Seven Alfred State College (ASC) students and two staff members spent spring break working with Habitat for Humanity in Myrtle Beach, SC.
The week started with the ground breaking of the house they were working on in Horry County. The house was framed, pallets of sod were added, and landscaping was started by the end of the week. The team helped set a new record setting trusses on a house, less than an hour.
Nejesea Brown, assistant director of first year engagement, and Brooke Scianna, coordinator of campus recreation, led the team on the trip. Students on the trip included: Patrick Fisher (Syracuse, NY), Justin Kachurak (Mountain Top, PA), Sean McCarthy (Monroe, NY), Demere Brave (New York, NY), Olivia Gadjo (Skaneateles, NY), Kathleen Norton (Medford, NY), and Hildaleez Pizzini (Bronx, NY).
Kathleen Norton was able to apply skills learned at Alfred State on the trip. “Working with Habitat for Humanity and being able to create something tangible with strangers who later became a little family has been such a positive experience that I would love to explore again. I think volunteering and supporting a community in need is an experience any student at Alfred could benefit from.”
Brooke Scianna echoed the student’s sentiments. “It was a memorable experience that I am so grateful to have shared with amazing students and staff. We were able to learn about the process, the requirements to qualify for a Habitat home, and the ways the Habitat Community assists one another even after their house is finished and they can move in. I also highly enjoyed getting to know the family we were building the house for as well as standing by the parents as they helped build their own house too.”
This trip marked the ninth time in the last ten years that an Alfred State group has worked with Habitat for Humanity during spring break.
Olivia Gadjo: “I learned new skills, helped out someone in the community, and made new friends. I highly recommend this trip to anyone and would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Justin Kachurak: “Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity was a great experience to help the community, as well as learn new things. I would absolutely volunteer with Habitat again in the future.”
Nejesea Brown: “It was a pleasure with additional volunteers on the work site, it is very rare that we are able to network and give back to our community at the same time.”
