On Friday, Nov. 3, 26, Kingswood Oxford students and faculty traveled to a northeast neighborhood of Hartford to participate in a house-building project with Habitat for Humanity.
Spanish teacher and Community Service Coordinator Kathleen McLean contacted Habitat for Humanity about a year ago, looking for student volunteer opportunities. This initial outreach sparked an interest that eventually culminated in the establishment of a Habitat for Humanity chapter on campus. The response has been significant, with much interest in the chapter and hands-on volunteer projects like this field trip.
Students left for their volunteer work at 8:00 a.m. Upon arriving at the work site, they saw five homes in different stages of completion. While one was nearing completion, the houses assigned to the KO students were still in the early construction phases.
Students were split into two groups, each assigned to a specific site and home. During their time, they put together framing, drilled screws, hammered nails, installed insulation, and put up walls. “My job was hammering and nailing, as well as creating shelves, using a power drill and power screw to help me,” junior Reagan Heafey-De Angelis said.
At every site, a designated supervisor played a key role in guiding students through the use of specific tools and providing them with instructions. “My supervisor, Mark, was helpful and taught me how to hit the nails into the wood efficiently,” junior Meredith Decker said. “You have to hold the bottom of the hammer to get more acceleration to hit it well.”
This volunteer opportunity allowed students to witness the living conditions of local residents. They learned about Habitat for Humanity’s mission, emphasizing a “hands up” rather than handout approach. Future homeowners must put 400 hours of work into their house and maintain a job and a steady income. Working alongside them, students witnessed their dedication. “We actually got to meet the people who were moving in, and they were the sweetest, most deserving people of the house,” Meredith said. This was a moving experience for students and faculty alike. “I really enjoyed working with one of the prospective homeowners who was in my crew,” Ms. McLean said. “Getting to know the person who was actually going to move into one of these homes was really neat.”
They were equally rewarded while dedicating their time to constructing houses and assisting future homeowners. Everyone gained knowledge of using various tools and learned about the construction process. “I learned how carpenters measure and mark their measurements and how to use different power tools,” Reagan said.
This field trip proved to be rewarding for the homeowners as well as the KO students and helped strengthen the relationship between KO and Habitat for Humanity. The positive impact of this experience is evident as it not only motivated current students to return for future house-building projects but also encouraged others to join the chapter. “I would definitely do it again next year,” Meredith said. “I loved the entire experience: building, the people, the cause. It was such a fun way to volunteer.”
The Habitat for Humanity chapter is already anticipating and looking forward to organizing another field trip in the coming year.
