While many of us used our spring break to go on vacation or just hang out and relax, a group of RPI students traveled to Newport News, Va., to help build homes for the less fortunate.
Ben Cangeleri, Nate Dickenson, Silas Schrader, Matt Toback, and Nate Walsh spent four days working with the Peninsula Chapter of "It was a great time," Toback said. "You get to meet up with other schools ... meet some new people and bring back some friendships."
The group worked 9 am to 2 pm from Monday to Thursday on two different sites. They installed floor joists and rafters, built decking, and did sheeting on two houses.
The trip was organized through Habitat for Humanity International. Lodging for the students was arranged at St. Katri Takaewitha Church in Tabb, Va., near the project sites.
"They made us a good dinner every day," Schrader said.
In addition to working, the students had fun as well. In the evenings, they played volleyball, basketball, and soccer with local kids. They had Friday and Saturday free to spend vacationing in the area.
The five students have restarted the RPI Habitat for Humanity club, which was recognized by the E-Board this semester and will be an official Union-funded club at the beginning of the fiscal year.
The club will work primarily with Rensselaer County Habitat for Humanity, building houses in Troy.
Not a lot of experience is required to work with the club, according to the students. Toback said he had no experience when he worked on his first project with the group.
"That was pretty much my first time swinging a hammer," he said.
Since then, Toback has become a valuable part of the group.
"He’s an expert now," Dickinson said.
"It’s great because you get to learn," Schrader said
The club is currently not active because there are currently no local project houses being built. "We’ll do more once next semester starts, and we’re hoping to get more people involved," Walsh said.
In addition to local work, they plan to hold another trip next year, hoping for a location in South Carolina.
