Samford helps build Habitat home

Samford University and Alagasco, both in Birmingham, joined March 4 at 11 a.m. to break ground for a Habitat for Humanity house. This house will shelter a family of five at 2023 Third Ave. South in Irondale. Students of the university and employees from both institutions are helping with the house, with Alagasco serving as a financial partner.
   
“The groundbreaking was wonderful,” said Jennifer Dunn, director of community service in the office of student involvement at Samford. “It was a very, very cold and windy day, but you would have had to be there to know it was the perfect thing to do.”
   
Dunn said the ground was already “broken,” but “it was a joining of a great partnership among Habitat, Alagasco, the family and Samford to build a home and not just a house. When Janet Woodard (wife in the family getting the house) spoke, her tears were genuine and full of joy.”
   
Charles Moore, president and CEO of Greater Birmingham Habitat for Humanity, said, “The Habitat staff looks forward to partnering with Samford University and Alagasco, who share our vision of eliminating substandard housing.”
   
Alagasco has supported Habitat for Humanity for 10 years, Dunn said, but the Irondale house is only Samford’s second Habitat build. Samford students, faculty and staff helped build a Habitat house in Fairfield last year, providing funds and labor.
   
“It turned out to be a great experience, but it was rough going for a while,” Dunn said. “Two weeks prior to completing the house, the family’s son was murdered in their own home — the reason they wanted a Habitat home was to get out of a high crime area.”
   
Dunn said they moved quickly to complete the house, and the sad events showed them why they should be involved in such works.
   
“Obviously, we hope the reward will be of an intrinsic value — just knowing that we are doing what is right. We hope it will heighten our awareness of the needs of our neighbors and we will walk away with a deeper sense of and commitment to our civic responsibility.”
   
Dunn said there was a greater student response this year, which she credits to the resurgence of the Samford chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
   
“Those students are on the ball, excited and motivated to make this happen,” she said. She also points out the work of Samford University president Thomas E. Corts and other administrators who made the event happen.
   
Dunn said Samford’s goal is to build a house every year, and they planned to complete the current house by April 20.