Ten students left the icy winter of University of Minnesota last Saturday, and made their way to warm and sunny Charlotte County. They’ve come to work on building a Habitat home, as part of the 2008 Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge. Collegiate Challenge is a year-round program hosting more that 12,500 high school and college students annually. Spring Break is the most popular time for students to serve, however, thousands of students partner with Habitat affiliates during their summer, fall and winter school breaks, too. In addition to donating their time and labor, Collegiate Challenge participants also donate more than $1 million to host affiliates, nationwide.

Charlotte County Habitat has six schools scheduled beginning this week through mid-April, from all over the country, donating their time to build homes with families in need, here in Charlotte County. As well as University of Minnesota, those scheduled to volunteer are: University of Wisconsin, Pepperdine University, Purdue University, Hamline University, and Glastonbury High School, in Connecticut.

Many of the students come with assistance from the Habitat Adopt-A-Student Program, where a local resident or corporate donor, by giving $49.95, can help to offset the cost of the students’ week on the build.

Each group comes for one week, and is housed at the Community Volunteer Center, in Murdock. Volunteer lunches are provided by SW Regional Hospital, Peace River Hospital, South Port Square and Fawcett Hospital, and we extend a special thank you to each of these donors.

If you’d like more information about Collegiate Challenge, Adopt-A-Student Program, or booking the CVC for an event, please contact Chrissy Bynum at 941-639-3162 or email volunteers@charlottecountyhfh.org