Habitat for
Humanity, an international nonprofit service organization, has returned to Utah
State University after years of inactivity thanks to the residing club president
Mike Price.
The USU club is
a small chapter of the international organization, and works to build and
restore homes for the needy and impoverished.
“Our goal is to
raise money to build houses internationally this summer,” said Price, a senior
majoring in economics. “We hold service fundraisers throughout the year and
talk to local restaurants who sometimes donate a percentage of their
proceeds.”
Price desired to
be a part of something impactful, and was determined to recreate the once successful
service group. He worked with the Cache County Council to make USU an official
chapter.
“Habitat for
Humanity appealed to me because I can make a difference in people’s lives,” Price
said.
In just three
months, the club has held two fundraising events and recruited more than 200
volunteers.
“What we have
done in such a short amount of time is pretty amazing,” said USU’s Habitat for
Humanity fundraiser chairman Maegan Kasteler. “It shows how much the community
is willing to support a good cause.”
Volunteers are
required to meet monthly for fundraising projects organized by the fundraiser
committees.
“We send an
email out once a month to interested volunteers,” Kasteler said. “The
volunteers are different every time.”
The USU club
volunteers for the local Cache Valley Habitat for Humanity service group to
help carry out projects in the community.
“We have done
little projects in Logan, like raking people’s leaves,” said USU’s Habitat for
Humanity secretary Madie McCleary. “We recently fixed up a damaged house for a
family who couldn’t pay the repairs on their own.”
This time
around, volunteers feel optimistic about the club and admit it is more
organized than before.
“Mike knows what
he is doing,” McCleary said. “He holds volunteers accountable and makes sure
projects get done.”
Volunteers who
have attempted to join in previous semesters are now pleased the club has
finally come together.
“I love working
construction, and I have wanted to be a part of this group for quite some time,”
said volunteer Aaron Christenson. “I am glad Mike took the initiative and has
been such a strong leader.”
Price hopes the
number of volunteers will continue to increase. He believes being a part of a
university club is crucial to a student’s college experience.
“There are many students up here who can make a tremendous difference,” Price
said. “Participation increases your learning, and the experience you gain in
clubs is so much more rewarding than in a classroom.”
