Thousands of students pitch in this spring break to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity Int'l – During this year’s spring break season, thousands of students will help improve communities with Habitat for Humanity. More than 10,000 high school and college students will spend their spring break helping to build and repair homes through Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge alternative break program.

“We recognize that these students could have done a number of things during their spring break and are grateful for their support to help families obtain affordable housing,” said Cody Logsdon, Habitat’s manager of youth volunteer engagement at Habitat for Humanity. “The work these students will do during their spring break will have a lasting impact in local communities.”

The more than 600 spring break groups are traveling to 185 locations and are donating $1.4 million to Habitat for Humanity. Over the past 22 years, more than 182,000 students have spent their school breaks volunteering with Habitat. They have contributed nearly $18 million in funding to the Habitat host affiliates where they have volunteered.

Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge is one of the many programs Habitat has to engage youth ages 5 to 25 in Habitat’s work. Since 2007, State Farm has served as the national corporate sponsor of Habitat for Humanity’s youth programs, with a sponsorship commitment of more than $1.1 million in grants each year. Additionally, State Farm offices contribute more than $500,000 annually to Habitat affiliates across the United States.

Paterson Habitat - Thank you to the five young lady's from Mississippi State University who came to volunteer with us last week during their spring break.

Habitat gears up to respond to Japan disaster

Rescue workers walked past a destroyed house in Minamisanriku town, Miyagi prefecture in northern Japan on 16th March, days after the area was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami. Photo: Reuters/Kim Hyung-hoon, courtesy Trust.org – AlertNet.

As Asia-Pacific Update goes to press, Habitat for Humanity Japan is planning to mobilize people living in Japan to help with clean-up operations after last week’s earthquake and tsunami. Would-be volunteers are asked to register their interest at info@habitatjp.org even though it may be several weeks before work can begin. HFH Japan has also announced a fund raising appeal on its web site. In addition donations are being accepted on www.habitat.org.

Habitat for Humanity International staff are in Japan assisting local Habitat staff to liaise with would-be partners and discussing with government authorities how to best support the relief effort in the still unfolding tragedy.

The 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on 11th March. The resulting aftershocks and tsunami destroyed homes, crushed cars and killed thousands of people. Major tsunami warnings were issued for New Zealand, the Philippines and Indonesia, and further afield.

HFH Korea is already stepping up to assist. Korea’s Joongang Daily reports HFH Korea will be offering HFH Japan materials and technical training for constructing temporary shelters. HFH Korea built 50 temporary houses for flood-affected families in 2006. HFH Korea has also joined hands with SK Telecom, Korea’s largest mobile phone operator, to seek donations via short messaging services. Read more.

Hotel group JW Marriott in Thailand is appealing to its associates for donations to support Habitat for Humanity in Japan. Peter Caprez, cluster general manager for many Marriott properties in Thailand, has called on general managers in the Marriott group to approach their associates over the next week.

Meanwhile a Japan volunteer team building with Habitat in southern India is tugging heartstrings. Nineteen Japanese university students arrived in Bangalore city just an hour before the earthquake hit Japan. The volunteers are studying in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe which are not affected but many are worried for their families living in Sendai and Tokyo. Their volunteerism moved Habitat home partner J.Sreedhar in Kothanur village. “They are here to help me with foundation work when people in their own country are homeless. What more can I ask?” Sreedhar was quoted as saying in a Times of India article. Read more.

Shop, Save and Help!

Shop, Save and Help Habitat Eliminate Poverty Housing
(March 17 — 20)

Habitat for Humanity is proud to be a partner in Gap’s Give and Get program.

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Download today to help Habitat build safe, decent and affordable homes in partnership with families in need of housing!