Students help Habitat for Humanity
Flipside organizes volunteers to build homes for less fortunate
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Whirring saws and banging hammers broke the early morning quiet last Saturday at Habitat for Humanity’s build-site in Stead.
Flipside programmers and other University of Nevada, Reno students participated in the project.
David Olivieri, Flipside’s community service chair, said that events like Habitat for Humanity give more students a chance to volunteer.
“It’s a really big event and everyone’s having fun hammering nails and stuff,” Olivieri said.
Some of the 13 students who decided to volunteer this weekend said they found the experience painful, but rewarding.
“You’re sitting there beating the crap out of your thumbs, thinking ‘wow, this is going to be someone’s living room’,” said Jenn Duprau, an 18- year old animal science major.
Caitlin Stella, an 18- year old music education major, said she got blisters only a few hours after she started work, but was still having a lot of fun.
One of the first jobs of the day was hammering down a plywood subfloor. Volunteers grabbed hammers and nails.
Towards the end of the flooring project, laughter could be heard as people began competing to get the last of the open spots nailed down without hitting someone else with a hammer.
Volunteers outside gossiped as they leveled the dirt so concrete could be poured. Others took cleaning supplies to the more finished houses to help get them ready for families to move in.
Doug Patton, construction manager for Truckee Meadows Habitat for Humanity, instructed people on what to do, giving out new jobs to anyone standing still.
Patton said one of the best parts of working for Habitat is teaching people some of what goes on in the construction process.
“It’s an exciting job,” said Patton with a big smile.
Olivieri said he planned on adding more Habitat for Humanity events to the community service schedule. The students who came to Saturday’s event said they would definitely come again.
“It’s hard, but it makes you feel good knowing you’re helping to build someone’s home,” D’Andrea Dunn, a 22- year old marketing major said.
The UNR students were joined by volunteers from CR Graphics Network and the First Baptist Church of Sparks.
“We do this once a year, but we want to come out more,” said Greg Mason from CR Graphics.
Patton said there are plenty of volunteer opportunities all year long. Volunteers are accepted Monday through Saturday every week.
“We usually get the most people on the weekends, but it depends on which groups are coming out,” said Patton.
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