Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity was recognized recently at the Habitat for Humanity National Leadership Conference.

WKU was honored for its best practices as a campus chapter including:

• Having 16 students and two faculty members (Laura Leach and Bryan Reaka) attend the conference, one of the largest delegations at the Aug. 4-6 meeting in Charlotte, N.C.
• Sending nine Collegiate Challenge Break trips to locations throughout the country to assist with building projects.
• Conducting multiple events across campus and in the community increasing awareness and educating the public on the issue of substandard housing.
• Working on building projects in the community through the year.
• Sending representatives on Global Village trips to Honduras and Bulgaria through Habitat for Humanity International.
• Sending $1,800 to Habitat affiliates in disaster-stricken areas in the Gulf Coast
• Participating in MASTER Plan activities.
• Completing of seven Big Reds Sheds for local homeowners (four were completed during Homecoming).
• Participating in Homecoming parade.
• Trick-or-treating for spare change in the local community for a publicity/educational event.

Assisting the local Habitat affiliate set up and open a ReStore (resale store) that is open to the public to donate/purchase building materials and supplies at a reduced cost.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that exists to eradicate substandard housing worldwide by working in partnership with working class poor families to help them construct and purchase their own home.
WKU’s Campus Chapter works under the Warren County Habitat for Humanity affiliate in conjunction with the Youth Programs office at Habitat International. There are about 650 Campus Chapters worldwide with 590 in the United States. Youth Programs was started in 1987 at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, as Campus Chapters and Youth Programs (changed to Youth Programs in 2006). This program exists to capture the imagination, hope and enthusiasm of young people and to responsibly and productively involve youth with the Habitat mission of eradicating substandard housing worldwide.

The WKU Campus Chapter is working to meet the following duties: work on fundraising, break trips, scheduled workdays, raising awareness (education), and advocacy (informing governmental officials). The chapter also is working toward building a house that is sponsored by the campus chapter for a Habitat for Humanity partner family in Warren County.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Bryan Reaka at (270) 745-7032.

-WKU-
"A leading American university with international reach"

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