500 student volunteers came together last week to build a Habitat for Humanity house on Bowman Field.
This year’s Homecoming marks Pickens County Habitat for Humanity’s 32nd house float. Every home that Habitat for Humanity builds is constructed with supplies donated by volunteers. This year, the organization received donations from local restaurants that provided lunch during the build, as well as supplies from businesses, family and friends.
Derek Bruno, president of Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter, told The Tiger that Habitat for Humanity has raised $45,000 in donations for this year’s house.
The home will go to a person seeking retirement in Liberty, South Carolina, according to Bruno.
Noah Freeman, a sophomore mechanical engineering student in the Bridge-to-Clemson program, told The Tiger about the process of building houses. After the two-week period, volunteers will relocate the house to its permanent location and complete the remaining construction throughout the spring and summer, with assistance from volunteers on weekdays and weekends.
Habitat for Humanity Pickens County is “a homeownership program serving low-to-moderate-income individuals and families in Easley, Pickens, Liberty, Central, and Clemson,” according to its website.
Similar to last year’s Homecoming, the weather posed a significant obstacle in creating the house float, but that did not deter Habitat for Humanity volunteers. Bruno said that in the first week, volunteers focused on building the roof and moved indoors during the rain, then concentrated on making interior walls and installing electricity.
“My favorite part about being a part of this year’s Homecoming build is seeing the volunteers who show up at the build for the first time come back excited to help out some more,” Bruno continued. “It truly reflects the heart of the Clemson community and its abundance of generosity.”
Each year, the Pickens County Habitat for Humanity homeownership program accepts applications for the Build Year. To qualify for housing, individuals must meet specific requirements, including financial need, the ability to pay, willingness to partner and residency, according to the Habitat for Humanity website.
More information about Pickens County Habitat for Humanity can be found at https://pickenshabitat.org/.
