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AUBURN – Last weekend, a group of University of Maine students strapped on tool belts and set aside their typical Friday night plans to lend a hand to Habitat for Humanity in Auburn. No carpentry experience was required, and students were asked to bring an open mind, an open heart and an adventurous spirit.
“It was just another chance to give back to a world that has given us all so much,” said Matthew Fields, a freshman environmental management and policy major. “To help those who need help is part of our overall existence on this planet.”
The weekend activity was planned by Alternative Spring Break, a student service organization affiliated with Black Bear Volunteers. The group has worked with Habitat for Humanity in the past for extended spring break trips, but this was the first time ASB partnered with the Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Androscoggin County for one of the four yearly service weekends.
The ASB service weekends are designed to give members and nonmembers the chance to explore various issues facing communities statewide. The trips are organized around core ASB values that include education, orientation, training, diversity, direct service and reflection, in an alcohol- and drug-free weekend, according to the Black Bear Volunteers’ Web site.
The response and turnout from interested students made this particular trip unique. It was one of the largest service weekend trips organized. The students quickly bonded as a group with a common cause and the weekend was a tremendous success, according to Michael Mlodzianoski, service-weekend coordinator and second-year graduate student.
“Not only was the trip fun, but I did something productive and helped out a family in need,” said Corie Gagne, a freshman elementary education major. “I liked everything about the trip – from the games and bonding the night before and meeting people, to the actual work on the house, as well as learning more about Habitat for Humanity.”
The volunteer work involved the continuation of construction on a four-bedroom ranch that Habitat is building for an Auburn family. The house project was started in late September and will hopefully be finished before Jan. 1, 2006.
Students worked with a Habitat site supervisor who gave them tutorials on a technique of roof ventilation that Gagne described as “internal roofing,” as well as on how to hang vinyl siding.
“Building a house is no small feat,” said Katy Szapa, a freshman biology major who hung vinyl siding. “The experienced professionals at the site were more than willing to teach us the skills we needed to do various things.”
The parents of ASB member Vanessa Morin were housed Friday night in Cumberland. They woke early Saturday morning to begin work at the site in Auburn. In addition to their personal desire to do a good job, the brisk November temperatures prodded students to work hard to keep warm.
“I knew this was going to be a good trip, but I didn’t know just how great it was going to turn out,” said Mlodzianoski. “Together, we put in about 100 hours of work on Saturday. We probably hastened the completion of the house by several days.”
Site supervisor Tom Wrobel was impressed with the students’ work as well.
“I’m really glad you all came down,” said Wrobel. “I hope you people realize what you accomplished today. I’m tickled pink.”
Patrick and Sharon Moreau and their children Adam, 13, Josh, 11, Brittany, 9, and Justin, 4, will be the proud owners of the Habitat home. The Moreaus were chosen out of 28 applicants. This is the 13th house built by the Androscoggin Habitat affiliate since its founding in 1987.
The Moreaus were living in a Lewiston basement apartment in a drug- and violence-infested neighborhood that had no place for their children to play, according to Patrick. Their apartment was condemned this year because of structural issues, and the family is now living in a temporary apartment in Auburn. Patrick said his wife is looking forward to having land that she can now use to plant gardens.
“It means the world to me and my family,” said Sharon. “It means absolutely everything.”
Sharon is a native of Androscoggin County, born and raised in the Auburn-Lewiston area.
Patrick owns his own roofing and siding business in addition to working nights as a bouncer at the Midnight Blues Club in Auburn.
The house lot was provided by the city of Auburn. For all Habitat houses, the materials for the house are donated or sold to Habitat at a reduced price. Volunteers provide labor, and the homeowners also put in hundreds of hours of labors.
The Moreaus will buy the house at no-profit cost with a no-interest interest loan. The family’s mortgage will then be recycled to help finance the next Habitat home.
Habitat for Humanity is an international nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing ministry that was established in 1976 by Linda and Millard Fuller. Their goal is to eliminate housing poverty and homelessness.
Another service weekend with Habitat for Humanity will most likely be organized before the end of the school year, according to Mlodzianoski. He said continued student interest should not be an issue.
“I’m not the only one who wouldn’t think twice about doing this again,” said Jennie Isgro, a sophomore international affairs major. “I still find it amazing that one day of work can profoundly change six lives.”
ASB will also be working with Habitat for Humanity during spring break, according to Kristen Sutherland, a sophomore social work major.
“It is soul food,” said Devon Connolly, a senior business major. “It makes you feel good to know that you helped out some family in need. I know it sounds tacky, but it’s true. You get back more than you give.”
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