BILOXI, Miss. – More than 250 students from across the United States and Canada will volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast during their spring break. The youth volunteers are participants of Collegiate Challenge, Habitat for Humanity’s year round alternative break program.
From February through March these students will help build houses in Pascagoula, Biloxi and Gulfport. Along with new construction of the homes, the volunteers will be transforming several Mississippi Cottages from a temporary structure into a permanent housing solution.
During Spring Break season, Collegiate Challenge participants from across the continent will volunteer in 200 Habitat locations. In the past 21 years of the program, more than 168,000 Collegiate Challenge participants have volunteered with Habitat during their school breaks.
“Students have a number of options to consider for their school breaks, and we are so grateful for their interest in volunteering their time with Habitat,” said Desiree Adaway, Habitat for Humanity senior director of Volunteer Mobilization. “Their efforts will help provide homeownership for so many families in communities across the country.”
The Collegiate Challenge program is one of the many programs Habitat has to engage youth in Habitat’s work. Since 2007, State Farm has served as the national corporate sponsor of Habitat for Humanity’s youth programs, with a sponsorship commitment of more than $1.1 million in grants each year. Additionally, State Farm offices contribute more than $500,000 annually to Habitat affiliates across the United States.
On Tuesday, a group of 150 students from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia will be joining the HFHMGC crew for a week of volunteering. This will be the second time the group has made the trip to the MS Gulf Coast.
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About Habitat for Humanity of the MS Gulf Coast
Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast was formed in January 2007 when Harrison County HFH and HFH of Jackson County merged organizations. Since then, HFHMGC has incorporated Stone County into its service area and has constructed or repaired more than 300 homes. HFHMGC works in partnership with community stakeholders to create innovative, sustainable housing solutions by empowering all members of our community to actively participate in creating “opportunity” for people to “transform” their own lives. To learn more, visit www.hfhmgc.org.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.
About State Farm®:
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm’s 17,700 agents and 68,600 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts – more than 78.7 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.
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