The youthful face of Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County has constructed a way to involve local youth with the organization’s quest to provide shelter for families in need.
The Youth United program encourages youth ages 5 to 25 to get involved with Habitat for Humanity through building efforts, home dedications, advocacy efforts and fundraising campaigns. Students are permitted to volunteer with the habitat-building process when they turn 16.
As of Aug. 20, local colleges, elementary and secondary schools involved in Youth United had raised $18,000 of a $25,000 yearlong goal, which started with the program’s inception in 2008. Volunteers helped by holding fundraisers, such as penny drives, fashion shows and Rock-A-Thon dances to benefit Habitat.
Habitat’s aim, in addition to educating children about the program, is to raise awareness and funding throughout the community.
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County’s outreach director Beth Adams hopes to eventually raise $115,000 by matching Youth United fundraising efforts with corporate and local organization sponsorships, which would cover the cost of one Habitat for Humanity home.
The organization relies on funding raised locally to support Bucks County building efforts.
“We think it gives students a better understanding of their community in addition to the basic values of working with a group for a common goal. They learn leadership and teamwork skills, are able to participate in the community and be a piece of a larger picture,” said Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County spokeswoman Mikaela Martin.
Children participate in activities, such as building bird houses for a Habitat for Humanity family’s home, coloring thank-you cards for volunteers, and providing meals and snacks to volunteers at the house sites.
“It gives the kids the ability to be the leaders, come up with events and see the direct results of their efforts. We are creating a positive environment for youth to be involved in the community where we can serve both students and Habitat’s partner families,” Adams said.
Council Rock High School North senior Brian Rizzo, 17, helped organize a 12-hour Rock-A-Thon in March to benefit Habitat for Humanity’s Youth United program with his school’s student executive board.
The event lasted from 8 p.m. on a Friday night to to 8 a.m. Saturday morning and raised about $10,000 for the local Habitat for Humanity chapter.
The Rock-A-Thon, held at the high school, was open to students and members of the community and included food, dancing, volleyball, basketball, dodge ball and twister games.
Rizzo will be the president of the student executive board this year. The student-led group plans activities and charitable fundraisers — such as powder-puff football tournaments, talent shows, pep rallies and blood drives — to benefit local organizations and the student body.
After the Rock-A-Thon, some of the student executive board members attended a local Habitat for Humanity family’s key presentation ceremony.
“It was a nice experience. It feels good to help out, because we were able to give back and also able to keep the funds local for families in Bucks County,” Rizzo said.
Other area schools, including Dr. Patricia A. Guth Elementary School, Bridge Valley Elementary School, Pennridge Central Middle School and Bucks County Community College, have held fundraisers for the Youth United program.
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County has built 87 homes throughout the county, and by the time current construction projects are finished in Perkasie, the county will have 93 homes. Construction is estimated for completion in Perkasie by the spring of 2010.
To live in a Habitat home, families must be willing to do advocacy work for Habitat, currently live in substandard conditions, live or work in Bucks County, contribute up to 375 sweat-equity hours, depending on family size; and have a stable income and credit history. Families purchase Habitat homes with low- or no-interest mortgages.
The Youth United program encourages youth ages 5 to 25 to get involved with Habitat for Humanity through building efforts, home dedications, advocacy efforts and fundraising campaigns. Students are permitted to volunteer with the habitat-building process when they turn 16.
As of Aug. 20, local colleges, elementary and secondary schools involved in Youth United had raised $18,000 of a $25,000 yearlong goal, which started with the program’s inception in 2008. Volunteers helped by holding fundraisers, such as penny drives, fashion shows and Rock-A-Thon dances to benefit Habitat.
Habitat’s aim, in addition to educating children about the program, is to raise awareness and funding throughout the community.
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County’s outreach director Beth Adams hopes to eventually raise $115,000 by matching Youth United fundraising efforts with corporate and local organization sponsorships, which would cover the cost of one Habitat for Humanity home.
The organization relies on funding raised locally to support Bucks County building efforts.
“We think it gives students a better understanding of their community in addition to the basic values of working with a group for a common goal. They learn leadership and teamwork skills, are able to participate in the community and be a piece of a larger picture,” said Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County spokeswoman Mikaela Martin.
Children participate in activities, such as building bird houses for a Habitat for Humanity family’s home, coloring thank-you cards for volunteers, and providing meals and snacks to volunteers at the house sites.
“It gives the kids the ability to be the leaders, come up with events and see the direct results of their efforts. We are creating a positive environment for youth to be involved in the community where we can serve both students and Habitat’s partner families,” Adams said.
Council Rock High School North senior Brian Rizzo, 17, helped organize a 12-hour Rock-A-Thon in March to benefit Habitat for Humanity’s Youth United program with his school’s student executive board.
The event lasted from 8 p.m. on a Friday night to to 8 a.m. Saturday morning and raised about $10,000 for the local Habitat for Humanity chapter.
The Rock-A-Thon, held at the high school, was open to students and members of the community and included food, dancing, volleyball, basketball, dodge ball and twister games.
Rizzo will be the president of the student executive board this year. The student-led group plans activities and charitable fundraisers — such as powder-puff football tournaments, talent shows, pep rallies and blood drives — to benefit local organizations and the student body.
After the Rock-A-Thon, some of the student executive board members attended a local Habitat for Humanity family’s key presentation ceremony.
“It was a nice experience. It feels good to help out, because we were able to give back and also able to keep the funds local for families in Bucks County,” Rizzo said.
Other area schools, including Dr. Patricia A. Guth Elementary School, Bridge Valley Elementary School, Pennridge Central Middle School and Bucks County Community College, have held fundraisers for the Youth United program.
Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County has built 87 homes throughout the county, and by the time current construction projects are finished in Perkasie, the county will have 93 homes. Construction is estimated for completion in Perkasie by the spring of 2010.
To live in a Habitat home, families must be willing to do advocacy work for Habitat, currently live in substandard conditions, live or work in Bucks County, contribute up to 375 sweat-equity hours, depending on family size; and have a stable income and credit history. Families purchase Habitat homes with low- or no-interest mortgages.
