New Habitat for Humanity Club Gets Building
September 30, 2011
Members of Emmanuel's Habitat for Humanity Club broke ground on their first official project September 24th, taking part in construction efforts with Habitat for Humanity's North Shore chapter. The club will continue to work among the chapter's three home sites on Park Street in Peabody, Mass., until completed.
A newly constructed student organization this fall, the Habitat for Humanity Club was established by Jonathan Lourie '13, who saw the club as a great addition to the College's already existing community service-based groups. After a positive experience organizing a small group of students to volunteer with a Habitat for Humanity project in Boston last spring, he engaged the Office of Student Activities and Multicultural Programs to establish an official club for the 2011-2012 academic year.
"I wanted Emmanuel to be a part of it," said Lourie. "It is a great organization that helps people become independent. I saw it as another forum Emmanuel could participate in and represent itself in a positive way."
The club has partnered with the North Shore chapter to offer Emmanuel students the chance to volunteer outside of the city limits. The group plans to return to the Peabody sites October 22nd and November 19th in addition to hosting fundraising events throughout the fall semester. Students interested in joining the club do not need to possess any previous construction experience, just a willingness to volunteer their time and an affinity for hands-on work.
"What's great about Habitat for Humanity is that you're not only helping people get established, you are working side by side with them," said Lourie. "This is going to be a life-changing event for someone and you get to be there to see them appreciate it."
For more information on Emmanuel's Habitat for Humanity Club, contact Jonathan Lourie at louriej@emmanuel.edu. Information on the club can also be found on Facebook (Emmanuel College Habitat for Humanity Chapter) and Twitter (@HabitatEmmanuel).
