Last modified: Monday, March 18, 2002
Student chapters to build Habitat house in Bloomington through unique collaboration
A potential work force of more than 500 students and a unique blend of Habitat for Humanity chapters is behind the next house that will be built in Bloomington by the international housing ministry.
The Indiana University student chapter, with more than 400 volunteers, will join with the Bloomington High School North chapter of some 120 members to construct a house at 725 N. Lindbergh Drive between March 23 and April 27. A dedication is planned for April 27.
Corey Shorter, Hilary Rice and their three young children will be the home's occupants.
"This a unique project for Habitat," explained Kerry Thomson, director of the local Habitat chapter. "Of the 700 worldwide student chapters of Habitat, only 112 are at the high school level and only 20 of these have ever built a house."
Thomson said the student chapters also have combined to secure a $10,000 grant from Habitat International to help pay for the house. This has been supplemented by individual donations and fund-raising projects such as a bicycle ride, garage sale and football concession sales for Bloomington North and a benefit concert, rake-a-thon, concession sales, bowling event and run/walk for the IU chapter, bringing the total student financial contribution to $45,000.
She said both student chapters also have assisted with other Habitat building projects in the Bloomington area during the past few years. The house will be constructed in the Bloomington North school district, so volunteers will see the rewards of their effort on a regular basis and someday residents of the house may attend the high school.
Habitat for Humanity is an international nonprofit Christian housing ministry that has built more than 100,000 houses around the world in the last 25 years to help people in need. Habitat seeks to eliminate poverty housing from the world through action by people of all backgrounds, races and religions. The local Habitat chapter has built more than 40 houses in the last 14 years.
More details on this project are available at the Habitat Web site at https://www.bloomington.in.us/~habitat.
