University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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Buildinj Thanksgiving of 2006, Samantha Horrison had something to be ver ' thankful for. She was given the key to her new dwelling, the Spirit of UNA Habitat for Humanity home. The campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity had been raising money for the past two years, and in fall 2006 finally reached the goal of roughly $40,000, which meant building could begin. UNA Habitat for Humanity is affiliated with the Shoals chapter, which is part of Habitat for Humanity International. According to its website, Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministrv ' . HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action ( habitat.org ). Cvnthia Burkhead, instructor of English and adviser to the chapter, is a big supporter of the Habitat cause. It is able to address very critical housing needs in the United States, but does so by giving those people needing affordable housing dignity and opportunity to earn some- thing, said Burkhead. Habitat does not give away houses. It does, however, provide opportunity for home ownership with interest-free payments; the homeowner has to pay only the cost of the materials for the house. Volunteers provide the labor. Members of Habitat, along with members of the communit} ' , come together to build houses. In order to be eligible to receive a Habitat house, one must put in a certain number of hours of sweat equity, Habitat ' s term for future homeowners ' helping build other Habitat houses. While the campus chapter has gone to collegiate chal- lenges, in which students spend their spring breaks at differ- ent build sites around the country, the Spirit of UNA home is the members ' first home to sponsor fully. It is part of Habitat for Humanity International ' s new xenture, Capacit Build, a project that UNA was asked to be a part of. ; a brighter future Capacity Build called for the chapter to raise $40,000 in order to fund the building of a Habitat home. The goal was reached after two years of requesting grants, receiving funds from local businesses, selling dinners from local restaurant Swamp Johns and standing outside of Wal-Mart asking for donations. Construction of the house on Howell Street began the first Saturday in October and continued every Saturday until the house was complete in mid-November. Being there every Saturday was amazing, said Stefanie Haeffele, chapter president. Although she says that the process of raising money and building the house was hard work, she feels like it was all worth it in the end. It ' s a great experience and 1 think all the stress of planning it and making sure people are there, and all the time and energy it took to raise money kind of goes away and you ' re just excited that you ' re doing something great, she said. Burkhead said she is extremelv proud of the students who made this build possible. They see hands-on what they are capable of giving to the world, said Burkhead. I hope that all of the students who work with Habitat for Humanity learn something about the very important role they can have in meeting the needs of this world that they live in. The dedication ceremony, where Horrison accepted the kev to her house, was held Nov. 19. — Katie Smitli

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Styrols HOME, SWEET HOME. Samantha Horrison and her daughter are excited about the home that they and vohin- teers from both UNA and the Shoals community have built.