Southern Lehigh’s Habitat for Humanity members have learned how good it feels to help provide people in their community with a safe place to call home. After missing a year of activity due to Covid-19, the high school’s Habitat for Humanity club launched the 2021-22 school year with the pursuit of many goals. 

“We are looking forward to actually doing a job site,” senior club president Zoe Hess said. “In years past we haven’t been able to take a big group of people to help on a real site, and instead we have just done small fundraisers. Fundraising is good, but I think it will be really beneficial to see what Habitat for Humanity truly does for the community.”  

Habitat for Humanity itself has a mission that “brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.” The organization focuses on building and providing affordable homes for families in need. 

In December, the club organized a Gingerbread House decorating competition for the student body to raise money to fund Habitat for Humanity’s building projects. With around 2-4 people on each of the 16 teams that participated, the fundraiser was a major success.  

“I enjoy seeing young adults excited about helping others,” club advisor and social studies teacher Mr. Matthew Cooper said. “I hope that the students continue to build on what they have done.”

Perhaps the most important part of any club looking to support a cause is the environment it cultivates. It seems that Habitat for Humanity has no problem fostering an atmosphere of positivity and the desire to help others. 

“The atmosphere is very energetic,” junior Byron Adoyo said. “It seems like everyone wants to be a part of the club.”

Hess and other club members hope to expand on this energy and their recent success to get more students involved, especially those in younger grades.

“I love the people and I love our cause,” junior Catherine Yazdanyar. “I think students should know that anyone can participate and all they need is to be determined about the cause and achieve goals.”