East Cooper Habitat for Humanity gets “hand-up” from first graders at Laurel Hill Primary
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. – East Cooper Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit, non-denominational housing organization working to create a community where everyone has a decent place to live, has received a check for $2,725 from the first grade classes at Laurel Hill Primary School. The students from the Mt. Pleasant school earned the money by doing special chores at home and pooling their earnings to help families looking for a hand-up, not a hand out, in keeping with the organization’s mission.
The founder and organizer of the fundraising effort was first grade teacher Amy Claxton. Claxton started the effort in 2005 with her own classroom, and has expanded the program every year since. Every first grade teacher at Laurel Hill now supports the effort, and the cumulative amount donated to the organization since 2005 totals $18,600.
A check presentation ceremony was held December 14 at a Habitat house nearing completion in the Phillips Community off of Highway 41 in Mt. Pleasant.
“The presentation took on a personal and very touching tone when the children learned that the family moving into the home has a first grade student currently attending Laurel Hill Primary School,” according to Bob Hervey, executive director of the organization. He also noted that with their donation, the students helped East Cooper Habitat for Humanity bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
The students toured the home, were given hard hats to wear while on the site, and participated in coloring and decorating a large “Welcome Home” banner to congratulate the family on their new home.
East Cooper Habitat for Humanity (ECHFH) assists families by building safe, well constructed homes. Working in partnership with low-income families, ECHFH utilizes volunteer labor and donated funds to provide a “hand up”, not a “hand out”, on the construction of their homes. Homeowners are chosen based on their demonstrated ability to handle personal finances and their willingness to contribute at least 350 hours of “sweat equity” on their home. Upon completion, Habitat homes are purchased by the homeowner with monthly payments under an interest-free mortgage over 30 years, and those payments are directed toward future homebuilding efforts as received.
East Cooper Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, servicing the communities east of the Cooper River in South Carolina. Visit their website at www.eastcooperhabitat.org for information on the organization and how to get involved.
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 more than 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people.
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Editor’s note: For pictures of the children in their hard hats, please visit www.facebook.com/eastcooperhabitatforhumanity.
