MURFREESBORO — In
five hours’ time, MTSU students managed to hammer together a little piece of
Tennessee history.
Under the guidance of Rutherford County Area Habitat for
Humanity, students and other volunteers participated Monday, Oct. 19, in the
nonprofit organization’s inaugural panel build in the state.
From 9 a.m. until about 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the
MTSU Campus Recreation Center, participants constructed the interior and
exterior walls of a house for Zach and Nikki Newbold and their children, Zoe
and Eli.
Watch a video from the effort at http://youtu.be/cbdnNShOEt4.
Construction is slated to start at the end of March with the
dedication anticipated around the end of April at Castle and University streets
in Murfreesboro.
“It’s really important for our students to see that it’s not
just work that they’re doing,” said Jackie Victory, director of student
organizations and service. “It’s not just physical labor. It’s not just their
time, but, in the very end, it’s something where a family has a home where they
didn’t truly have a home before.”
Each work shift for the panel build lasted 30 minutes, and
about 15 volunteers were assigned to each shift. Even individuals with no
construction or carpentry experience were welcomed. Some volunteered in groups,
including some exercise science majors who savored the sunshine.
“We have to put some of our muscles to use loading some of
these walls back onto the trailer so they can transport it and get it to
somebody who needs it,” said Navaseon Norfork, a senior from Ripley, Tennessee.
“It was a nice experience,” said Dionne Gray, a sophomore
from Memphis, Tennessee. “I had never done anything like that before, and it’s
going to a good cause. So it was a lot of fun.”
“I didn’t think I could (do it) until I did it,” said Norfork.
“You can do anything you put your mind to, I guess.”
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