MU Habitat to finish College Corner house
Kaitlin Schroeder
Issue date: 9/25/09 Section: Community
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Although the organization has been helping families like the Fishers for years and has fully sponsored four houses in the past, the Fishers' house is the first house Miami's Habitat chapter has fully sponsored in five years. During those five years, the Miami Habitat chapter raised funds to acquire the $50,000 needed for materials.
Senior Jenn Fogarty, president of the Miami chapter of Habitat for Humanity, said the Miami students held multiple fundraisers to reach their goal.
"We typically do three to four fundraisers a semester," Fogarty said. "Our biggest fundraiser is called Shanty Town. We have volunteers sit in a cardboard shanty constantly from a Thursday to a Sunday and ask for donations."
An important resource for funds came from previous members who worked to raise funds for sponsoring other Habitat houses. Since the project has been going on for five years, many Miami alumni helped make this happen while they were here at Miami, Fogarty said.
"We wouldn't be able to do this at all without the past members," Fogarty said.
Individual donors weren't the only ones involved in donations to help build the Fishers a new home.
"We also received a $5,000 matching grant from State Farm Insurance," said junior Zach Duberstein, co-chair of publicity for Miami's chapter.
The members of Miami's Habitat chapter didn't just raise the money but also physically raised the walls, with help from volunteers from the Oxford chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Duberstein said about 15 to 30 volunteers showed up every weekend to work on the house.
"It's much more than just a resume builder (for students)," Duberstein said. "It's people getting up (at) 8 a.m. on a Saturday to make a difference."
The Habitat members have done everything from insulating and caulking to flooring and roofing. According to Duberstein, no experience was necessary.
"All you have to do is show up and we'll train you," Duberstein said.
Fogarty said the volunteers and members from Oxford's Habitat chapter contributed by explaining what goes into building a home.
"We have some really awesome people supervising that explain what to do and then we get to try our hand at it," Fogarty said. "We get to learn every aspect of building a house."
The house, located at 106 Main St. in College Corner, was dedicated to the Fisher family Sept. 20.
Jim Lipnickey, president of the Oxford chapter of Habitat, presented the Fishers with the keys to their new home and a Bible with members of the College Corner community in attendance to welcome their new neighbors.
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