Spring breakers unite to build homes with Blount County Habitat for Humanity

Students from across the country will travel to Blount County for their spring break as part of Habitat for Humanitys "Collegiate Challenge."

During the months of March and April over 120 students (and some staff) from Purdue University, Syracuse University, Spring Hill College, Juniata College, University of Idaho, Manchester College and the University of Wisconsin will work on up to four builds during the next few weeks in Blount County. Twenty-five students from Juniata College, located in Huntingdon, Penn., spent their break working on a home for Traci Walker. This is a joint build with Foothills Community Development Corporation (FCDC). Almost 50 students from Purdue, Syracuse and the University of Idaho arrive next week and will be found working on the FCDC/Walker home, as well as with Maryville High School Habitat for Humanity Chapter on
their annual build. Maryville High School is building a home for Shaunetta Lowery and her daughter, Shakeiyah in Alcoa.

There will be plenty of work for all as Blount County Habitat for Humanity is currently completing one home in Maryville for the Middleton family, starting another home for the Adepitan family in Alcoa and are in the final preparation phase for the Women Build, which will start in May.

This spring break, more than 11,500 students have signed up to participate in Collegiate Challenge across the country. The program offers high school and college students year-round opportunities to use their vacations to serve a community by volunteering to build homes. Students from the United States and Canada will travel to 235 locations in the United States.

"Last year students made such a difference by giving one week of their time to help families," said Alynn Woodson, Collegiate Challenge manager for Habitat for Humanity International. "The week also gives students a great chance to travel to a new location and spend time with their friends building a home."

Anyone wishing to contribute to Blount County Habitat for Humanity to help these students make dreams of homeownership a realty for these families contact Audrey Poole at 865-982-8717.