Students take on hefty project, despite busy school schedules
4/28/2010
By Laura Podgornik
For KUWS 91.3 FM
University of Wisconsin - Superior business students will take on the first of 12 Habitat for Humanity projects on Sat., May 1 for their “Brush with Kindness” project.
Last year, Western Lake Superior Habitat for Humanity partnered with UW-Superior to create a business plan for the organization as part of an academic service-learning course obligation.
Habitat for Humanity Director Daryl Yankee said this semester they wanted to engage students by adding a physical portion.
“It’s where the rubber meets the road, you know. You can have a great idea for anything, non-profit or for profit, but at some point the idea has to go from the head to the hammer in our case,” said Yankee.
A group of students from Professor Bruce Kibler’s Business 380 course will join Yankee and other volunteers this Saturday at the home of Mary Cox. Cox is a 59-year old woman living in Superior. Yankee said the group is going to make Cox’s home more accessible.
“Mary has a hard time getting in and out of the house. The steps are kind of rickety and she uses a breathing tank and sometimes is in a wheel chair. So, what we want to do is replace the older stair system with a handicapped ramp that’s really easily negotiated,” said Yankee.
Cox’s own church, Central Assembly of God, raised the money for the ramp. Pastor Andy Ricci said he was blown away by the generosity of his congregation.
“The final number is going to be $2,400. Money is still coming in. It was all raised over the weekend. So, this last weekend at the three masses, I got up. I mentioned it. I put a basket out back. People gave it to me and we deposited it. It was really fun,” said Ricci.
He said they raised enough money to fund another Habitat for Humanity project as well.
“People were great. They just stepped up and said ‘Sure, this is a wonderful idea. I love it.’ It’s going to help university kids with some practical skills. It’s going to help Habitat do part of it’s mission effectively and well. It allows us to reach out to people. It allows somebody from within our community to continue to have access in her home. You know, nobody loses, everybody wins,” said Ricci.
Yankee said they have plenty of volunteers for the project so no additional assistance is needed.
Last year, Western Lake Superior Habitat for Humanity partnered with UW-Superior to create a business plan for the organization as part of an academic service-learning course obligation.
Habitat for Humanity Director Daryl Yankee said this semester they wanted to engage students by adding a physical portion.
“It’s where the rubber meets the road, you know. You can have a great idea for anything, non-profit or for profit, but at some point the idea has to go from the head to the hammer in our case,” said Yankee.
A group of students from Professor Bruce Kibler’s Business 380 course will join Yankee and other volunteers this Saturday at the home of Mary Cox. Cox is a 59-year old woman living in Superior. Yankee said the group is going to make Cox’s home more accessible.
“Mary has a hard time getting in and out of the house. The steps are kind of rickety and she uses a breathing tank and sometimes is in a wheel chair. So, what we want to do is replace the older stair system with a handicapped ramp that’s really easily negotiated,” said Yankee.
Cox’s own church, Central Assembly of God, raised the money for the ramp. Pastor Andy Ricci said he was blown away by the generosity of his congregation.
“The final number is going to be $2,400. Money is still coming in. It was all raised over the weekend. So, this last weekend at the three masses, I got up. I mentioned it. I put a basket out back. People gave it to me and we deposited it. It was really fun,” said Ricci.
He said they raised enough money to fund another Habitat for Humanity project as well.
“People were great. They just stepped up and said ‘Sure, this is a wonderful idea. I love it.’ It’s going to help university kids with some practical skills. It’s going to help Habitat do part of it’s mission effectively and well. It allows us to reach out to people. It allows somebody from within our community to continue to have access in her home. You know, nobody loses, everybody wins,” said Ricci.
Yankee said they have plenty of volunteers for the project so no additional assistance is needed.
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