High School Students Contribute to Habitat Build

student volunteers recently gave their time to continue the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home in Pine Lake Park.

In late February, students installed drywall at the Sixth Avenue being prepared for Maria Romano and her husband, Arvi Lawson, who fell on hard times a few years back. Volunteers were joined at the project site by Suzan Fichtner, executive director for Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity, and Joe Gawlik, the high school's Habitat for Humanity advisor. 

“We have group of high spirited youth who are willing to give of themselves at a moments notice,” , who will do mostly finishing work including painting, spackling and landscaping.

Among those helping to facilitate the student portion of the project were Viona Richardson, Shelby Bartholomew, Caitlyn Sloan, Nicole Naclerio, Ashley Richardson, Dominique Jenkins, and John Boehm, according to club president Michael Statile. 

"Lunch and prayer by a local church was another addition to this glorious day, and everyone was excited to be a part of that event," Statile wrote in an update to the school district's website. 

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that partners with families in need and the community to build affordable housing. Families are chosen based on need of shelter, ability to make payments and willingness to work with Habitat for Humanity in constructing the house.

The home is sold to the family for cost, which is about half of purchasing a construction, according to Dick Read, president of the Board of Directors of Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity.

"We hold a 0 percent mortgage for 30 years and the family will pay about $300 a month," Read said. "The family does have to pay the taxes and the insurance, but it will still cost them less than if they were renting."

The club has also raised over $1000 for this Manchester home. The money was raised through the "Brick by Brick" fundraiser, during which symbolic paper bricks were sold throughout the school district, and will continue until the home is finished. The Lakehurst-Manchester Rotary has also donated to Habitat for Humanity. 

"Students and particularly staff were extremely generous," Gawlik said.

More of Gawlik's photos from the build are available on his website.