2008 Woodie Awards
Unsung Hero: Gerberville Spreads Humanity
Victoria Licata Staff Reporter
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: Features
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Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that has a special chapter here in our Sacred Heart society and that is why she belongs to Habitat for Humanity. The program enables the members to travel to different places and work in soup kitchens, and perform community service work.
"My favorite part about the program is the physical aspect and being able to work with other members to build a house during Blitz week," said Gerberville.
Blitz week is a full week dedicated to building a house for a family that cannot afford a home. The Habitat members begin with only the foundation and end with putting on the roof.
"Not only is the physical labor enjoyable but being able to meet the families that move into the houses and working with them is an emotional perk as well," said Gerberville.
Spring break of 2005 Gerberville and the other members of the program went to North Carolina to build a house. This had a profound impact on Gerberville. They built a house in one week, which usually takes 400 to 450 days to build.
There were 20 students in total who worked on the building of this house. The volunteers were not paid for this but were able to see a family benefit from their hard work. They spent their spring break helping others in need.
Habitat for Humanity is also hosting their annual Sleep Out, which will be held on Friday, September 30, 2005. This is a fundraiser in which all proceeds go towards materials for future habitat houses.
The sleep out will be held in the Sacred Heart University Quad where the members of Habitat along with other volunteers sleep in cardboard boxes and tarps. Anyone who is interested in helping or joining habitat may participate.
Gerberville was introduced to Habitat for Humanity through Community Connections, a week-long program that introduces community service opportunities to freshmen and the overall Bridgeport community. She decided to join Habitat because of the work and labor that they do.
"Habitat is a great organization that SHU students are involved in, we are lucky to have such a huge response from the school community," said Gerberville.
When Habitat meets every Saturday they find work to be done around Bridgeport. They may be painting walls, putting in insulation, roofing, putting doors up, anything that the students are capable of. There is always work to be done.
Gerberville was awarded the Outstanding Freshman award for her community service achievements. This award was for her work in Community Connections and Habitat for Humanity. She has been dedicated to Habitat for over a year and loves doing the volunteer work.
Out of the goodness of her own heart she helps Habitat spread through out Sacred Heart's community. Habitat helps create homes and provides a better lifestyle for those who are need and Gerberville and the program help achieve this goal.