Spring Break
Habitaters spend break building houses
Josh Smith
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: News
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Habitat for Humanity adviser Brian Zanin said the trip was a success.
"They had a lot of work for us to do," Zanin said.
Members broke up into six groups and worked at different locations in the same neighborhood. They stayed at a camp site 30 minutes away and traveled to the neighborhood in Pascagoula to work during the day.
Jobs included working on floors, walls, sheds outside the house, ceilings and other general carpentry. Zanin said site supervisors trained group members and watched over the workers throughout the week.
Ryan Kekula is the vice president of the Whitewater Habitat for Humanity chapter. His group worked on various tasks throughout the week.
"My group particularly worked on framing, floor joist and subflooring," Kekula said.
People traveling with Habitat for Humanity for the first time could seek guidance from veteran members. This year was the fourth time Katie Gramse has taken a trip with Habitat for Humanity.
"I always enjoy the Habitat trips," Gramse said. "They're always exciting and you always make new friends."
The Habitat for Humanity members were also able to meet a couple families benefiting from the group's work.
"It gives an added sense of accomplishment that you're actually making a connection with someone you're helping," Gramse said.
Habitat for Humanity member Ben Sattler also enjoyed the experience of meeting the family.
"I felt privileged to meet the people you were building houses for," Sattler said. "Hearing their stories was amazing [and] hearing all the things they went through."
The members of Habitat for Humanity also used the trip to get to know one another better and grow closer as friends.
"I met a whole bunch of new people and people I already knew; I got know a lot better because you're working with them for an entire week," Sattler said.
Gramse said the friendships she makes with other club members is what she enjoys most about the trips.
Kekula said the trip is difficult to describe, that it is something that has to be experienced.
"You really cannot understand it until you've been there," Kekula said. "It's still very much a devastated area."
Part of the work Habitat for Humanity did was preparation work for the Jimmy Carter Work Project, which involves a large group coming to a site and building an entire house. The club helped facilitate the project.
For more information about the group and its activities, visit its Web site at orgs.uww.edu/hfh.
A slideshow is also available in the Web Extras section of the Royal Purple
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