UHS Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian organization in which volunteers give their time and expertise to help build homes for people in need. Urbana High School has its own Habitat for Humanity Club that started last school year.

In February 2014, 20 UHS students and staff took a week off from school and went to Tutwiler, Miss., to help with a Habitat build. The total cost was about $8,000. Habitat is planning to go again this year and needs to fundraise.

Mark Foley, UHS teacher and the club’s co-sponsor, said, “Habitat fundraises so any student can participate in our February trip to Mississippi. The trip costs about $400 for each student, but we want students to be able to pay what they can afford. Any extra money we have left over is used for local Habitat for Humanity work.”

Habitat has been heavily engrossed in fundraising this school year, trying to raise as much money as possible for this year’s trip. They went to the Urbana Farmer’s Market and also raked leaves in surrounding neighborhoods to raise donations.

A student-led group within Habitat contacted local businesses to see if they would also donate to help raise the funds needed.

Foley said, “Ms. Koritz [another UHS teacher and Habitat co-sponsor] and I have completed grant applications, and several students worked with local businesses to ask for donations. Overall, we have raised between $1,500 and $2,000 this year.”

The club’s goal is to raise $4,000 before the trip in February. The rest of the money will come from the students themselves.

One of the upcoming fundraisers that Habitat has planned is the Macho Volleyball game, where the junior boys will take on the senior boys with the winner playing against the staff team. The Macho Volleyball game will be Dec. 5 at the high school’s Oscar Adams Gym. Habitat will also hold bake sales on Dec. 2-5 during school lunch periods.

In addition, the club will sponsor a Winter Vice-Versa Dance on Jan. 24 for UHS students. Many have expressed delight upon hearing that a Vice-Versa dance will be returning to Urbana after a few year’s absence.

Habitat is primarily a junior and senior club, however underclassmen are still encouraged to get involved. Many of this year’s seniors were very involved in the club last year and are taking on more responsibilities.

Senior Alison Slaughter said, “It’s nice to take on a bigger role in Habitat this year as a senior. There is so much potential with all of the members of the group and I feel strongly about the organization, so it is great to be a leader.”

This is Senior Cedrick Fry’s second year in Habitat, and he was among the five juniors to go on the trip to Mississippi last year.

“It’s a great feeling to know that I’m using my free time to help other people be able to have homes and enjoy some of the things that I am able to enjoy,” Fry said.

Habitat for Humanity meets every Friday in room 2177 at 7:30 a.m. to discuss upcoming plans for the group.