Lutheran Schools Serving Others

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Students, faculty and staff of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's colleges and universities do more than study the problem of inadequate housing for low-income families. Teaming up with Habitat for Humanity, students work to raise funds and contribute their time and talents to the construction of homes for families in need.
"Home for Christmas" is a home building project of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and Winneshiek County Habitat for Humanity. The "project exemplifies the ideals of community service that are part of the mission of Luther," said Don Kemp, professor of social work and coordinator of the project.
"The goal of Luther's participation in the Home for Christmas' plan is not only to build a house for a family in need but also to build connections and cooperation among all people of the college and the community," said Kemp.
"By joining together to take part in a community service project, students, faulty, staff, administrators and alumni can provide a tremendous boost to the local Habitat for Humanity organization," said Lee Zook, professor of social work. "Perhaps more important, this project can create some ongoing links between various groups at the college and between the college and the community," he said.
A sophomore at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wa., Tara Hudiburg spent her spring vacation this year lugging two-by-fours, swinging hammers, and "chalking the plywood for the air gun. We repaired a house that was devastated two years ago by an earthquake. The owner of the house is a woman who is 80 years old," explained Hudiburg. "She spent about $30,000 trying to get the house fixed, but the contractor ran off with the money. We've all heard that story before. People like to take advantage of the elderly," she said.
"All of Habitat's labor is volunteer and that is where we come in," said Hudiburg. "We had a great crew of students. We finished far more than the contractor thought we would and still had a day and a half left. The funny thing is we all wished we could stay and work an extra week. It was so much fun and, compared to the stress of school, it was incredibly relaxing."
Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., "has one of the largest Habitat for Humanity campus groups in the county," said the Rev. W. Robert Sorensen, executive director for the ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools.
"Concordia will send 140 students to 9 different Habitat for Humanity sites during the 1997 spring break," said Phil E. Holtan, senior campus pastor. "We send more students to participate in Habitat for Humanity projects than any other college in the country," said Holtan.
"Working for Habitat for Humanity has made me aware of issues surrounding people in need," said Corlin Allrich, student and chapter president for Concordia's Habitat for Humanity program. "I plan to continue working for Habitat after graduation," he said.
Jason Brodsky, a sophomore at Muhlenburg College, Allentown, Pa., plans to spend his 1997 spring vacation working for Habitat for Humanity in Columbus, Georgia. " I like doing service work," said Brodsky. "I enjoy seeing the smile on the faces of families we work with and the sense of accomplish after a job well-done."
Brodsky will be accompanied by 20 other Muhlenburg students. "We are trying to raise money to pay for our travel expenses," said Brodsky. "We are writing letters to Lutheran churches in the community asking for donations. We have had a great response."
Augsburg College, Minneapolis, and several neighborhood partners have banded together to help build a Habitat for Humanity house in the Seward neighborhood -- six blocks from campus. Relying on donated resources from the community, including funding, volunteer labor and building materials, Habitat for Humanity has built homes for 120 families in the Twin Cities. The average home costs $40,000 to build and is sold at cost; families get 20-year, interest-free-financing.
The ELCA has a relationship with Habitat for Humanity International for 1996-1999, based on action taken by the ELCA Church Council. The Division for Church in Society is the unit responsible for this partnership in coordination with other units of the church.
Among other things, the ELCA will encourage the study of the problem of inadequate housing, assume that individual construction/rehabilitation projects will merit consideration for financial support by individuals, congregations and synods, promote both long-term and short-term opportunities for volunteer service with local affiliates in other countries and remember Habitat for Humanity International in prayer and participate in the International Day of Prayer and Action for Human Habitat.
Habitat for Humanities is a national nonprofit organization that build homes for low-income families. The organization celebrates its 20th year anniversary in 1997.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Dir., (773) 380-2958 or AHAFFTEN@ELCA.ORG;
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir., (773) 380-2955 or FRANKI@ELCA.ORG;
Melissa Ramirez, Assist. Dir., (773) 380-2956 or MRAMIREZ@ELCA.ORG