Habitat for Humanity
Trip to Valdosta
The Mercyhurst College collegiate chapter of Habitat for Humanity traveled to Valdosta, Georgia over spring break (February 24-March 3, 2007). Twenty-four excited students made the trip by bus with the goal of completing one house in one week.
Upon arrival in Valdosta, we were warmly greeted by the staff at New Covenant church, which would be our home for the next week. Our team of students worked Monday through Friday setting up framing on top of the pre-set foundation, then roof trusses, shingling, siding, windows, doors, and more to complete a house from the ground up. Each night after work, our team was treated to home-town southern cooking at a local church and a reflection of the day's activities soon followed afterward. By Friday at noon, the team had pounded the last nail into the roof completing our Habitat for Humanity house.
This house will forever be known as the Mercyhurst Habitat for Humanity house, signified by an engraved brick that is to be placed into the finished driveway. This house will then be given to a qualified Habitat for Humanity candidate. Friday afternoon, our team was treated to some local treasures such as a visit to the South Georgia Pecan Company, Farmer Brown's Produce Market, and then the Wild Adventures Theme Park.
While in Valdosta, Mercyhurst students were featured in an article in the Valdosta Daily Times, on the local radio station for an interview, and even on WALB News for the evening broadcast!
The Valdosta-Lowndes affiliate is extremely progressive and has accepted Habitat for Humanity International's 21st Century Challenge to eliminate substandard housing in the Valdosta-Lowndes County area by the year 2021.
Past Habitat for Humanity trips have included destinations of Foley, Alabama (2006 - for hurricane relief work), Dade City, Florida (2005), Springhill, Louisiana (2004), Miami, Florida (2003), Daytona, Florida (2002).