News Release

By JIM WALSH
UNC News Services

CHAPEL HILL -- Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with the help of local churches and a number of community volunteers, have plans to build a house for a family in need. And they want to do it in three days’ time.

It’s called Blitz Build, a project organized by UNC Habitat for Humanity and Orange County Habitat for Humanity, in which volunteers construct the exterior of a house – complete with doors, floors and windows – during the course of a weekend. The bulk of the house will be built between Feb. 25 and 27 in the Rusch Hollow neighborhood off Rogers Road in Chapel Hill.

More than 100 volunteers are signed up to work five-hour shifts on the project. As part of Habitat for Humanity’s "sweat equity" policy, the soon-to-be homeowner, a UNC employee, will work alongside them. Students plan to complete whatever work is not finished during regular weekend shifts.

"Habitat is a great program because it is not a handout; it’s a hand-up," said senior Liz Sessler, co-chairwoman of UNC Habitat for Humanity.

The Blitz Build project received support from university officials early in the planning stages, said senior Rebecca Sowder, who was last semester’s co-chairwoman.

Dr. Susan Moeser, university organist and instructor of organ, will perform a benefit concert at Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 15), with proceeds going toward Habitat for Humanity. Moeser is the wife of UNC Chancellor James Moeser.

Tickets are available in advance at the church’s office and at the door; a donation is requested but not required.

UNC Habitat for Humanity’s Blitz Build is done in partnership with Kenan-Flagler Business School, the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of city and regional planning, Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church, the Episcopal Campus Ministry and St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Susan Levy, executive director of Orange County Habitat for Humanity, said UNC students involved with Blitz Build have shown a high level of commitment "to be part of the community."

Students, faculty and staff have been involved with one-fifth of all Habitat homes built in Orange County, according to Orange County Habitat for Humanity, and 30 percent of the county’s Habitat homeowners are or have been staff members at the university or UNC Health Care.

The goal, Sessler said, is to unite different elements of the university community, including students, faculty and staff, through service.

To volunteer or for more information on Moeser’s upcoming performance, visit http://habitat.unc.edu.

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UNC Habitat for Humanity contact: Negin Misaghian, neginm@email.unc.edu

News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415 or deborah_saine@unc.edu