Seventeen Pennsylvania College of Technology students and two chaperones traveled to Florida for an Alternative Spring Break, working with the Greater Miami chapter of Habitat for Humanity through the Collegiate Challenge program. The year-round initiative offers groups of five or more, age 16 and older, the opportunity to visit one of Habitat’s 200 host affiliates throughout the United States. Groups spend one week in partnership with the affiliate, the community and partner families to help eliminate poverty housing in the area. The Penn College group spent a day volunteering at the Miami Habitat ReStore, which sells donated building materials, appliances and household furniture to the public to fund construction of more homes. Volunteers clean donated goods, arrange displays and help customers. The contingent inventoried storm shutters, a necessary job with hurricane season approaching, and organized several pallets of tile. The ReStore generates enough revenue to build about half a house each month. For the balance of the trip, work crews engaged in roofing and hanging ceiling strips in an area where nine Habitat homes are under construction within a few blocks of one another. The Miami chapter has 56 homes in progress, with a goal to build 100 this calendar year. This is the 22nd year that Miami – the largest Collegiate Challenge site in the country – has hosted students.
— Photos by Whitnie-rae Mays, student photographer, and other Habitat volunteers
Penn College’s entire Collegiate Challenge team
Sarah Shott hammering away
Rachel Davis, Allison Hain and Adam Yoder secure a roof layer.
Andrew DelGrosso takes a photo “time out.”
Travelers enjoyed this gorgeous view of the Biscayne Bay lighthouse.
Jordyn Hazelton and Whitnie-rae Mays, ready to begin a workday
Chaperone Sara Hillis lends a helping hand.
Chaperone Erin Datteri takes a smile break.
Chris DiStasio readies his tools for the job ahead.
Lyndsey Royek begins to hammer in some nails.
Chris, one of the area’s newest homeowners, takes a breather after working hard to literally build her future.
A blue-shirted Drew Koskie uses his height advantage to attach ceiling strips.
Nick Mancuso, Andrew DelGrosso and James Romano sort storm shutters at the Habitat ReStore.
A reflection of Biscayne Bay off a lighthouse window
Up on the roof, Lee Michaels rolls out tar strips.
A weatherized James Romano aids the roofing crew.
Penn College students apply elbow grease to one of the Habitat houses in Liberty City.
Andrew DelGrosso looks out a neighbor’s window.
Erin Datteri and Sigma Nu President Frank Meise share a laugh.
Kaitlyn Kennedy watches closely to make sure Chris DiStasio has everything lined up perfectly.
Alyse Poswiatowsky flashes a satisfied smile while moving storm shutters.
Biscayne Bay peeks through a tree-covered trail.
Lee Michaels tends to homework on the drive to Miami.
Jordyn Hazelton helps the cause.
Sigma Nu brothers and Sigma Sigma Sigma’s Kaitlyn Kennedy
Habitat official Carlos Beron meets with volunteers.
Ashley Stuck and Sarah Shott sort tiles.
A rare pause in a hectic workday
Kaitlyn Kennedy wields a hammer for Habitat
Penn College volunteers pose beneath visible overhead progress.
Frank Meise hammers in a ceiling strip.
Lyndsey Royek, with the results of her efforts
About 250 students join the Collegiate Challenge over Spring Break, a commendable and rewarding alternative to more hedonistic pursuits.
From a lofty perch, Student Government Association President Adam Yoder rolls out roofing material.
A flurry of activity at the ReStore
Jordyn Hazelton and Lyndsey Royek enjoy the South Beach sun on a “free day.”
Site leader Luis, whose frequent and familiar cry of “Next” guided the week’s work
Adam Yoder, James Romano and Frank Meise
The group gathers at the Habitat ReStore.
Sarah Shott gives a “thumbs up” to the progress of Adam Yoder, Erin Datteri and Whitnie-rae Mays.
Site leaders Johnny, Fernando, Luis and James guided students and chaperones through the week.
A certificate honors the Penn College group’s participation in Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge.