URI & The South County Habitat for Humanity

Habitat For Humanity Project

It was a day of hope, a morning full of sun and fresh air, and an event for giving. Recently Habitat for Humanity paired up with URI’s Housing department to help clean out, and tear down on-campus terrace apartments for a new student housing complex. The University’s Volleyball and Track team volunteered a few of their player’s time and efforts on Wednesday August 18th to help the cause.

Kalyn Klaess, Kayla Newberg, Lauren McIntosh, and Chelsea Boyle put all their preseason training to work with their Head Coach, Bob Schneck, and pulled out six apartment kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Thankfully, the track team volunteered their throwers to do half of the heavy lifting that morning. More than less of the cabinets were not so light and easy to throw down the stair cases. Senior Jake Keeling, Wil Janes, Andrew Piscitelli, and their Head Coach, John Copeland, got a workout in, to say the least, as well as a few pranks on the ladies. After a poor dead mouse chased two of the girls down a flight of stairs and through the front door, and close encounters with other local wildlife, they were ready to call it a day.

It was a humbling experience for the student athletes to help out with other volunteers for Habitat to help improve the University they so respectfully represent every day. With everyone’s wonderful efforts, two truckloads of cabinets, drawers, kitchen sinks, etc., were donated to Habitat to be put into new upcoming homes this winter. More was accomplished than expected, and we only hope for more of these opportunities every day. Everyone worked together, shared laughs, got dirty, did some heavy lifting, and made new friends. So with a special thanks to the Women’s Volleyball team and the Men’s Track Throwing team and the Head Coaches, we hope to see everyone and more again soon!