Our Crowdfunding Groups
It's that time of year again – spring break season! Our club has been working hard all year to raise enough money to send 45 of our club members on another spring break service trip. While we have raised enough money to fund the first deposit for our service trip (due to a $150 personal contribution from each student attending as well as our various fundraising efforts), we are now looking to finance the other half of our deposit before we leave for this year’s trip in the beginning of March.
We would like to take this opportunity to first thank you for supporting our campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity during the 2016 season. Because of your gifts, we not only sent an amazing group of students on a life changing service trip, but also gave a family and community in need a hand up when they needed it most. We could not be more appreciative of your support and donations! (See below for a photo from the trip you helped to fund.)
We would like to announce that we have just begun a new EngagePitt fundraiser to help fund our 2017 spring break service trip to Birmingham, Alabama! Over the next month we hope to reach our goal of $3,000 to finance the rest of our deposit and enable 45 of our students to make an impact on the Birmingham community. Click here to view our new campaign page, take a look at what our club was able to accomplish last break, and learn why going on this trip this year means so much to our students! While you are at it, we would be so appreciative if you would click the GIVE NOW button and support us again this year.
We are thankful each and every day for the opportunity to continue to help create access to affordable housing for children and families not only in Pittsburgh but across the country as well! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the part you play in allowing us to continue our service to others!
Hail to Pitt,
Panther Habitat for Humanity
Our Collegiate Challenge trip to Jackson County, Florida concluded on Friday, and we are so grateful the generous support that helped us accomplish it. 34 students and one advisor traveled over 1800 miles and completed more than 800 hours of community service during the trip. Starting from a concrete foundation, we framed and covered the walls and roof of a 3-bedroom house, framed the interior walls and installed the windows and doors. On the build site, we were able to meet and work alongside the future homeowners, Shera and Daniel. We were overwhelmed by the generosity and hospitality of the Jackson County community, who provided us with delicious meals, arranged welcoming homestays for us with local families and organized multiple evening activities. The trip was a memorable and meaningful experience for all who attended, plus we had a great time enjoying the Florida sunshine and making new friends! Each of us are tremendously grateful for the support of our friends, family and the entire Pitt community.
Thank you to everyone who helped us not only reach, but exceed our goal! We raised $4,420, which is 110% of our initial endeavor. Your contributions will help to purchase supplies for the house we are planning to build, so your generosity will be directly applied to a family's home. Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity once said "What Habitat does is much more than just sheltering people. It's what it does for people on the inside. It's that intangible quality of hope...we see Habitat homeowners go back to school and get their GEDs, enter college, do all kinds of things they never believed they could do before they moved into their house. By their own initiative, through their own pride and hope, they change." Thank you for helping to contribute to hope!
Nails are vital for the structural integrity of the house. They attach pieces of lumber to form walls and hold the trusses together to make the roof. Every nail is important and without nails the house would fall apart.
Tools such as hammers, tape measures, pencils, pry bars, chalk lines, and knives are essential for building a Habitat Home. Tool belts help to keep all of these tools together with each of the builders so they can make progress on the construction without having to stop and locate a tool.
The safety of the builders is one of the most important factors on the build site. Safety equipment such as goggles, gloves, and hard hats are imperative in keeping the volunteers safe.
The circular saw is an important tool on the build site. Particle board and lumber needs to be cut to the correct size so all of the components of the house fit together correctly without any gaps or overhangs.
Lumber is the skeleton that holds the house together. Without a sturdy frame, the walls and roof would collapse upon their own weight. Lumber is essential for maintaining structural integrity of the house.
A house needs doors and windows to be livable. The home owner needs to be able to enter and leave the building and enjoy sunlight while inside. These amenities are essential for every house we build.
A roof is important to keep out the rain and snow and provide shade from the sun. Every house needs a roof made of trusses, particle board, tar paper, and of course shingles.
