Helping hands - Students help Habitat for Humanity

By Anna Stodola
Posted Thursday, June 26, 2008

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By Anna Stodola
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BURTON — For students in Julie Martin’s fifth grade class at Myers Elementary in Grand Blanc, helping Habitat for Humanity has turned into a sort of tradition.

The students participate in Myers Market Day, where the school makes products and sells them at school in order to help teach economics to the children. This year, the students in Martin’s class made over $1,000 through Market Day.

“We had a vote to see where the students wanted to donate their money,” said Martin. “For the third year in a row, the students chose Habitat for Humanity. They’re very enthusiastic about helping. They seem to really love it.”

The students decided to present a $1,000 check to Habitat while serving lunch to the workers on June 9 at a house being built at 3401 Byers St. in Burton. Food was provided by Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart.
“We want to emphasize how important we feel it is to engage youth in a way so they can see what happens with the money they raise,” said Margaret Kato of Habitat for Humanity. “They’re our future so it’s important to get them involved.”

Additionally, Wal-Mart gave the students $2,000 for the new Youth United program. The Youth United program is through Habitat International and is starting up in Genesee County in the fall.

Through the program, a house will be built entirely by those between the ages of 5-25, said program director Adam Haffajee. Through the donation from Wal-Mart, Martin’s class is the first group to donate to the new Genesee County Youth United program.

For information about the Youth United program, visit www.habitat.org/youthpro grams/youthunited.