More than 20 students from the Habitat for Humanity club at Saint Mary's College joined South Bend high school students and community members to paint and do construction work on a house in the local community Saturday.
The event, "Rock the House," is the second build the Habitat for Humanity club has had this year. The first build consisted of constructing the framework for the house at the club's warehouse. The framework was then moved to a specific site on Saturday where the club members painted and did construction work on the house. Along with the club members, the family of the house helped with the construction work.
"It was nice meeting the family of the house and knowing that they would soon be living there," said Cara O'Connor-Combee, sophomore and vice president of the club. "The work we do in Habitat is so meaningful."
The club's mission is to encourage Saint Mary's women to become more involved in the community by volunteering their time to those less fortunate and in need of homes, O'Connor-Combee said.
"It is very impressive to see so many Saint Mary's students volunteering four hours of their time to building houses on the weekends," O'Connor-Combee said.
Sophomore treasurer Chelsea Young said the club members donate time on the weekends by working at the warehouse and volunteering on build sites.
"I loved seeing the progress of the house throughout the day," Young said. "I think it is great that Saint Mary's students have the chance to help families who are in need."
O'Connor-Combee said the Habitat for Humanity club hopes to continue some of the construction on the house next Saturday. The club will work with South Bend high schools, community members and the family to finish putting up walls and doors in the house.
"The club is new so we are really trying to promote it and get more Saint Mary's girls involved," Young said.
Members of the club hope to work with the Notre Dame Habitat for Humanity during next school year, she said.
"Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own lives that we forget that there are others out there who need our help," O'Connor-Combee said. "Habitat allows us to recognize how fortunate we are and lend a helping hand."
