner Bagnal Boulevard. The students are participating in the Collegiate Challenge, in which students spend their spring break volunteering with local Habitat affiliates constructing homes. Natalie Laucis, 19, who spent her last spring break not doing much, wanted to make sure she was productive this time around. "I really wanted to do something to help out a community," she said. "Last spring break I was really bored." This is the Muhlenberg sophomore's first year participating in the alternative spring break. "It's a great experience because it's rewarding," Laucis said. "Instead of sitting on a couch, you're building a house. You feel like you're actually doing something." Students will spend about eight hours each day working on the homes. So far they have done flooring and framing. The weather conditions may not have been ideal. The site is covered in red mud and snow, but the students appreciate the experience. Muhlenberg College students will leave Statesville at the end of the week. But during the next three weeks 60 students from five other colleges will rotate. Participating colleges include SUNY Cortland, Haverford College, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, New York University and Bryn Mawr College. The subdivision will have 15 homes, all of which will be owned by Habitat homeowners. The students were part of a group working to build the first two-story Habitat home. Muehlenberg College student Daniel Wayne, 20, was persuaded by friend Michael Usher to participate. "It feels nice to help out someone else and building a home," Wayne said. Outside of the building, the students have been impressed by the hospitality of the community. Usher, 22, said he wanted to get Wayne involved because it is "self fulfilling and great to do things for other people." "I love it," he said. "It makes me feel good helping others and people who appreciate it." Habitat Executive Director Scott Loudermelt is proud of the students and their commitment to the program. "They are some of the best people we work with all year," he said. "They work hard and are here for the right reasons."
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