Habitat for Humanity of Key West & Lower Florida Keys Loves Alternative Spring Break Volunteers!

Habitat for Humanity of Key West & Lower Florida Keys is hosting volunteer teams from colleges all over the United States during their spring and winter breaks: Austin Peay State University (TN ), University Minnesota, Regis University (CO) University North Carolina, Avon Old Farms (CT), University of South Florida, Yale and University of Illinois.  Through Habitat’s A Brush with Kindness Program, these motivated volunteers make repairs on homes of elder, income- qualified homeowners who struggle with exterior maintenance, allowing the homeowners to reclaim and remain in their homes with pride and dignity. Some of the teams have worked on the continuing renovations of Habitat’s affordable rental apartments located on Eisenhower Drive in Key West.  The volunteers also work a day during their week’s visit at Habitat’s ReStore in Big Pine Key sorting through merchandise, re-arranging the sales floor and sorting through tools to be sold at an upcoming sale. Over 70 students are participating in this year’s alternative break program, Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge.

“These kids work very hard, and sweat a lot, during their time with Habitat working beside the homeowners, extended families, friends, military volunteers, church groups and many other local volunteers.  Today the volunteers and staff were treated to a fresh fish dinner cooked by a neighbor and served by the extended family of whose house we’re repairing.   These kids see first-hand the immediate benefit of their hard work on the homeowner, the neighborhood and our entire community.  They work hard and, yes, we make sure they have a good Keys experience.  Habitat is fortunate to have friends such as Pegi and Jim Fitton who throw a cookout/pool party at their house after an afternoon of kayaking and paddleboarding off their dock in Key West.  Jim Fitton also volunteers as a construction team leader, along with Clay Beattie, who leads our paint teams week after week. However, without accommodations for the teams we simply would not be able to host them.  We are very grateful to the churches that provide the teams a safe, comfortable place to sleep and use of their kitchen: Glad Tidings, St. Paul’s and Key West United Methodist Church.  I guess it could be said that Habitat for Humanity and our homeowners love Spring Breakers, something you don’t hear a lot in Key West.” Mark Moss, Executive Director.

Each year the number of groups coming to the Keys continues to increase; in the first three months of 2014 Habitat has already hosted 8 groups with a few more to go.  “We strive to make their experience in Key West everything and more than they expected.  On a recent feedback questionnaire one student volunteer wrote ‘The staff and team leaders at the Key West affiliate are absolutely amazing. They made us feel very welcomed in unfamiliar territory. They showed us the community and taught us many valuable lessons in life and I plan to continue working with this affiliate in the future!’  Couldn’t get any better than that if I wrote it myself!” said Anna Symington, Habitat’s Volunteer Coordinator.

Habitat for Humanity International’s Collegiate Challenge alternative break program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this Spring.  The program, which invites students to spend one week working with Habitat affiliates to build homes and improve communities, was started in 1989. Since then, more than 230,000 college- and high school-aged students have volunteered during their spring break to help build or rehabilitate homes, donating nearly $24 million to Habitat affiliates.

“We are grateful to all of the students who have so graciously dedicated their spring break to helping others over the last 25 years,” said Mark Andrews, Habitat for Humanity International’s vice president of volunteer and institutional engagement. “Many families have been able to realize their dream of home ownership thanks to the Collegiate Challenge program.”  The Collegiate Challenge program is one of the many programs Habitat has to engage the next generation of leaders in Habitat’s work.

Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 4 million people around the world construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. There are 35 families in Habitat homes in the Lower Keys alone.  Habitat also advocates improving access to decent and affordable shelter through repair programs like A Brush with Kindness that enable families with limited resources to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission.

To learn more, donate or volunteer visit HabitatLowerKeys.org or call Habitat’s administrative office in Key West (305)294-9006.  To contact the Habitat ReStore in Big Pine Key about shopping or donating call (305) 872-2883.

Please check out our facebookpage at facebook.com/HabitatForHumanityKeyWest for hundreds more good photos!