These spring breakers are all about giving back
- March 23, 2015
- / Ben Sheffler
- / community-dashboard
Community service is not the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of spring breakers.
But that's exactly what's happening in Pensacola throughout March.
“I think it speaks to their willingness to serve," says Taylor Thomae, volunteer coordinator at Pensacola Habitat for Humanity. "This isn't their community...many of them have never even been here before, but just their willingness to go out and to help make a difference, I think that’s huge."
As part of the Collegiate Challenge program at Habitat, eight houses will be built this month by students from Vanderbilt University, Maryville University, Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, University of Memphis, University of North Georgia, Purdue University, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Tim Evans, executive director of Pensacola Habitat, says the number of houses built in March is more than some Habitat chapters build all year long. The heart of that productivity is the students.
“We kind of plan for that throughout the rest of the year because we know the schools are coming, so we kind of work that into our schedule," Evans says.
Thomae says having projects waiting for the students is one reason Pensacola is so attractive to them.
"I think that's a perk that most other Habitat affiliates can't offer," she says. "So they like coming and starting with a blank slab and watching the house go up over the course of a week."
Sahad Iqbal, a junior at Vanderbilt University who's majoring in biomedical engineering, says this is his first visit to Florida, and volunteering with Habitat is something he'd definitely do again.
"I'm surprised with how fast we're putting up some stuff," he says. "I felt like it'd be more of a process, but with the teamwork going on it's good."
The other reason Pensacola attracts so many students for Collegiate Challenge? The beach, of course.
"If you can come down to the beach and pair that with giving back in service, I think that's a big draw," Thomae says.
Including those who were here in January, 153 students participated in Collegiate Challenge this year. Each student is asked to contribute $175, bringing the group's total to more than $26,000, which helps pay for building materials and supplies for the job sites.
Several churches are housing the students for free while they stay here.
"It's really neat to see how accommodating, hospitable and generous the church congregation is in hosting the students," Thomae says. "For many of our church partners this is their service to Habitat. It's a huge component of the program, so we're super appreciative of them."
Some of the schools have had students coming to Pensacola Habitat for years.
"Part of what is neat about this is the regular relationship we have with some of these schools, that they look forward so much not only to the spring break part of it but also coming back to Pensacola," he says.
One former Northern Illinois University student liked construction and Pensacola so much when he came here with Collegiate Challenge, he's now a current Habitat staff member.
Wayne Klemme, who came to Pensacola Habitat in 2012 then served nearly two years with AmeriCorps, says being a part of Collegiate Challenge was a good way for him to volunteer.
"I was a sociology major so I never thought I'd be doing construction, but I loved it so much and love what Habitat does for families and communities," he says, "It was just really rewarding, and I love the Pensacola area."
Klemme believes volunteering with Habitat is about much more than just building a house, and he extends an invitation to everyone.
"It can serve as an educational and rewarding experience because you learn about Habitat and nonprofit organizations and what they do for families, how much it can help people," he says.
Nikki Frazer, a sophomore at Vanderbilt University who is double majoring in neuroscience and Spanish, is on the board for the Habitat chapter at Vanderbilt.
She says there are 400 students in the chapter, which makes it the largest organization on campus.
"I think we just really like service," Frazer says. "Vanderbilt is super community service oriented, and the students there are amazing in terms of giving back."
Frazer says the chapter does maybe two local builds each semester, and they do other jobs like painting and caulking, but they are eager to do more.
"This is a really great opportunity to be able to come down, build some houses, and kind of get to learn what Habitat for Humanity is all about," she says.
"Part of what is neat about this is the regular relationship we have with some of these schools, that they look forward so much not only to the spring break part of it but also coming back to Pensacola," he says.
One former Northern Illinois University student liked construction and Pensacola so much when he came here with Collegiate Challenge, he's now a current Habitat staff member.
Wayne Klemme, who came to Pensacola Habitat in 2012 then served nearly two years with AmeriCorps, says being a part of Collegiate Challenge was a good way for him to volunteer.
"I was a sociology major so I never thought I'd be doing construction, but I loved it so much and love what Habitat does for families and communities," he says, "It was just really rewarding, and I love the Pensacola area."
Klemme believes volunteering with Habitat is about much more than just building a house, and he extends an invitation to everyone.
"It can serve as an educational and rewarding experience because you learn about Habitat and nonprofit organizations and what they do for families, how much it can help people," he says.
Nikki Frazer, a sophomore at Vanderbilt University who is double majoring in neuroscience and Spanish, is on the board for the Habitat chapter at Vanderbilt.
She says there are 400 students in the chapter, which makes it the largest organization on campus.
"I think we just really like service," Frazer says. "Vanderbilt is super community service oriented, and the students there are amazing in terms of giving back."
Frazer says the chapter does maybe two local builds each semester, and they do other jobs like painting and caulking, but they are eager to do more.
"This is a really great opportunity to be able to come down, build some houses, and kind of get to learn what Habitat for Humanity is all about," she says.
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