Habitat for Humanity

Kent School’s campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which was founded in 1987, supports the work of Habitat for Humanity both locally and internationally. Locally, students volunteer at a nearby worksite on a Saturday afternoon, doing everything from roofing to yard work. Students must be 14 years or older to be on a Habitat work site.

To raise both money and awareness, the campus chapter hosts ‘Act! Speak! Build! Week’ part of a national Habitat for Humanity campaign. Typical activities include a dress down day, in which students pay $3 for a sticker that allows them to be out of dress code for the day. The sticker has facts about poverty housing right in our own community, as well as around the country and the world. The club invites speakers to chapel services- recent speakers have included the founder of the local soup kitchen, Habitat for Humanity employees and a nun who ministers to the homeless. The movie “The Saint of 9/11” and the television show “30 Days- Minimum Wage” also help broaden students perspectives of the lives of the working poor.

During Spring Break, a group of ten students travel to North Carolina or Virginia to participate in Collegiate Challenge, Habitat’s youth building blitz. The group spends a full week working 8am to 4pm, alongside other students and local volunteers, to build a house. The tasks have varied widely over the years, but everyone has a great sense of accomplishment seeing all the work that has been done at the end of our week. Frequently, the group is able to work with the prospective homeowners as well, making the work that much more meaningful.

Please check out excerpts of students’ thoughts on their Collegiate Challenge experiences, as well as photos, below:

2002- Exmore, VA
2003- Southern Pines, NC
2004- Fayetteville, NC
2006- Charlottesville, VAC
2007- Lynchburg, VA
2008 - Lynchburg,VA
2009 - Lynchburg, VA
2010 - Lynchburg, VA