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Byron Borkowski, Arts & Sciences sophomore, and Dana
Ultman, Business junior, work on the Habitat for Humanity
house in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Photo by Eric Ernest |
New
house is Habitat's first in Iowa
By
Holly Morris
Head Copy Editor
The allure of pneumatic nail guns and miter
saws might draw students to the construction site, but
volunteers return to hammer and saw as they begin the
fourth “House that Creighton Built” for reasons
far more powerful than any motorized tool.
“
It’s an opportunity for younger people to make
a difference,” said Adam Ernest, Arts & Sciences
freshman.
Creighton’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity is
about to make a lasting difference in the life of the
Perez family in Council Bluffs. Olivia Perez and her
3-year-old son, Gabriel, have been living with Olivia’s
mother. Olivia said she was not sure she would ever be
able to have a house of her own.
Thanks to the work of Creighton students and the financial
support of The ConAgra Foods Foundation, the Iowa West
Foundation and Wells Fargo Financial, Olivia and Gabriel
will have a home of their own by next summer—Creighton’s
first house in Iowa.
The chapter has helped with Council Bluffs and Omaha
Habitat for Humanity builds in the past and has sponsored
three “House that Creighton Built” projects
in Omaha.
“
It shows the cooperation with all local communities Creighton
wants to have,” said the Rev. John P. Schlegel,
S.J., university president.
The 1,040 square foot house is being built at 2015 8th
Ave. and will have three bedrooms, said Ron Pierce, executive
director of the Council Bluffs chapter of Habitat for
Humanity.
Perez looks forward to turning the extra bedroom into
an office or a playroom for Gabriel.
The project was dedicated and blessed Oct. 13 on the
bare concrete base of the house before a small group
of students, faculty, Council Bluffs Habitat for Humanity
volunteers and members of the Perez family.
Habitat for Humanity held a Blitz Build during Fall Break.
Each day of the break, six to 10 students nailed, hammered
and sawed, and, by the end of the week, a skeleton of
four walls and a roof stood on the foundation.
“We pretty much enclosed the entire house over break,” said Eric
Ernest, University College junior and Habitat for Humanity president. “I’d
call it a success.”
The purpose of the Blitz Build was to make sure the house is ready for interior
work when cold weather hits, Ernest said. That way the chapter will be able to
reach its goal of finishing the house by Spring Break.
Perez is counting down the days until then.
“
It’s exciting,” Perez said. “I’ve already started looking
at things to put inside.”
Even with the frame finished, more student, faculty and community help will be
needed to meet the spring deadline.
“
When the chapter sends out a call for volunteers, resond, throw in money, get
involved,” said Thomas Purcell, Habitat for Humanity adviser, professor
of law and associate professor of accounting.
Creighton’s chapter needs to raise about $10,000 in coming months, Ernest
said. The goal is for each member to collect pledges totaling $100 from family
and friends.
The chapter sent fliers to faculty, staff and administrators asking for donations
of both time and money.
Groups go to the house about four times each week, said Rachael Hoffman, Arts & Sciences
sophomore and Habitat for Humanity volunteer coordinator. The chapter previously
sent volunteers to builds once a week.
People interested in volunteering or making donations can visit the Habitat for
Humanity Web site, www.creighton.edu/cuhabitat, to find out times and locations
of meetings and builds. Habitat for Humanity welcomes groups and individuals
to volunteer.
Interested parties can contact officers through the Web site for more information
and to schedule a building time.
“
I just think building this house is so important. We are providing a family a
home, that they could not otherwise have without our work,” Hoffman said.
Habitat member Aakash Verma, Arts & Sciences junior, wants people to know
that whether they donate a check, or hammer for an hour, the result of their
contributions will be more than a roof and four walls.
“
In reality, we’re building two houses: one for the Perez family, the other
within ourselves, shaping our lives,” Verma said. |
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