Habitat home dedicated in December

by: Katie Voelliger
News Editor

St. Ambrose University students helped build a home for a Davenport family last semester. Over three months of hard work went into the project and the members of SAU’s Habitat for Humanity group can be proud of the dream they made a reality.

The dedication was on December 10 when the keys were handed over to the family.

 “The most rewarding moment of the entire experience was during the dedication,” Craig Hurd, Co-President of the SAU group, said. “There is no better feeling than seeing the results of all of your efforts, when the new homeowner is handed the key to their own home.  The tears of joy are the best part of working with Habitat.”

The students did some finishing touches the morning of the dedication and came back a week later for a day to finish up some minor details.

 “I loved the people I worked with. I always had a lot of fun. The worst part was seeing Craig’s thumb after he smashed it with a hammer…totally gross,” Jen LeVora said, laughing.

Throughout the whole process, about 90 people from SAU came to help in some way.

 “Of those 90 people, 45 came multiple times and 20-25 were there consistently,” Hurd said.

Currently there are two houses in East Moline and Rock Island, which are under construction.

 “We will probably help with these houses for a while, and then new houses will be started in April - when the ground thaws enough to break ground for them,” Hurd said.

Ali Burman said they are working on fundraising ideas, so one day they may be able to finance their own Habitat home.

They hope to become an official Habitat for Humanity chapter in the future. This past year it was not possible since Habitat for Humanity International was changing and did not allow any new campus chapters.

 “The organization isn’t accepting any new chapters right now, but as soon as they do we will be applying and following the procedures,” Burman said.