Kaleigh Kurpiewski of Bethany Member of Habitat for Humanity

Kaleigh Kurpiewski '14 of Bethany, CT, is a member of Habitat for Humanity at Eastern Connecticut State University. Kurpiewski is majoring in Visual Arts.

The purpose of Eastern's Habitat for Humanity club is to increase awareness of substandard housing on campus and in the community. The club assists local Habitat for Humanity chapters in the effort to eradicate substandard housing issues. Members benefit from gaining community service hours, learning construction skills, traveling, enhancing their resumes, meeting friends, becoming involved in the University's community and helping families suffering from poverty.

Each November, the club raises awareness about homelessness by sleeping outdoors in cardboard boxes for 24 hours in an event known as the "Shack-a-thon." This event raises money for the club and aids the club addressing the problem of homelessness around the world. Club members also assist in building affordable houses in the Windham area each month; student members work side-by-side with the Windham chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

This spring, as in prior years, club members will hire themselves out to area residents who need someone to do yard work for them - anything from cleaning up a garage to raking leaves, taking air conditioners out of windows and even packing up a moving van. This past fall semester, the club initiated a new event. Students were provided with limited supplies and requested to build the best and most effective "house" they could. During the fall semester, the club also participated in World Habitat Day to inform the community about the mission and work of Habitat for Humanity.