Belmont students plan new Habitat chapter

By Margie Davis
Diversity Institute Fellow

03.12.04

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Eight students at Belmont University met Friday to discuss how to form their own chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Gabe Suico, a senior majoring in mathematics, said there are currently only three Belmont students who have worked on a Habitat building site, but their goals have grown beyond helping to build more houses.

Students at the meeting discussed tutoring, volunteering at a new Habitat store and serving on any of the organization's many committees in Nashville. They also talked about the need to recruit more potential members.

Last year, Belmont students helped raise money and build a four-bedroom house for a mother and her four children as part of the ongoing work of Habitat for Humanity International's Nashville chapter.

The program is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poor housing and homelessness by making decent homes available to low-income families at affordable prices.

According to its website, Nashville Habitat has so far built or renovated 180 homes in the city. Construction of additional houses will begin March 20 and April 24. Building sites have not yet been selected.

University Minister Dave Hunt said last year's effort was meaningful but too demanding, which is why starting a university-based chapter makes more sense.

"Raising money and doing the building was too much," he said of last year's project. "As a chapter, we can work on a Habitat site without having to raise the money."

Freshman English major Jared Weatherholtz said the chapter needs tutors and described a 10-year-old Guatemalan boy, currently in the public school system, who wants to learn English.

Andrew Miller, professor of mathematics, facilitated the meeting and listed ways in which students could get involved in Habitat projects beyond picking up a hammer or tutoring.

They can, for example, volunteer to serve on such committees as public relations or social work. Miller also reminded the students that their participation can be used to earn community convocation credits needed for graduation.

Leah Craig, a junior majoring in music business, is working with Suico to recruit members, advertise and complete the application for becoming a chapter.

She made a plea for volunteers to work in Habitat's new Home Store on Eighth Avenue, where donated building materials and appliances are sold.

Meghan Jones, an assistant university minister, got involved with last year's Habitat project just three weeks after getting married because she wanted to know what the experience was like.

"We got help from students, faculty, staff," Jones recalled. "Sororities and fraternities came out."

Jones looks forward to helping with another house this year, especially now that her husband Matthew will work alongside her.

Anyone interested in more information can call Miller at 460-5615.

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