Habitat Shack-a-Thon

by Daniel McCue on 16/11/09 at 4:22 pm

At 8 AM on November 3, ECSU’s Habitat for Humanity set up cardboard boxes between the campus library and Webb Hall for Shack-a-Th on. Th e students slept in these cardboard makeshift houses overnight. Th e morning of November 4 was 31?F, so students were literally sleeping in the freezing cold. Students still attended their classes and went to work during the 24-hour event. “Th is isn’t something we want to pull people out of classes for, but we really do encourage no cell phone use and, if you do, step away from the box area,” Public

Relations Marlana Carroll said. Students were permitted to enter public facilities and attend public events during the event. For example, students could use the bathroom in Webb Hall, work on homework in the library, or see the Tuesday night screening of The Ugly Truth in the Student Center. “It’s not an entirely realistic homelessness situation, but it gives students a feeling for what it’s like to have to do without some of the things they take for granted,” Advisor Dr. Peter Bachiochi said. Students were not allowed to eat during the 24 hours of Shack-a-Th on, unless someone brought them food. “We had a lot of food, actually, but if people could donate that to the real homeless, that would be super,” club member Christine Smith said. “We would rather people pledge money than give us food,” Carroll said. Participating students pledged money in order to fundraise. Students in the club were challenged to raise $100 each. Money raised from Shack-a-Th on will be donated to Windham Area Habitat affi liates and used for Habitat for Humanity’s Spring Break Trip. Th e trip is a reward for committed members to travel across the country and help support the cause nationwide. Th is year, the Spring Break Trip will be to North Carolina. “Th is is one of the biggest fundraisers, but also an opportunity for members of the club to get to know each other better because we’re out here for a while,” Bachiochi said. Students shared boxes with a “box buddy,” not only to stay warmer, but also to use fewer boxes. The boxes are from local hardware or appliance stores. Miller Brothers Moving of Willimantic supplied boxes for the students. “Everything is done with cardboard and duct tape this year, so our whole marketing campaign is paper, cardboard, and duct tape. So we use all recyclable materials,” Carroll said. Club Secretary Jaclyn Giuntini expanded upon her past Shacka- Thon experience. “I had no idea what to expect, you know? I only had

a sweatshirt and a North Face fleece on. I was freezing! It was so cold. The next day, I had an 8 o’clock class and I was so tired, and frozen, and I just wanted to go to bed. I don’t know how people do that everyday of their lives.” And, yes, the club advisor was sleeping out there, too. “It gets light early and then, the bell starts ringing…” Bachiochi described sleeping outside, in front of Webb Hall. The Shack-a-Thon’s purpose was to bring awareness of homelessness and substandard housing to the students of ECSU. Homelessness is an issue in Willimantic as well as they- Windham and New London Regions. “They are literally streets away,” Smith said.Habitat for Humanity doesnot give away houses. Homeowners pay a down payment and monthly mortgages. The homeowners alsoinvest their own time and energyinto the labor of building their Habitat

houses and houses for others. “It’s not a hand out, it’s a hand up. They are a helping hand when it comes to building the house. They still pay for the house, but they don’t pay as much,” Carroll elaborated. Habitat for Humanity meets in the Student Center at 7:30 PM on Tuesdays in Room 219. If you are interested in learning more about the club, contact habitatforhumanity@ stu.easternct.edu.

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