Before they can pick up hammers and nails, EMU students
are raising money in a volunteer effort that hits close
to home. The student-led EMU Eagles Nest Project seeks
to fund and build a house in Ypsilanti for Habitat for
Humanity.
"We've been wanting to build a house sponsored by Eastern
for a long time," said Peggy Harless, assistant director
for leadership and community service for Campus Life. "What's
really important is having a group of passionate students
to back it, and that's what we have."
 |
FEATHER THE NEST: The Eagles Nest project
is a
student-led, volunteer-driven initiative at
Eastern
Michigan University to build affordable
housing for a
low-income family in the Ypsilanti
community
through Habitat for Humanity. Students
have raised
approximately $16,000 of the $65,000
needed for
construction. |
The project began in September 2005. Approximately
$65,000 needs to be raised before construction can begin
on the house. Though students have been participating in
the building of other group's Habitat houses, this will
be the first one sponsored by EMU.
"In order to accomplish this, people from all facets of
the campus, such as students, faculty, staff and administrators,
and the community — both residential and commercial — must
come together," said Michael Haynes, the project's student
coordinator. "The results of the project will not only
be an affordable home for a family in need, but also the
unifying of both EMU and the Ypsilanti community."
Thus far, approximately $16,000 has been raised toward
the project. They had hoped to start building this fall,
but it will probably have to be pushed back to fall 2007,
said Harless.
"Habitat does a spring and a fall build. We would like
to start in the fall because more people are on campus
then," said Harless.
Coordinated through the VISION office, the Eagles Nest
Project is partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Huron
Valley. Eastern raises the $65,000 and provides labor,
while Habitat acquires the building permits, determines
the building site and selects the family that will live
in the house.
"It's a myth that Habitat gives out houses to homeless
people," said Harless. "They must have an income and be
able to make mortgage payments."
The organization has a selection process that determines
who is eligible for a house. Household income must
be 30-50 percent of the median income for Washtenaw County,
by family size. For those receiving a house, each member
of the household over the age of 16 must each put
in 300 hours of work building the house. Homeowners
also must take classes, with subjects including home maintenance
and paying bills.
Representatives of the Eagles Nest Project have hosted
many fundraising events, including a pumpkin carving penny
wars in October and, more recently, the $2 Drive. Students
collected money at different locations on campus, handing
out buttons to everyone who donated $2. Approximately $2,000
was collected from the drive, which was conducted March
21-April 5.
"We figured out that if everybody on campus gave just
$2, we'd be at our goal," said Harless.
Other recent fundraisers included the Cell Phone Drive,
in which donated old cell phones could be traded in for
money, and an event at Frenchie's in Depot Town, in which
25 percent of all bills and tips were donated to the project.
Other organizations on campus have been getting involved,
hosting their own fundraisers for Eagles Nest. The honors
college sponsored Build-4-Bucks, an activity that involved
students building their own houses out of cardboard boxes,
which raised more than $1,300. The women's crew team hosted "Row
for Humanity," raising $135 for Eagles Nest. Greek Life
raised more than $3,000 during Greek Week.
Based on EMU's past involvement working with Habitat for
Humanity, finding people to volunteer when the
time comes to build the house is no problem. Fundraising
is the hardest part, said Harless. Although students lead
the project, everyone can help. That can mean donating
money or building materials, selling buttons or t-shirts,
marketing, grant writing or even sponsoring a fundraiser.
"Fundraising is not really our strong point. We would
love it if someone would step up and do something big," said
Harless. "Our goal is an EMU house that everyone can help
with. We want staff and faculty to have a chance to work
with students outside of the classroom situation. It would
be a great experience for everyone."
Anyone interested in helping the Eagles Nest Project can
contact Harless at mharless@emich.edu.
